Apple Ipod, overpriced brick or good buy? Options

[sadolakced acid]

sure, there are threads in the technology forum about ipods; but none specifically for debating.

so here's the setup:

the apple ipod is the most popular portable music player in the United States. the word ipod has become synonomous with a hard drive device, like xerox because synonymous with copy machine.

However; the ipod was not the first MP3 player. They were not the first Hard drive player. The only thing that the ipod had that others didn't was the scroll wheel.

basically; the ipod was, and still is, priced higher than other similar competitors.

yet is the reason why it dominates is that it is actually a good portable music player, or is it becuase of clever advertising, it's status as a status symbol, and the mass stupidity of many?

[Baku]

wow i think you guys are getting the itunes store really confused haha

you can add your own songs if it is in an mp3 or wav some format of music it can be played

i have 3000+ songs and they are all from my cds haha or i dled from somewehre else you dont have to buy songs off the store to put it on your ipod :-p and the best part about an ipod it servers as a moble hard drive tus you can add files to your ipod and carry them around i think it is work the $$ i mean heck a 40 gig hard driver you can carry in your pocket?

[william]

and the best part about an ipod it servers as a moble hard drive tus you can add files to your ipod and carry them around i think it is work the $$ i mean heck a 40 gig hard driver you can carry in your pocket?

i'm pretty sure every other mp3 player can also do that. the ipod is nothing special.