I have the original iPod (almost 2 years old and the battery still lasts about 8 hrs), and much of the reason people like has already been mentioned: The interface, with the wheel, is very clean and easy to use. It's slim and fits in a pocket easily. The synchronization with iTunes is seamless. I can even start my Mac off it.
However, the most important reason is the status. It looks cool. I know someone in my school who has the same Archos, and I don't recall him ever getting a compliment on it. I, on the other hand, always get attention, compliments, and general respect. (It has not, unfortunately, gotten me laid). People are incredibly superficial. One prick in my grade has spoken to me for the last 2.5 years on only two occasions: once for the iPod, and a second for a real Burberry scarf I have (check the price on burberry.com, if you wish). Why the scarf and the iPod? Both are expensive and "designer". They make me, the ugly and dorky atc24, not so bad, and since I'm friendly at let everyone try it, people are a lot more friendly with me. The iPod is like an ice-breaker with people. I know I sound like an image-driven, pretentious, rich prick, and if you'd like to think so, fine. But this world is dominated by idiots who look only at image; if you get used to it, and forgive yourself for being a fueling the system, you can learn how to work the system and be not only "cool" but still a nerd. Now, please excuse my long rant.
That thing looks a rather large; considering the specs sound a lot like that PocketPC phone (it runs WinCE and has an X-Scale proc), I wouldn't think it would be that big. I realize that braille display takes up space, but over a pound of space? How can you call that thing "mobile"?
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I have the original iPod (almost 2 years old and the battery still lasts about 8 hrs), and much of the reason people like has already been mentioned: The interface, with the wheel, is very clean and easy to use. It's slim and fits in a pocket easily. The synchronization with iTunes is seamless. I can even start my Mac off it.
However, the most important reason is the status. It looks cool. I know someone in my school who has the same Archos, and I don't recall him ever getting a compliment on it. I, on the other hand, always get attention, compliments, and general respect. (It has not, unfortunately, gotten me laid). People are incredibly superficial. One prick in my grade has spoken to me for the last 2.5 years on only two occasions: once for the iPod, and a second for a real Burberry scarf I have (check the price on burberry.com, if you wish). Why the scarf and the iPod? Both are expensive and "designer". They make me, the ugly and dorky atc24, not so bad, and since I'm friendly at let everyone try it, people are a lot more friendly with me. The iPod is like an ice-breaker with people. I know I sound like an image-driven, pretentious, rich prick, and if you'd like to think so, fine. But this world is dominated by idiots who look only at image; if you get used to it, and forgive yourself for being a fueling the system, you can learn how to work the system and be not only "cool" but still a nerd. Now, please excuse my long rant.
Stop humping the laser!
That thing looks a rather large; considering the specs sound a lot like that PocketPC phone (it runs WinCE and has an X-Scale proc), I wouldn't think it would be that big. I realize that braille display takes up space, but over a pound of space? How can you call that thing "mobile"?