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The modern-day equivalent of the Samurai sword

updated 11:15 am EST, Tue January 20, 2004

iPod as a status icon

The iPod is the , according to a Penny Arcade column that talks about the iPod as a cultural (and status) icon: "The simple fact that people are willing to pay hundreds of dollars more for an iPod, when equal technology is available in a less impressive-looking package, points directly to this analogy. People will pay more for a status symbol, and in doing so, they have made the iPod one of the most important cultural icons today."

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01/20, 11:23am | report spam | close Reply |
status?

i don't view my ipod as a status symbol, i don't show it off. it's just a great device for those who love music.

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01/20, 11:26am | report spam | close Reply |
Arghh.....

You know, I'm really tired of all of the things where people say that the other MP3 players are "equal" or "superior" and cost less, and that the only reason people buy the iPod is for it's looks. I haven't yet purchased an iPod, but when I do go to buy an mp3 player it will be an iPod. and not because of its looks, but because I like it's FUNCTIONALITY. I love the scrollwheel and the software that powers it, I love the iTunes integration. I wish people could understand that when it comes to the iPod, there is more to it than just the way it looks. I have evaluated other mp3 players and even though they have good technical specs, I often find their interfaces to be much poorer. I am baffled as to why opinion pieces like this don't seem to get that that is a big factor for many iPod buyers (or people considering an iPod). You hear the same thing about Macs too (i.e. people only buy Macs for their looks..... ignoring that many people buy Macs because they like the functionality and software)

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01/20, 11:28am | report spam | close Reply |
hundreds of dollars?

Maybe a hundred dollars more for a similar capacity, but well worth it and I don't even have one.

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01/20, 11:29am | report spam | close Reply |
brainless banter

sure that dell thing is just as good, the iPod being part of an integrated system isn't important at all only the cost. If it costs less and has some earphones its just as good. That open standard windows music fomat along with mp3 and all the cool, easy to use windows music software means that there is more choice on the PC just like there always has been. That's why those "fools" at HP are going to OEM iPods, cuz they are so overpriced and not any better, man what fools!

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01/20, 11:33am | report spam | close Reply |
Understating iPod design

"when equal technology is available in a less impressive-looking package"

It's not just about looks. It's about size, ergonomics, ease of use and integration with iTunes and the iTMS, both of which are widely accepted to be the best designed and easiest to use software and online music store developed to date.

People are buying the iPod because it (along with iTunes and iTMS) are the best product out there bar none and this is a perfect example of what happens when Microsoft doesn't have a monopoly in a perticular market. It's great to see that when given free choice, a large number of consumers will choose the better product rather than the cheapest or the most popular. Of course, it helps when the product is both the better and the most popular!

Andy

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01/20, 11:33am | report spam | close Reply |
penny for your thoughts?

Further proof that you get what you pay for, what else would you expect from the Penny Arcade? How about "a penny to keep your trap shut, moron"?

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01/20, 11:39am | report spam | close Reply |
does this mean i can

get a scroll wheel for my samurai sword?

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01/20, 11:42am | report spam | close Reply |
Hundreds more???

I think they need a reality check:

Dull DJ is $249
iPod 15GB is $299.

$50 for a superior solution.... That is not hundreds more.

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01/20, 11:46am | report spam | close Reply |
Nonsense, Penny Arcade

I bought my 20g a year ago for its functionality. My wife got her 5G two days after introduction for the same reason.

Allow me to list:

iTunes works well. Better than the alternatives I have tried on both platforms.

The scroll wheel is an amazingly effective interface. This may be just preference, but I tried a lot of mp3 players when I was about to drop $400 on the thing, and the controls worked nicely.

Having your entire music library on the device makes a difference in kind, not just degree. I do not need to do anything special to show someone a neat song, or to prep for a guitar lesson, or to have driving music for a five day trip.

The small form factor is quite nice - I used to have a Discman-sized device that stayed home a lot. An iPod can be used easily at the gym, stuffed in a compartment in the car, or tossed in my pocket for a plane ride.

This is functionality, not status. The argument does not hold water - try again.

Scott

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01/20, 11:49am | report spam | close Reply |
hundreds more?

someone posted this awhile back. makes me wonder where these people go shopping that they're paying so much more. unless my math skills have deteriorated significantly i wold think that the iPod is the best deal out there and would wonder why anyone would buy anything else.

$200 256MB (MB!) Creative Labs MuVo 256MB
$200 256MB (MB!)Philips PSA 256MAX
$200 256MB (MB!)Rio Chiba
$220 1.5GB Rio Nitrus
$250 1.5GB iRiver iGP-100
$350 4.0GB Creative Labs MuVo2
$269 512MB (MB!) Creative Labs MuVo2 X-Trainer
$499 1.0GB Creative Labs MuVo2 X-Trainer
$299 15GB iPod
$249 4GB iPod mini

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01/20, 11:50am | report spam | close Reply |
HUNDREDS LESS????????

The iPod mini is $249 and the 15GB iPod is $299.

According to this article you can get "equal technology is available in a less impressive-looking package" for HUNDREDS less.

Hundreds less equals $49-$99 or lower.

You might be able to buy some small flash based MP3 players in that price range, but certainly nothing of equal technology to the iPod.

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01/20, 12:00pm | report spam | close Reply |
Context, people

Did any of you clowns actually read the article? It isn't a tech review, it's just an opinion on how the iPod is considered to be the best of the lot. By equal technology, all he was saying was that there are MP3 players that exist that are hundreds less - which is true. But people prefer the iPopd. The point was the reputation of the iPod, not the specs.

Would you people gain some perspective here? Not everyone is a geek and writes about stuff from a geek viewpoint. He did not say it wasn't worth the price, he did not say you should buy something else.

Go read the article and think about it for a second before foaming off at the mouth here.

BTW, Penny Arcade is one of the funniest comic strips on the net.

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01/20, 12:23pm | report spam | close Reply |
equal? -- not even close

"By equal technology, all he was saying was that there are MP3 players that exist that are hundreds less - which is true."

There are MP3 players for less than $100, but they are NOT equal technology.

Whether the guy is writing a tech review article or not, the statement about equal technology being available for hundreds less is WRONG.

He may be a moron and not know squat about the technology involved in the various MP3 players, but that ignorance does not change the fact that his statement is WRONG.

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01/20, 12:24pm | report spam | close Reply |
point is wrong

"But people prefer the iPopd. The point was the reputation of the iPod, not the specs."

Which is exactly why his point is invalid.

People are buying the iPod because of the specs -- NOT because of the reputation.

The specs are WHY the iPod has the reputation.

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01/20, 12:36pm | report spam | close Reply |
ipod

ipod is the cheapest solution

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01/20, 12:39pm | report spam | close Reply |
Geez

Why bother? Macnn might as well just paint a target on every news story that is not fawning head over heel over Apple. Sure, I like and have an iPod but I don't necessarily look down at EVERY single other MP3 players out there.

Again, going to the stupid car analogy, just because you have a Mercedes does not mean all other car sucks. And not every iPod owner out there drives Mercedes. I know some of you drive Imapalas or Neons.

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01/20, 12:53pm | report spam | close Reply |
oh please

You left out this comparison in your list:
40gig ipod = $499
40gig zen = $299
That IS hundreds less. 2 of them, in fact.

I'm not saying the iPod isn't a great product, but be realistic, its not because of price/capacity.

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01/20, 01:14pm | report spam | close Reply |
samurai sword

yes, but I tried to kill someone with my ipod and it was most ineffective...

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01/20, 01:27pm | report spam | close Reply |
Re: oh please

Does this "Zen" thing integrate with iTunes flawlessly (as in, plug it in and manage it via iTunes)? Can it play AAC files? How about protected AAC files that I purchased via the music store?

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01/20, 01:41pm | report spam | close Reply |
re: samurai sword

Really? I bet if you really chucked it at someone, you could knock 'em out. Then run over, pick up the iPod and finish the job. Then take their wallet. That'll teach 'em.

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01/20, 02:28pm | report spam | close Reply |
Lies make false 'news'

> "when equal technology is available in a less impressive-looking package"

This is simply untrue.

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01/20, 02:53pm | report spam | close Reply |
Kill Bill

The last Samurai sword I saw was in the movie with Uma Thurman.

So, a Samurai sword was going to be used to Kill Bill... That seems a very appropriate description for Apple's music endeavors!

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01/20, 02:59pm | report spam | close Reply |
Looks...

The one thing i didn't like about my iPod was the fact that the chrome shiny part would look dull after about a days of handling. I also didn't like how sticky it felt because it was so shiny. I taped up the front of it and took a 120 grit or something like that and dulled the sucker down. It made my pod feel and look very different from other pods. I love that i was able to do that. I was able to improve on the interface to make it fit to my taste and style.

But yeah this was second to the fact that the entire package of the iPod, from opening up the amazing packaging to holding it in your palm and being able to do it all with one hand - in fact just your thumb! - and the amount of room and integration with iTunes and quality of materials is what made me buy the iPod. Not cause i'd be the dopest person on the block. It is sad that people see this as a status symbol. I don't have much, but what i want i save up for in order to make my life more organized and simple.

It reflects me because of its content not because of its outer appearance.

10 gig 2G iPod

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01/20, 03:40pm | report spam | close Reply |
That's like saying...

Anyone who spends more for a car than it costs to buy a Yugo is paying only for a status symbol. Oh yeah, the only difference between a Dior suit and one from KMart is the status it brings, other than that, they're the same.

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01/20, 04:10pm | report spam | close Reply |
status

that is the ONLY reason I have mine. Just a status symbol, nothing more.

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01/20, 04:25pm | report spam | close Reply |
I got the iPod

because it is the smallest package with the most capacity. Not to mention I can add an external battery pack to it from Belkin that gives it the longest battery life of all. Puts that iPod's dirty secret to rest before they even complained about it!

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01/20, 05:07pm | report spam | close Reply |
bogus

The article claims that everyone buys iPods because of the looks and the status involved.

The article claims that people could buy something with the same functionality for less.

These claims are bogus.

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01/21, 12:21am | report spam | close Reply |
friend's wife . . .

GOT HIM A RIO FOR XMAS

he really has wnated to get an iMac . . . iPod, etc

oh well!

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01/21, 08:53pm | report spam | close Reply |
PennyArcade=funniest!???!

I don't know who made the claim, but I tried reaing this comic and I dunno. Maybe I'm not geeky enough to get the jokes.

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The modern-day equivalent of the Samurai sword

updated 11:15 am EST, Tue January 20, 2004

iPod as a status icon

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Arghh.....

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