How is the ipod not a worthwhile mp3 player? It may not have features you want but it still accomplishes the task it sets out to more than well. The shiny plastic exterior was an aesthetic decision, which may not be to your taste, but beneath it lies a more than capable mp3 player with an innovative and intuitive interface. You're correct in saying that preference for operating systems boils down to a difference of opinion, but your original assertion that this demonstrated some kind of hypocrasy is faulty, because apple's aesthetics are backed by solid, and more often than not, innovative engineering. Since we're on the topic, I myself use Windows XP. I prefer it on the desktop over linux simply because for me it just works and I'd rather not have to wrangle with setting up sound, display drivers, printers etc etc.
There's nothing hypocritical about it. The first is an interface designed for use on a desktop computer, the latter is for use on a mobile phone - a device which has a fraction of the screen size and whose screen also doubles as the primary input device. The interface for such a device will inherently be more simplistic, which isn't necessarily a limitation in this case, since a mobile phone is only required to perform a more limited set of functions. High-contrast interfaces go a long way to overcoming glare and make it easier to identify icons at a glance so it just makes sense. You also misunderstand the criticism towards XP, the criticism isnt so much that people dont like the blue/green theme, the criticism is leveled at the idea that the business of good interface design is only the application of a theme when in fact its about the judicious, and more importantly, consistent use of interface principles that actually make tasks easier to accomplish. Microsoft thought if it draped its turd in blue and green it could pass it off as an intuitive interface.
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How is the ipod not a worthwhile mp3 player? It may not have features you want but it still accomplishes the task it sets out to more than well. The shiny plastic exterior was an aesthetic decision, which may not be to your taste, but beneath it lies a more than capable mp3 player with an innovative and intuitive interface. You're correct in saying that preference for operating systems boils down to a difference of opinion, but your original assertion that this demonstrated some kind of hypocrasy is faulty, because apple's aesthetics are backed by solid, and more often than not, innovative engineering. Since we're on the topic, I myself use Windows XP. I prefer it on the desktop over linux simply because for me it just works and I'd rather not have to wrangle with setting up sound, display drivers, printers etc etc.
There's nothing hypocritical about it. The first is an interface designed for use on a desktop computer, the latter is for use on a mobile phone - a device which has a fraction of the screen size and whose screen also doubles as the primary input device. The interface for such a device will inherently be more simplistic, which isn't necessarily a limitation in this case, since a mobile phone is only required to perform a more limited set of functions. High-contrast interfaces go a long way to overcoming glare and make it easier to identify icons at a glance so it just makes sense. You also misunderstand the criticism towards XP, the criticism isnt so much that people dont like the blue/green theme, the criticism is leveled at the idea that the business of good interface design is only the application of a theme when in fact its about the judicious, and more importantly, consistent use of interface principles that actually make tasks easier to accomplish. Microsoft thought if it draped its turd in blue and green it could pass it off as an intuitive interface.