I think we can all agree that the Apple iPod is a great little MP3 player. Apple made the MP3 player cool, just like Michael Phelps has suddenly made swimming the cool thing to do*. I however don't share the enthusiasm that my generation has for these little guys. I have two main issues with them:
1. Requires the install of proprietary software (iTunes) to be able to transfer music (I could be wrong here, but I haven't heard otherwise).
2. You can't just plug it in and access ALL the files you want to, thanks to a little friend called DRM (Digital Rights Management). DRM makes it so you can't copy MP3s that you payed for from one machine to another. "But its illegal top copy!" you may say. Well I don't care, I paid for it, I should be able to do what I want with it (like CDs).
So I got myself a nice shiny little Sansa Fuze. Can you guess how much software I had to install after getting it? None. Did I have any issues copying my MP3s over? Nope. That fact that MP3s from Amazon.com don't come with any DRM helps too :) This is how I think gadgets should work, just plug it in and go. Sure, I can't plug it into an iPod dock, but considering I have a Line-in cable, I'm not bothered by it.
Some other examples (with good reasoning that will not be stated here) of programs/devices I use are:
Firefox
OpenOffice
VLC Media player
Daemon Tools.
If it weren't for the requirements of a lot of the programs I use, I would have ditched Windows by now for Linux.
*I like to go swimming at the gym, and there is always a spot or two open for me to just hop in. Ever since Michael Phelps won his medals, the pool at 24 is suddenly swarming with swimmers, argh :-\
3 comments:
Even though not the main point of your blog, I wanted to say that I, too, have been swimming at the gym for a long time and there was NO room for me in the pool last week. Not that I can blame people for wanting to be as awesome as Michael Phelps. He's America's new sweetheart.
I like using MP3s on an iPod, but it helps that I don't really have any objections to iTunes. I don't like AAC files at all (the ones that have DRM problems).
If you want to buy music online, use Amazon.com. Slightly cheaper, higher quality, and no DRM (just MP3 files).
hahaha! i think that's hilarious that there are so many swimmers now. That's so interesting!
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