# I am pitting the iPod **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 21, 2006, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-pitting-the-ipod/349246 "2006-03-21T03:35:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-pitting-the-ipod/349246/121 "2006-03-23T14:23:20Z")
> [@slaphead](#): > > flash memory MP3 players are approaching the price point where you can get one for 3 cereal cupons. Pfft. You can get iPods for _free_. Don’t believe me? Just check the Google ads below. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-pitting-the-ipod/349246/122 "2006-03-23T14:25:49Z")
Of course, now that I’ve posted that, all the ads changed–but they _were_ four “free iPod” come-ons in a row, honest. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-pitting-the-ipod/349246/123 "2006-03-23T18:09:57Z")
For those who thinks we’re somehow missing out on life by wearing headphones all day, I invite you read [this](http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/03/12/ING4THKT6L1.DTL&sn=021&sc=289). If your day-to-day life is full of pleasant, ambient sounds, I truly am happy for you, and I certainly accept that such places exist. My day-to-day life, however, consists of lots of screaming children and yuppies on cell phones, and I really feel no obligation to hear them out while I’m standing in line at the pharmacy. I keep em at a low volume, and I take them off whenever I talk anyone, whether it be a conversation with a friend or a four second transaction with a Walgreens cashier. > [@Troy McClure SF](#): > > This thread makes me feel old, too… I remember when I was called a brainwashed idiot for using a Mac. Some things never change. You know, after thinking on this a bit more, I got a real WTF for ya… Everyone acts like us Mac users are brainwashed little idiots for using the expensive, pretty machines, ignoring us when we explain the improvements of design and ease of use, etc (IourHO) over Windows, and telling us we couldn’t possibly actually like the machines; we do it because we’re just stupid sheep who like sticking it to The Man, Darth Microsoft. Now, Apple comes out with an expensive, pretty mp3 player, and this time, it’s a huge mainstream success. But this time, we’re still brainwashed little idiots, depite our explanations of ease of use & design, and we’re just stupid sheep who want to do what everyone else is doing, and not at all because we actually like the things. **Which the fuck one is it?** I’m sorry, folks, if your first girlfriend dumped you at a cafe in Cupertino or something, but it gets a little tiresome hearing about what a fucking idiot I am for buying Apple, and now I can’t even defend myself (which I probably shouldn’t even bother to do anyway) because I don’t know if I’m supposed to be the mindless drone who’s trying to stick it to the Man, or if I’m supposed to be the mindless drone who’s trying to become the Man. So how about you Apple-bashers figure it out which one it is, and get back to us. Until then, pipe the fuck down. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-pitting-the-ipod/349246/124 "2006-03-23T21:14:51Z")
Ah, they’re just jealous because we’ve got an innate attraction for the finer things in life. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![slaphead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@slaphead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slaphead)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-pitting-the-ipod/349246/125 "2006-03-24T10:04:01Z")
> [@Biffy the Elephant Shrew](#): > > four “free iPod” come-ons in a row Jackpot! ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-pitting-the-ipod/349246/126 "2006-03-24T20:06:57Z")
> [@black455](#): > > Such as? > > Meaning, what additional functionality does _requiring the database for playback_ provide? > > I can understand some people’s need to have an automatically generated list of favorite tracks, bookmarks in audiobooks, or… uh… whatever. But there’s absolutely no reason that I can think of to requiring the iTunesDB, and therefore iTunes (or some equally lame imitator), to play anything. Not quite sure I’m following your teminology here. Itunes database? > [@](#): > > Note, I’m not knocking the [dude who wrote](http://shuffle-db.sourceforge.net/) the Python script I use for my Shuffle; it’s an ingenious solution for those of us who think it’s dumb to use a music store to transfer files to a removable hard drive. Itunes and its ilk offer a simple way of organizing and _managing_ music in one place. > [@](#): > > It’s a matter of personal taste, but I like it that XMMS is my music player, Grip is my ripper/encoder, GnomeBaker is my CD burner, none of them try to be anything else, and none of them can fuck up my mp3 player if I remove it at an inopportune time. Because sometimes, people like an all in one solution. I’d like to see my mother use your system. > [@](#): > > On a more objective note, have you _seen_ the system requirements for iTunes? 256MB? For what it does, that’s just stupid. Dude, the system requirements for Pong probably suggest a 256 min. Currently my Itunes is consuming a whopping 22 meg of system mem. > [@](#): > > You’d figure Apple people would be able to get the concept of “less is more.” I’d also figure people would lighten up, its a fucking computer app. Use what works for _you_. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-pitting-the-ipod/349246/127 "2006-03-26T21:41:58Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > But my first one was my favorite (_years_ ago!), which used built in flash and a memory card only (so of course held little), something now defunct called the Rave, because it had a built in microphone for making digital recordings, that you could easily transfer to computer via USB. And it was smaller than a deck of cards. I used it to record conversations at work by putting in my shirt pocket, and no one was the wiser. (It also had an address and phone book in it, and FM radio.) My middle-priced iRiver has FM radio and a mic. I used it to interview people in a room, and it worked very nicely. But I agree that Apple needs to put a radio and probably a mic in there. After they’ve run out of other things that people want even more, I guess that’s what they’ll hit on their list of features. But you realize that’s after they milk the iPod Phone for a few years, probably. Look through [Digg.com](http://Digg.com) for stories about that. ---
**Author:** ![nevermore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a587f6/32.png) [@nevermore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevermore)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-pitting-the-ipod/349246/128 "2006-03-27T08:48:35Z")
I guess I’m sort of a middle-grounder on this. something about Apple has always felt a little slimy to me, and always being one to go on instincts in matters of taste, I stay away from their products. still, I don’t see why anyone should have a problem with their success. it’s due to some innovative marketing and lots of good reviews-- to me that sounds like legitimately good business. I don’t like iPods, personally. I don’t like the design or the interface, I don’t like iTunes, and I don’t like the prices on anything but the Video ones. thus I conclude that iPod is not the mp3 player for me, but ya know, for a lot of people, it is. I don’t see why someone (or lots of people) thinking “hmm, I personally prefer this collection of metals and plastics that plays music over other such collections” should be any sort of threat. ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-pitting-the-ipod/349246/129 "2006-03-27T19:45:08Z")
> [@black455](#): > > On a more objective note, have you _seen_ the system requirements for iTunes? 256MB? For what it does, that’s just stupid. That doesn’t mean it requires all 256 megs to run; it just means you need that much memory to run the program smoothly while your OS is doing all the other shit it has to do. **Troy McClure SF** : kudos, brother. ---
**Author:** ![hellotherepoodle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8797f3/32.png) [@hellotherepoodle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hellotherepoodle)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-pitting-the-ipod/349246/130 "2006-03-27T21:15:57Z")
The Ipod is a good product. No, it’s not wildly superior to the other mp3 players out there. Itunes, on the other hand, is a decent “store front app,” but if you’re not interested in purchasing music at an amusingly overpriced amount, it’s a bloated, ineffectual piece of crap when it comes to mp3 cataloging. What does bug me is Apple’s marketing. For instance, when you register your Ipod, you get an email that begins: “Welcome. Get ready to rock.” I almost took the damn thing back and asked for a refund after that. Hey, if some people want “to rock” with their Ipod, that’s fine with me - more power to them - but I’m a decidedly never ever going “to rock” with my Ipod. This thing is playing ALL XENAKIS ALL THE TIME, bitch! Don’t assume your product is only being bought by pimply faced teenagers whose musical taste don’t extend beyond whatever pablum they’re puking on the airwaves these days. ---
**Author:** ![Antonius\_Block](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@Antonius\_Block](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antonius_Block)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-pitting-the-ipod/349246/131 "2006-03-27T22:00:27Z")
**hellotherepoodle** , I’m sure you were at least happy when you realized how many thousands of Xenakis **songs** can be stored on your iPod! :d & r: ---
**Author:** ![Jotun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@Jotun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jotun)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-pitting-the-ipod/349246/132 "2006-03-27T22:04:03Z")
> [@Little Plastic Ninja](#): > > And perhaps I sounded crankier than I meant to. I really was more amused than anything else – you play your music on your Creative, I’ll play mine on my iPod. I seriously had trouble with the actual physical controls on my Jukebox and found it rather uncomfortable to use. I figured ‘This must be the perfect thing for SOMEONE, but it sure as heck ain’t me’. I was just amused that I’d found the person it was for. 🙂 That’s alright. I realize a lot of people get that way when defending their purchases. 😉 Seriously, though, the controls for the Jukebox are different from the controls of the Micro if I recall correctly. My hands are big, so that might have something to do with why it’s easier for me to operate a Micro than it is for an iPod. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-pitting-the-ipod/349246/133 "2006-03-27T22:18:22Z")
> [@hellotherepoodle](#): > > Hey, if some people want “to rock” with their Ipod, that’s fine with me - more power to them - but I’m a decidedly never ever going “to rock” with my Ipod. This thing is playing ALL XENAKIS ALL THE TIME, bitch! Dude, if you think Xenakis doesn’t _rock_, you must not have heard the Kroumata Percussion Ensemble recording of “Pleiades”! ---
**Author:** ![Barely\_Adequate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/58956e/32.png) [@Barely\_Adequate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barely_Adequate)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2006, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-pitting-the-ipod/349246/134 "2006-04-18T20:08:18Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#): > > _DMB = Dave Matthews Band._ > [@World Eater](#): > > And here I was thinking _he_ wasn’t hip. 😛 He isn’t. Last bulletin I got said it’s now **Ben Harper** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-pitting-the-ipod/349246.md?page=6)