| According to the latest market studies, the iPod has | | | | a family, or just get on with life. And with this, we begin |
| sold over 1.5 million units as compared to the other | | | | to see the benefits of more affordable MP3 players, |
| MP3 players. The iPod video 30gb holds over 15,000 | | | | not just one. We begin to look at what we want in a |
| songs, 25,000 photos, or 150 hours of video with a | | | | MP3 player beside a brand name. |
| battery life of 14 hours for music, and two hours for | | | | The most important focus for most buyers who are |
| videos. This is exciting when we think about having no | | | | paying their own bills is money. The iPods are very |
| choices a few years ago, or carrying around a lot of | | | | expensive, with a nonreplacable battery that loses its |
| CDs. Of course, we could always listen to the car | | | | resiliency in about a couple years. And if money is |
| stereo! But when a person is out shopping for a MP3 | | | | issues with the ol' pocket ... consider how much extra |
| player, is the iPod really any better? | | | | space you can get for your dollar by going with a |
| First of all, we need to understand that the iPod is an | | | | different brand name than iPod. If the price tag on the |
| MP3 player, not that iPods and MP3 players are | | | | iPod 60GB player is $399 and the price tag on the |
| identical and in competition. A good rule of thumb to | | | | Toshiba 60GB player is $249, then a person has |
| remember is this: when you look for a DVR, you don't | | | | something to consider. Another option could be the |
| say you are looking for a DVR. For example, you say | | | | MP3 CD players, which offer more megabytes per |
| you are looking for a Tivo. An analogy would be this - | | | | dollar with CDs that hold 10 hours of music each. |
| when you go to buy a carbonated beverage or soda, | | | | Some people get hung up on the fact it is not a hard |
| you don't say you are looking for a carbonated | | | | drive-based player, while others feel it is comparable |
| beverage, you say you are looking for a Coke or a | | | | enough to go for the extra saved money. It's all about |
| Pepsi. Both are carbonated beverages. When you look | | | | choice. |
| for an MP3 player, you don't say you are looking for a | | | | Additionally, the iPod video and audio formats can |
| MP3 player - because it could be any brand, including | | | | sometimes cause problems with people who like to |
| the iPod. You say you are looking for an iPod. This, | | | | use certain types of media formats. Apple uses a few |
| and other subtle differences, is the difference between | | | | exclusive types of video and audio formats, like the |
| an iPod and an MP3 player. And when recognizing this, | | | | AAC-encoded files, because they are Apple where |
| understand that of all the negative reviews of any of | | | | other manufacturers use multiple formats to become |
| the MP3 players, all the complaints of errors were | | | | more attractive to the consumer. Many reviews |
| 95% user errors - not reading what the item was | | | | consider this an extremely negative drawback to the |
| actually capable of doing. | | | | iPod, as they feel "hemmed in". Other MP3 players |
| The iPod is the most popular MP3 player out there. | | | | allow the choice of "BuyMusic", "Musicmatch", or |
| This is not even open for discussion. Owned by | | | | "Napster". Most MP3 players support a wide range |
| celebrities in the Rolling Stone Magazine or on | | | | musical service choices. Make sure you investigate |
| Entertainment Tonight, you never see them talking | | | | what formats are supported by iPod and other |
| about the benefits and features of their Creative Labs | | | | manufacturers you are considering, it could make or |
| or iRiver, other brands of the MP3 players. Why? | | | | break your purchase. |
| Because it is not considered "hip" or "cool" to talk | | | | Apple's iPod is the industry leader for a reason, |
| about anything other than an iPod. It HAS to be an | | | | because they make tremendous products, but that |
| iPod for a person to fit in, to be with it, and to be | | | | doesn't mean that there aren't other great products on |
| accepted as one of the leaders in MP3 players. | | | | the market. With many drawback such as a high price, |
| But then, don't most of us grow up? We begin to see | | | | review complaints of limited support, limited memory, |
| all options that fit our needs, not just what is hip. We | | | | limited types of music that can be recorded or played, |
| begin to see ourself as an individual, not just as one of | | | | or with unlimited ability to record online music. Other |
| a group - with no separate identity. We pass through | | | | brands to look would be Rio, Creative, Samsung or Dell |
| Junior High and High school, and head into college, begin | | | | - it may be time to do a comparison study! |