Has the iPod backlash started I wonder? An article in the Guardian takes a sceptical look at the device and the obsessiveness of some of its fans. I've been an Apple convert ever since I first heard about OS X, I'm typing this on my year old iBook and I'm convinced they've done a fantastic thing bringing UNIX to the desktop. I also buy and listen to a fair amount of music. So in theory I'd be the first person to get one. But try as I might, I just can't muster up the enthusiasm to shell out the reddies.
The closest I've gotten is borrowing one from a friend last year, and despite the battery not lasting more than a few hours it was ok, it did what it said on the box and the transfer rate from my iBook was astounding. But I gave it back fairly quickly, and didn't even think of buying one when some sod stole my mini-disk player.
I'm not even sure when I would listen to it. At work I have my iBook full of whatever tunes I need to get me through the day, at home I have my CD collection. In between I'm either reading (I cannot listen to music and read at the same time), or doing other things which I'm not sure would be enhanced by a sound track.
I think another problem would be one of finding the right tune for the mood or moment. I have a suspicion that with all that music available to me I'd spend most of the time hunting around the collection for the perfect track for that particular situation, or even worse, thinking of all the tracks I could be listening to that I haven't yet put on it.
And there is also the fact that I'd be following the trend. The iPod is (apparently) THE must have accessory of the moment. I've even caught myself noticing if people are wearing iPod earphones or something else. Do I really want to shell out 350 quid for something that I wouldn't really use just because everyone else is? Not this time.
But then Apple haven't yet released the iPod Jr.....
Update - 2006/11/11
I read this old entry again recently and decided to update it as I have since bought an iPod and quite frankly I can't do without it. Not having easy access to BBC radio any more their Podcasts are invaluable for the 30 minutes each way in the car every morning.