Marco R. della Cava writes for The USA Today, “Befitting a contraption that has captured the fancy of everyone from working stiffs to head-bopping celebrities like Nicole Kidman and Leonardo DiCaprio, the iPod has created its own:
Economy. Dozens of new companies cater to the faithful, including accessory manufacturers that turn your iPod into a digital audio recorder; fashion firms making clothes with iPod-ready pockets; and companies that will load your entire CD collection onto your iPod.
Cultural trends. Some nightclubs are offering patrons the chance to DJ via their iPods, while even bolder owners practice iPod “jacking,” momentarily swapping units with a stranger to tap into another devotee’s musical soul.
Naysayers. Some consumers still balk at the top-of-the-line iPod’s cost, and others have yet to be convinced that Apple’s version of the MP3 player will ultimately dominate the category. Recently, Dell CEO Kevin Rollins dissed the iPod as a “one-product wonder” that his and other companies would top soon.
“Tell that to iPod’s legions and get ready to duck. All you need to know is that one woman calls hers My Precious after the prized Lord of the Rings talisman,” della Cava writes. “Interviews with owners of various ages tell the same unsolicited tale. They shun today’s radio programming (too much talk, not enough good songs) and resent buying CDs that are full of songs they don’t want (they gladly spend 99 cents a song at Apple’s iTunes online music store, where 1.2 million songs are snapped up daily).”
The rest in the full (and we mean “full,” as in “small book”) here.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
BusinessWeek: Rather than dismissing Apple products as fads, Dell should try starting a few – January 31, 2005
Dismissive Dell CEO not impressed with Apple Mac mini, calls iPod a ‘one-product wonder’ and a ‘fad’ – January 17, 2005