IPOD - I Don't Get it

<sniff> am I no longer a youth target market? </sniff>

[Brett_Tabke]

Why would the incompatable, under powered, hard to hang on to, problem prone, chained to online service, off breed IPOD be so successfull?

Is it because I don't get the commercials? Everyone apparently loves them. Me? I can't turn the channel fast enough.

I survived a few hairs falling out, turning 40, survived getting married, and even toyed with getting a fancy sports. Ok, ya, it was probably a midlife crisis and I came through with a clean bill of health.

I could handle all that, but to realize that I am not longer in that youth target market...gosh, am I really that old? ;)

[edited by: Brett_Tabke at 1:29 pm (utc) on Jan. 17, 2005]

[snowman]

Why worry about being (or not) someone else's target? It's a worthless pursuit.

[Gmorgan]

It's a fashion icon with some great branding behind it - the must have toy of 2004. I bought the iPod mini without ever considering an MP3 player before or even researching any of the competition. I doubt it was the smartest move I've ever made (I've had a few propblems with it) but I do love the little thing and take it everywhere.

[Syzygy]

...but to realize that I am not longer in that youth target market...gosh, am I really that old? ;)

It's taken you around 25 years to come to that realisation?

;-)

Syzygy

[Mardi_Gras]

I don't know - I turn 50 next month but I think the IPOD commercials are about the best thing on TV. I have not felt the need to buy one, though.

Now beer comercials - those are what leave me feeling out of touch...

[dead_duckie]

I listened to music every day on my Discman and never wanted a MP3 player (too much hassle downloading stuff that probably was illegal)
Yeh, I was thinking of getting/being old and I am only 36 :)
Then I won an iPod Mini and now I am hooked.
Don't know why, probably because it is so easy and iTunes is the only platform we are allowed to use in our office. I love the thing though I have to admit I replaced the little thing with the 40GB thing because the battery on the little one was sh..
I have already packed 15 GB onto the big one and cannot think of being without it. Crazy, eh?

[limbo]

MP3's are the future - Ipods are driving the time machine - not sure why you have such strong feelings against them. I have a tatooed mini ipod on order. My pal has one with the iTrip radio connector - she can broadcast to any radio in the room/car or wherever. Now that is clever. I have a Mac so won't see the same problems as PC users I guess. Itunes is standard software with my new audio equipment and remote (surround sound - it's wonderful!) my MAC is fast replacing my Stereo now just need a decent TV tuner...

I don't like the ads much either,I suppose you only like the ads if you like the music they play on them - U2's vertigo for instance - most love that song, it sends shivvers down my spine

[lgn1]

I was surprized that video cell phones caught on; now a Cell Phone GPS receiver would be useful.

[donovanh]

The Ipod is well marketted and very much the visceral choice.. I was tempted but shopped around and found that iRiver's iHP-140 did a much better job (remote included, compatible with all mp3's and other formats, works like a hard drive).

The adverts are nicely done, but it mostly annoys me that the media drop the Ipod name every time mp3 is mentioned. Is this a VHS / Betamax situation?

[pendanticist]

Is it because I don't get the commercials? Everyone apparently loves them. Me? I can't turn the channel fast enough.

Therein lies the answer, Brett. I share this feeling equally in that I do NOT watch, nor listen to commercials.

During a marketing show on the tube the other day, I'm thinking CNNsomething-or-other and they were discussing how the youth market works.

Three things were stipulated as the driving forces surrounding purchasing decisions, aside from having the disposable income ( of which they have oodles ) necessary to make purchases.

Television advertising is a mainstay.

Peer groups.

Their prevalence of using the Internet for socialization.

In that order.

The youth market spends triple the amount of their parents and are more-than-likely to make Internet purchases.

Consider the phenomenon of Logo Clothing too. What a major coup that was. FUBU comes to mind as the concept goes ethnic, further engraining the youth market into logo purchases. Paying the end product to advertise by wearing it. Whatta concept! :)

Where other generations socialized in a variety of venues, the youth market tends to spend more time and money on anything technologically electrical like chat rooms, message boards, IPods and the like.

Verrry gizmo oriented.

Old? Well, one redeeming quality would be whether you have a traditional landline phone service or only a cell.

Cell only = Youth.
Land Line only = Aged...(well)
Both = somewhere in the middle.

Me? No cell. <heavy sigh>

[Reflection]

MP3's are the future

MP3's are the present, lossless audio formats are the future as storage space gets cheaper and physically smaller.

I'd take a Rio Karma over an Ipod... if I could afford either.

[vkaryl]

Guess I'm WAY too old - I just think it's all silly: spending your life on a cell phone, the mp3 stuff, ipods - I'm pretty sure I'm the only person in the world who does NOT want a vehicle with a computer which talks to me, or a dvd player (now, a desk instead of the second seat for my laptop would be nice....)

I WOULD like to have a cd player to replace the tape deck in my 10 year old truck though....

[AAnnAArchy]

I have a cell phone, but refuse to ever turn it on, except for absolute necessity. It's pay per use and it's been used maybe ten times in a year. I don't have an MP3 player, nor do I want one. Although, if I didn't work from home and had to use public transportation, like I did in San Francisco, I suppose I'd think an iPod would be handy.

[Teknorat]

The iPod is a great example of Coca Cola marketing. There are better products out there but they don't sell thanks to Apple's market push. (iRiver forever)

[graywolf]

This one's from the BBC and pretty funny. Although the focus makes it a little wierd

[viral.3dge.net...]

[sandor]

i don't mind the commericals ... what i don't get is why there is such a big deal about a glorified walkman .. i have tonnes of music on my hard drive but i have no desire to transfer it to an ipod then listen to it with my headphones on. maybe on a long plane flight i could use it, but i've got my pocketpc so music, movies, whatever i want is on there.

[sidyadav]

I think it's because of the "ease".

Let's say you're a music lover and you wouldn't mind listening to a few tunes while your in the airport waiting for your next flight or in the car or whatever.

Discman is one option, but really, how many discs can a man carry? Also, a few scratches here and there and it's basically worthless.

MP3 player is another option, and the one I would prefer -- (some are) cheaper than an iPod mini, can record stuff for hours and basically do what iPod mini does expect for maybe look a bit different and a little "simpler".

Then comes your iPods, stylish, skin "able", can contain like a 1000 tunes, and what not.

As I said above, I personally prefer an MP3 player as opposed to an iPod, which I think is great for the yought market, but not so much for me. It's all about your personal preference I guess, and if you're willing to spend a few more bucks on the physical look, and of course, disk space and a couple features.

Sid

[snowman]

What would make the iPod attractive?

The ability to plug a good quality mic into it (or have a good condenser mic built-in) and record live material.

I know a guy who does audio work for university lectures, college radio and the like, and he is restricted to using a mini disc recorder with a limited recording time. It's expensive!

The iPod, if it would record to MP3 format on the fly would be a helluva tape recorder and then you could download the recorded material via USB to your computer.

Otherwise it's just a cute and expensive toy.

[donovanh]

The iRiver IHP series can record mp3 directly through a microphone or any other kind of input (e.g. from minidisc) :)

[limbo]

The ability to plug a good quality mic into it (or have a good condenser mic built-in) and record live material

Accessories [store.apple.com] :)

[Hawkgirl]

And hey! Just because you don't like them doesn't mean you can't buy one for your wife - ya know, as a surprise gift or something. ;)

[Timotheos]

Dell's Rollins dismisses iPod as a 'fad'
[news.zdnet.com...]

[balam]

> And hey! Just because you don't like them doesn't mean you can't buy one for your wife - ya know, as a surprise gift or something. ;)

Hahaha - too funny!