| There may be some of you reading this, that can | | | | wires sticking out of there ears. |
| remember something called a Sony Walkman. | | | | The Apple iPod is a truly amazing product. It has |
| Now if you are not old enough, just ask your | | | | crossed the demographic consumer lines. You see |
| parents or even an older brother or sister. What | | | | people of all ages wearing these things: from the |
| you will see is this kind of smile come over their | | | | teachers, the kids (big and small) to the senior |
| faces. Boy, does time fly and technology goes | | | | citizens, the athletes who manage to keep the |
| even faster. | | | | ear buds in place despite doing whatever there |
| You see, if you lived back in the 1980's, the Sony | | | | sport happens to be. |
| Walkman was the coolest thing on the planet. | | | | Now, don't panic if you haven't entered the iPod |
| Now if you did live back then, you probably | | | | country yourself. There are so many to chose |
| owned one of these. This product was the rave. | | | | from: the iPod classic, iPod shuffle, iPod nano, the |
| This product was everywhere, in the airports, the | | | | iPod mini and so much more. And lets not forget |
| malls, on buses, everywhere. You would see the | | | | about all the iPod accessories that go along with |
| kids in the back seat of the family car, listening to | | | | this. Though the iPod are so incredibly popular, |
| their own thing, using the Sony Walkman. Their | | | | there are still enough people out there who |
| parents would be listening to something else | | | | haven't tried one yet. And there are still people |
| (Dean Martin or Perry Como), which the kids | | | | out there who have the iPod and haven't even |
| hated. | | | | taken it out of first gear yet. Why is this? |
| A phenomenon is a term that implies that | | | | The reason is because technology can seem |
| something is here today and then gone | | | | confusing and despite its small size, figuring out |
| tomorrow. The Walkman was beyond a | | | | the in's and the outs of the iPod can seem |
| phenomenon, it was a mainstay. It was a staple | | | | intimidating and time consuming. In fact, nothing |
| of the society in which it was introduced. If there | | | | could be further from the truth. The iPod is built |
| was a time capsule created to represent the | | | | around the reputation of Apple which is base |
| 1980's, the Walkman would have to be included. If | | | | things on simplicity and ease of use. Just like the |
| you were to not include it, would be the same | | | | Mac computer. The iPod is as easy to use as a |
| thing as discussing technology of the 21st century | | | | DVD player, or maybe even easier. |
| and leaving out the part about the internet. | | | | In closing here are some facts about the Apple |
| Now for the next generation of personal | | | | iPod that you may not be aware of. I am sure |
| entertainment devices, from the Walkman to the | | | | you know this that the iPod is the #1 selling digital |
| iPod. I am not sure how you could avoid not | | | | music device. What does it take to be the #1 |
| knowing about the Apple iPod, unless you happen | | | | selling device in this competitive marketplace? |
| to be living in that time capsule we talked about | | | | Here are some facts. Since 2001 there have been |
| earlier. So, you have seen them, they are | | | | 110 million devices sold world wide. That is: |
| everywhere (sound familiar?). If you ask 10 | | | | 18 million devices/year |
| people to explain what an iPod is, you'll likely | | | | 1.527 million/month |
| receive 10 different answers; and all of them will | | | | 50,228/day |
| likely contain some element of fact and logic. | | | | 2093/hr |
| Introduced by Apple Computers in 2001, the iPod | | | | 35/min |
| is technically defined as a portable music player; | | | | Now if that does not make you go WOW, to the |
| and even this doesn't do it justice. Today it is so | | | | Apple iPod popularity, I am not sure what would. |
| much more. | | | | It's no wonder, given these awesome sales total, |
| Now the Walkman was really for the kids, that is | | | | that the question most people ask these days |
| who mainly used it. Not today and the iPod. It is | | | | isn't: are you getting an iPod, but rather: where is |
| not just for kids anymore. You see more than | | | | your iPod? |
| just kids walking around with these little white | | | | |