Digital Home Thoughts: Who Designed The iPod? A Genius, That's Who!

"The iPod "Scam" works for three reasons: 1. It's trendy. We live in a shallow world, get over it. Nobody forces you to buy an iPod, and you're probably better off for it if you think it's a crock 'o Irish gold at the end of the rainbow and you don't buy one. You'll sleep easier at night. 2. However, you won't get such cheaply available music. iTunes and iPod are attached at the hilt, and this means less time fussing about looking for your digital music, video or even audio books. It simplifies an already complex life. 3. Nobody cares about DRM, so long as it's unobtrusive. We who follow tech with a fine tooth comb tend to go a little nuts at the first whiff of DRM. To be frank most of Jane and Joe Public could care less, so long as it is within reason, which the iTunes DRM is. Most people, with one cheap Dell computer in the living room, probably look at us a bit strangely when we begin screaming about a five-computer limit for our music. Even at five songs it gives a house with a desktop gaming rig, a Home Theatre PC and three laptops room to manoeuvre."



Aaron McKenna over at DenGuru thinks the iPod Empire (he capitalized it, not me) is the best thing since sliced bread. Electricity, invented after sliced bread and before the iPod Empire (and without which the iPod can't work), would have been my choice. :) Ironically, every reason he gives above for why the iPod is superior is also every reason why I avoid it. It's trendy? Not a great reason to buy an MP3 player. iTunes? I'd rather rip my own CDs and not be restricted with DRM. And speaking of which, "Nobody cares about DRM as long as it's not obtrusive"? I beg to differ. DRM is the exact reason why I rip CDs, don't use iTunes (or other online service) and don't support companies that use proprietary DRM schemes, locking out other players and other services.

Do you agree with Aaron's reasons why the iPod is so fantastic? Got your own reasons? Let's hear 'em! :)