Why Apple blows, go zune Options

[impala454]

Walkmans went out of style whenever CD's came in to style, and were hence replaced by Discmans, because no one bought cassette tapes anymore. Discmans went out of style whenever MP3's came in to style. Why buy a Discman to listen to a CD when I can buy an MP3 player and copy my CD on to it, along with all my other downloaded MP3's? Walkmans and Discmans went out of style because the music storage devices that they played became obsolete

The only way I can see Ipods or MP3 players going out of style is if some medium replaced MP3's. The only medium I can see replacing MP3's is some sort of HD radio on demand service, where you can listen to any song at any time. The "any where" part might be a problem though, since I doubt any HD radio provider could provide full reception to everywhere in the country. I don't think the signals would be strong enough to pull that off in the immediate future.

You've completely taken the distinction out of the argument. Nobody is saying they think portable music players are fads.

[Epic]

You said you got the point, but you didn't. People buy coke or dr pepper because of the taste. They don't see other people with coke and that creates their desire for coke. Their initialy desire for coke was insinuated by thirst, or cravings, etc, not by popularity.

And blue: no I wouldn't call "big trucks" a fad. trucks are a necessary item, whether it be justified or not. If you're referring to people jacking up their trucks and putting huge bogger tires on them and stuff, that's just customization. Similiar to the coke comment above, it's something that person desired to do to their vehicle. In fact, I'd call vehicle customization the exact opposite of a fad, as that person is going against the grain of popularity.

if you get to compare slap bracelets to iPods, i get to compare crocs to trucks, it is the same thing, so I can call a truck a "fad" because "The functionality is still there, sure, but the intent before purchase IMHO is what determines it as a fad" when MOST of the people who are buying trucks IMHO don't NEED a truck but they WANT a truck because of whatever subconcious/conscious reasons they have.

its the same thing.

[Mommy]

Do Crocs have functionality that I am unaware of? I thought their purpose was just "fashion" (if you could even call it fashion...they are ugly...well, except the baby ones). Trucks have functionality. I mean, I had a truck for several reasons. Yeah, there are those dumb bitches that buy them cuz they look cool, but that doesn't mean they are a fad. People are just treating it as such.

[impala454]

the need vs want isn't the relevant issue IMHO. any fad related object will be a want most of the time. it's what makes them want the item that determines if it's a fad. a person customizing their truck wants to do it because they want their truck to look different, which is the opposite of what fads are.

[cmac]

a person customizing their truck in texas wants to fit in.

[Mommy]

the need vs want isn't the relevant issue IMHO. any fad related object will be a want most of the time. it's what makes them want the item that determines if it's a fad. a person customizing their truck wants to do it because they want their truck to look different, which is the opposite of what fads are.

Depends on the customization IMO. I mean, Mexicans having their last name written in mailbox letters across the back of their low rider is a fad that needs to come to an immediate end.

[impala454]

I would call that a fad yes, but generalizing all truck or vehicle customization as a fad, no. People customize things because they want them to look different than everyone else's.

[Epic]

the need vs want isn't the relevant issue IMHO. any fad related object will be a want most of the time. it's what makes them want the item that determines if it's a fad. a person customizing their truck wants to do it because they want their truck to look different, which is the opposite of what fads are.

you were just arguing that its the INTENT of a purchase that makes it a fad, and I am using your own argument to show how its the same to call a truck a fad as it is to call an iPod a fad. SUVs and Trucks, yes i'm opening this up wider, are often desired independent of their functionality, which is what you are arguing about the iPod. People want both regardless of whether or not it is the most efficient/best solution/value, whatever. Your reasoning, not mine, if an ipod if a fad by your standards, then so are trucks, independent of how many mods they put on there.

[Oasis]

You said you got the point, but you didn't. People buy coke or dr pepper because of the taste. They don't see other people with coke and that creates their desire for coke. Their initialy desire for coke was insinuated by thirst, or cravings, etc, not by popularity.

You fucking moron. PEOPLE BUY IPODS BECAUSE THEY WANT A PORTABLE MP3 PLAYER. THEY DO NOT BUY THEM BECAUSE THEY SEE SOME SCHMUCK LISTENING TO ONE WHILE JOGGING AND THINK "HEY, I WANNA BE COOL LIKE THIS GUY AND BUY AN IPOD!"

Let me explain, real slowly, why my analogy worked. People want a portable MP3 player. Odds are, their purchase will be an Ipod for several reasons

1. Ipods have been commercially popular the longest. I'm not saying they were the first MP3 players on the market because I have no idea whether or not they were; rather, they were the first to become popular on a widespread, mainstream scale.

2. Ipods are the most common MP3 players. And no I don't need some nerdy sales figures from Consumer Reports to back this up. Go up to ten random people and ask what kind of MP3 player they own, and 8 or 9 will say an Ipod. They are the best selling MP3 players in this country, period

3. Apple's advertising far outweighs their competitors. You'll see five Ipod TV commercials for every 1 from every other manufacturer combined. Same with print ads. Their advertising is superior. Hence, more people will make their initial portable MP3 player purchase an Ipod because that's what they see advertised the most

4. Believe it or not, most people who own an Ipod would recommend them. Not every MP3 player owner is a nerd who posts endlessly on message boards and reads product comparisons on wired.com. Techsans, as a community, isn't a good indicative representation of the general population. Does that mean we're more "in the know"? Probably. But being in the know isn't important to most people. Seriously, everyone on here, including me, has bitched about how much Apple sucks because their Ipod or Iphone doesn't work properly all the goddamned time. Guess what? No electronics do, regardless of manufacturer. Most rational people realize this and don't think "OMG APPLE SUCKS" every time something goes wrong. It comes with the territory of owning electronics. Only on fanboy interweb message boards to people overanalyze every complaint and form half cocked opinions that a product sucks overall because the only time people complain about them is when they break down. That's ignorant, and we're all guilty of it. But the general consensus with the general population is that Ipods are solid products. If people didn't think that, they wouldn't be the top selling MP3 player since their inception. Some consumers are dumb, but they aren't that dumb to continually buy a product that gets poor reviews everywhere.


In closing: People buy MP3 players because they want an MP3 player. It has nothing to do with wanting to look trendy. People buy Ipods because they're the most common, most popular, most heavily advertised, etc. It has nothing to do with wanting to look trendy. I'm sure there are a few moronic 13 year old girls who see their 16 year old sister listening to her Ipod and want one because she wants to emulate her cooler, older sister. That has nothing to do with her wanting an Ipod specifically to look cool. It has everything to do with her being 13 years old and probably having never heard of Zune, Creative, Iriver, or any other less popular manufacturer. You can't base the trendiness of a product on the buying habits of utterly clueless and illinformed dumbfucks.

The only difference between soda and MP3 players is comparison shopping. You can buy several different sodas and figure out which one you like best. You can't buy several MP3 players for comparison unless you want to drop four figures. Most consumers, when they make their initial purchase of a good or product, will go with what is best known. Be it Coca Cola, Dell, or an Ipod. Usually, they'll stick with that product unless given good reason to switch. Obviously Apple is doing something right because portable MP3 owners have now gone through 2-3 players, and the Ipod is still the top selling product

The only way the Ipod could be a fad is if MP3 players themselves end up being fads. They won't be. As for the Ipod, it's firmly entrenched itself as the leader bar none in one of the most popular and stable electronics industries. It isn't a fad, you utter nitwit

[Jim]

So, you're saying iPods are the fad, not the MP3 players...? Why are iPods fads? Maybe people really like their iPod? I know plenty of people who have iPods and haven't had any trouble with them. So, it seems that, with the exception of some bad cases, iPods are good MP3 players. And what's wrong with buying quality products? Is it a fad?

Big Sunglasses on girls = fad
Dressing like a scenester = fad
iPod music player = not fad

[impala454]

you're still talking about need vs want. that's irrelevant. it's about what causes the desire to purchase that specific item (brand). do people want iPods because they're popular and that drives the want for a music player, or do people want a music player and then that drives the want for an iPod?

if someone wants a truck/SUV it's not because they're popular. it's because they want a bigger vehicle. whether their want/need is justified is irrelevant. either way, the basic want for a vehicle doesn't get driven by popularity.

[Oasis]

a person customizing their truck in texas wants to fit in.

Less than 5% of the trucks on the road have a lift kit, and less than 20% of trucks on the road have an exhaust system. Less than 1% have a supercharger.

Who exactly are they trying to fit in with? The minority? Don't play to a dumb and ignorant stereotype

[impala454]

You fucking moron.

if you want me to read your post, calling me a fucking moron and then typing something in all caps followed by 18 paragraphs that probably could have conveyed what you had to say in 2 sentences aint the best way.

[Mommy]

You fucking moron. PEOPLE BUY IPODS BECAUSE THEY WANT A PORTABLE MP3 PLAYER. THEY DO NOT BUY THEM BECAUSE THEY SEE SOME SCHMUCK LISTENING TO ONE WHILE JOGGING AND THINK "HEY, I WANNA BE COOL LIKE THIS GUY AND BUY AN IPOD!"

Let me explain, real slowly, why my analogy worked. People want a portable MP3 player. Odds are, their purchase will be an Ipod for several reasons

1. Ipods have been commercially popular the longest. I'm not saying they were the first MP3 players on the market because I have no idea whether or not they were; rather, they were the first to become popular on a widespread, mainstream scale.

2. Ipods are the most common MP3 players. And no I don't need some nerdy sales figures from Consumer Reports to back this up. Go up to ten random people and ask what kind of MP3 player they own, and 8 or 9 will say an Ipod. They are the best selling MP3 players in this country, period

3. Apple's advertising far outweighs their competitors. You'll see five Ipod TV commercials for every 1 from every other manufacturer combined. Same with print ads. Their advertising is superior. Hence, more people will make their initial portable MP3 player purchase an Ipod because that's what they see advertised the most

4. Believe it or not, most people who own an Ipod would recommend them. Not every MP3 player owner is a nerd who posts endlessly on message boards and reads product comparisons on wired.com. Techsans, as a community, isn't a good indicative representation of the general population. Does that mean we're more "in the know"? Probably. But being in the know isn't important to most people. Seriously, everyone on here, including me, has bitched about how much Apple sucks because their Ipod or Iphone doesn't work properly all the goddamned time. Guess what? No electronics do, regardless of manufacturer. Most rational people realize this and don't think "OMG APPLE SUCKS" every time something goes wrong. It comes with the territory of owning electronics. Only on fanboy interweb message boards to people overanalyze every complaint and form half cocked opinions that a product sucks overall because the only time people complain about them is when they break down. That's ignorant, and we're all guilty of it. But the general consensus with the general population is that Ipods are solid products. If people didn't think that, they wouldn't be the top selling MP3 player since their inception. Some consumers are dumb, but they aren't that dumb to continually buy a product that gets poor reviews everywhere.


In closing: People buy MP3 players because they want an MP3 player. It has nothing to do with wanting to look trendy. People buy Ipods because they're the most common, most popular, most heavily advertised, etc. It has nothing to do with wanting to look trendy. I'm sure there are a few moronic 13 year old girls who see their 16 year old sister listening to her Ipod and want one because she wants to emulate her cooler, older sister. That has nothing to do with her wanting an Ipod specifically to look cool. It has everything to do with her being 13 years old and probably having never heard of Zune, Creative, Iriver, or any other less popular manufacturer. You can't base the trendiness of a product on the buying habits of utterly clueless and illinformed dumbfucks.

The only difference between soda and MP3 players is comparison shopping. You can buy several different sodas and figure out which one you like best. You can't buy several MP3 players for comparison unless you want to drop four figures. Most consumers, when they make their initial purchase of a good or product, will go with what is best known. Be it Coca Cola, Dell, or an Ipod. Usually, they'll stick with that product unless given good reason to switch. Obviously Apple is doing something right because portable MP3 owners have now gone through 2-3 players, and the Ipod is still the top selling product

The only way the Ipod could be a fad is if MP3 players themselves end up being fads. They won't be. As for the Ipod, it's firmly entrenched itself as the leader bar none in one of the most popular and stable electronics industries. It isn't a fad, you utter nitwit

You're smoking something if you think that people don't buy the iPod because they saw someone else with it. People with iPods and iPhones ALWAYS have those things in their hand or on the table in front of them...never in their pocket or backpack. They want people to know they are cool.

if you want me to read your post, calling me a fucking moron and then typing something in all caps followed by 18 paragraphs that probably could have conveyed what you had to say in 2 sentences aint the best way.

lol

[impala454]

So, you're saying iPods are the fad, not the MP3 players...?

right

Why are iPods fads? Maybe people really like their iPod?

I'm sure girls like their big sunglasses, people loved their slap bracelets, etc.

I know plenty of people who have iPods and haven't had any trouble with them.

I do not know a single person with an iPod who hasn't gotten frustrated with it in some way. You may be right, but neither of these experiences really matter, because the operation of the item doesn't have to sell them, the fad sells them.

So, it seems that, with the exception of some bad cases, iPods are good MP3 players. And what's wrong with buying quality products? Is it a fad?

Nothing wrong with quality products at all, and not saying the iPod isn't a good player. But let me ask you and everyone else, what makes the iPod so popular? Why do people buy them? Specifically, why did you buy it (obviously you guys getting in a hissy fit own them)? Which other music players did you consider? What did you use to listen to your music before you bought your iPod? Obviously the answers to these questions will skew somewhat due to the discussion we're having, but I'm betting you can't explain this one:

According to wiki, Apple has sold over 140 million iPods. Do yall really think that if the iPod never existed, every one of those 140 million sales would have gone to other music players? I'll answer that question for ya, NO WAY IN HELL. This proves that the want for iPods is spurred on by popularity and not want for a music player in general followed by a choice of an iPod. And since you guys get so black and white over everything, no it doesn't mean I'm saying YOU in particular purchased your iPod just because it's popular.

I don't see anything wrong with them being a fad, but I do think they are. I don't see them being around forever. Soon enough music player functionality will mix completely into cell phones (which is already happening) or maybe even jewlery or something.