iPod - an emerging culture

iPods are taking over the world.

Robert and Patrick Scoble just released their second podcast.  Again, there is more talk of iPods and the alternatives.  The back and forth that Robert and Patrick had about high capacity MP3 players got me wrestling with the iPod question again... 

I know that iPods aren't the END ALL BE ALL of mp3 players, but why should/would I still buy one?

The answer came instantly...  There is no mp3 player that has the public penetration that iPods have.  In the mp3 player world, iPod is king.  Now, why is that so important?  What are the repercussions of that?  Well let me slow down here and explain what my thoughts are:  My biggest problem with the iPod is the weak-sauce try at DRM through limiting file movement.  You can pull music from multiple computers to an iPod, but you can't push music to multiple computers from an iPod.  Now that's just silly.  (now the cool part!)  I do know that there are ways around this...  Why?  Because 22 million americans own iPods!  There are many enthusiast groups that focus on hacking, modifying, etc. your iPod.

I love cool gadgets that just work well...  but I also like customizing my things.  The huge enthusiast/aftermarket base the iPod has makes me want one!  Although, I'm going to see if I can wait until the next version of the iPod comes out.  I'll bet all my bling bling that the next version has some really cool direct MP3 encoding/integrated podcasting capabilities.

Anyway, those are my iPod thoughts.

Hey Sweaty, what mp3 player do you currently have?  Great question! I have an iRiver T-something or other, it's 512 meg.  Thus far I've been pretty happy with it.  The battery life rocks and so does the direct encoding MP3 capability (which, allows me to plug in an external mic.)  The FM tuner has been useless...  so Patrick, don't let your dad fool you...  The FM tuner won't get much use...  :)