[Huck]

I don't get the whole Ipod craze. Isn't it basically an mp3 player? Similarly, I don't get the podcast craze. Isn't just a streamed mp3? I play mp3s on my cd player, and I stream music by friggin clicking on it. What's the difference? Where's the beef?

[Izzy Dunne]

I stream music by friggin clicking on it. What's the difference?

You can't take your desktop computer and monitor into the men's room and listen to a podcast while you, um, relax.

[shempy]

I don't get it either. Apple has a nice little gadget, but I don't see it as some sort of permanent fixture in society from this point forward. It seems to be a status thing as much as anything. It isn't some revolutionary new thing, just the natural evolution of technology. This technology will evolve so quickly that, while Apple has an enviable market position, they have no lock on future success. Based on their history, I would say it is inevitable that they get beat in this market like they did in the computer market.

[martin_fierro]

I don't get the whole Ipod craze. Isn't it basically an mp3 player? ... I play mp3s on my cd player

I play 5700+ MP3s on my iPod, sortable & playable in just about any order I want. That's the appeal for me.

[MadIvan]

The iPod craze becomes more comprehensible if you have a wall of classical CDs which fit into one tiny device. The fact that I can take Beethoven's complete works in such a small device is still amazing to me.

Regards, Ivan

[SamAdams76]

The iPod is life-changing and I'll leave it at that. If you don't own one, you'll never know. Once you own one, you will have been assimiliated into the culture. Resist while you still can!

Anyway, every year at about this time, they have the CES show and everybody starts yapping about the iPod killers. Not going to happen. Apple sold something like 30 million of the things last year and they are going to sell 90 million this year. This is a juggernaut that cannot be stopped. Resist while you still can!

[Revolting cat!]

Why do people stand in line to see a particular mediocre movie? Why do people pay premium for Levis jeans or Nike sneakers? Why do people read Hairy Potty books? Why do Hollywood personalities mindlessly spout leftwing talking points?

ANSWER: Because other people around them do, that's why!

Don't accept any other rationalizations.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

It's a brand, Huck, it's a brand.

Just like Coca-Cola is a brand of cola, Charmin is a brand of toilet paper, and Chevy is a brand of car.

No more. No less.

[RightOnline]

No moving parts, more capacity in higher end units. That's it; that's all.

[RockyTop4GOP]

I got my first ipod for Christmas and I'm wondering how I survived life without it.

I've had a variety of mp3 players and admit to being a downloader. (My freshman year of college was the height of the Napster craze!)

Ipods are special because it's a functional one-stop shop. Not only can buy music from itunes, but you can upload all your cds on the player and then put them on your ipod. Apple has done an excellent job of designing their software. It's infinitely better than my last Sony mp3 player. With a simple drag and click, suddenly all my favorite cds are loaded onto one portable appliance.

The extra docking appliances are awesome. How often have you wanted to play something on your mp3 player through your stereo or play your favorite tunes while driving on a long trip? An ipod is the only player that does that.

I'm sure that in the coming years, other companies will create similar products to the ipod, but Apple really found a niche and has perfected it.