<p>hmm im actually trying that whole ********.com thingy..ugh..just signed up..hope it works!:...sure ghost ill explain ..just im me..okie..</p>
<p>i wanted an ipod and i worked for it for free via f r e e i p o d s . c o m... hey it was hard work lol. <em>is listening to brand new ipod right now</em></p>
<p>my only complaint is that it scratches SO easily... grrr</p>
<p>yes im working for it now..how hard is it?..goddd im scared i wont be able to cancel my trial on time..before they start billing me..for one of those offers..grr I WANT IT!>.</p>
<p>usnareject: i have a sony walkman too!! But I mostly just use the radio.</p>
<p>It's sad when you're embarassed to admit you have a sony walkman nowadays. My lack of modern technology has me excluded from society, except for my Windows '95 computer to talk to the outside world.</p>
<p>I got a Sony Walkman as well! I just don't see the point in paying so much for an Ipod.</p>
<p>It's not buying, it's having someone else handing you everything you want. There's a difference :p</p>
<p>I have my computer. Yes, my life is sad.</p>
<p>@usna_reject: I sympathize with you. Seriously. I recognize how fortunate I am to have been brought up in the way that I have. I don't have experience with anything different, but I recognize that it can be an isolating situation.</p>
<p>I find it disgusting, frankly. I make it a point not to buy anything, including music and books, based solely on the social reputation of its brand (excepting New Balance for their cheaper "defective" factory outlet models). Being a technophile, I feel it is justified for me to make computer equipment my primary investment, but for others there is simply no need. "What do you need that Custom Area51 Alienware for? Oh, playing Snood and IMing your buddies? Ah, okay. Once you can tell me what this chip here does, I'll forgive your gratuitous spending and transparent social climbing. Heck, if you do know what that chip does, why did you buy an Alienware?"</p>
<p>Do I need an iPod? No. Am I happy that I received one out of nowhere (surprise from uncle)? Yes, of course, it is a nice design-- but it would also have been nice if it weren't a heavily marked-up and regulated fad item. Would I ever have bought an iPod with my own (earned) money or with my parents'? Definitely not. I don't suggest you bother pining for these devices. It's not worth it. Instead, you should help change the mentality of it. It's like admitting that a purse is a bag, not a bracelet. Once people get over that, some of the prejudice against those less interested or able to procure the fad devices (Fad E-Vices, maybe?) might end.</p>
<hr>
<p>Now, a follow up for the rest of you
. . . I built a computer for around half the price of an equivalent commercial model (and now around 70%). It's running very strongly, 1.5 years later (a long time in the high-end computer market). I can compete in benchmarks with upper-range home models and mid-range gaming rigs. Although prices can be prohibitive in the technology market, there are ways cut costs. This was just one. Labels are not divine messages.</p>
<p>Just because one CAN buy a fad-brand doesn't mean one SHOULD buy fad-brand.</p>
<p>How would we get our batteries replaced after it runs out? Sorry, I don't really "know" a lot about the technicalities...but I still like my Ipod better than anything else I have had...and believe me, I spend a ridiculous amount of money on anything music...</p>
<p>"How would we get our batteries replaced after it runs out? Sorry, I don't really "know" a lot about the technicalities...but I still like my Ipod better than anything else I have had...and believe me, I spend a ridiculous amount of money on anything music..."</p>
<p>This validates my point : (</p>
<p>Okay, this is the wrong thread for this, but fine . . . we'll move off of it later.</p>
<p>I suggest you read up on all of the things you can do with your audio player. You got it for these features, afterall. Several tools to enhance your experience are:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Smart Playlists: Dynamic playlists that filter your songs using (potentially) complex boolean logic. I keep everything fresh with one playlist for only unranked songs (which I then rank), one for my favorite songs selected by least recently played, one whimsical mood playlist, and one mix that favors higher ranked songs. Each playlist is limited to a certain total amount of space on the hard drive so that iTunes synchronization doesn't get confused.</p></li>
<li><p>PodCasting. A podcast is an RSS feed that links to audio content.
Translation: You can subscribe (for free) to the digital equivalent radio shows.
Once subscribed to a feed, a podcasting client can automate using BitTorrent and iTunes to download and synchronize the content with your digital audio player.
Translation: If you have special software, the latest shows can be downloaded very quickly to your computer. The program can also keep your iPod up to date with the shows. Personally, I subscribe to Coverville: The best and worst covers, Leo Laporte's tech radio show, WGBH Morning Stories, Air America: Al Franken's daily show, Air America: What Else Is News?, and Reel Review. This is a very powerful tool!</p></li>
</ul>
<p>*iStories: Use the iPod's integrated HTML support to create and/or play branching choose-your-own-adventure stories for playing on your iPod. With some work, you can probably create a password prompt (remember to set it to museum, notes-only, mode).</p>
<p>*GoogleGet: Download the lastest news and weather for reading on your iPod.</p>
<p>*PodPlayer: Plug into any computer and play you music library in a familiar iTunes-like manner. Also included in the package are a few firmware "hacks" and a utility to extract music from the iPod for uploading onto another PC (or your original PC, in the event of a system failure).</p>
<p>etc., etc., etc. Use your player for everything its worth. For those who want to play 96kb/s encoded pop songs, get a tape deck and a radio. If you must, cover it in duct tape for some shine.</p>
<hr>
<p>Batteries can be replaced by Apple for $99 or at home (voiding your warranty) for about half of that.</p>
<p>you suburban teens with your ipods :rolleyes:</p>
<p><em>draw drops...drool drips...</em> </p>
<p>wow, nom, dude man you are getting pretty serious here. this thread seems to really have brought out your ideology and your "ipod wisdom." you rock</p>
<p>id suggest you post multiple replies rather the long ones for two reasons:
1. long replies are hard to read through, ppl mostly will skip over
2. boosts your "Posts" number, which means... you post a lot...okay im done</p>
<p>gh0st-posts in the cafe don't count in your "posts" :-P</p>
<p>aw dam. thanks forgetme</p>
<p>ill just wither away now...</p>
<p>i actually "earned" my ipod. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.free....ipods.com%5B/url%5D">www.free....ipods.com</a> (not a link)</p>
<p>did this about 4 months ago. RECIEVED the ipod in a little less than 2 months.</p>
<p>I've got two or possibly three of the five people I need signed up for my ********s account. If anyone's interested in trying it out, you should sign up under me. My referral link is : <a href="http://www.freei%5B/url%5D">http://www.freei</a> Pods.com/?r=12164024
(w/out the spaces of course)
If you want more info or anything, send me a PM.</p>
<p>okay, back to your regularly scheduled ipod conversation...</p>
<p>IPods are the lame fad of this year. Wait til next year, where they come out with the IPod Plus, filled with other gizmos and gadgets that boggle the mind. <em>GASP</em> It'll come with a mini DVD player too!</p>
<p>There are very few technological advances nowadays (of course, the computer is one of the better ones that have stayed throughout the years) that stay for long. IPod's time will come too. Watch.</p>
<p>hehehe</p>
<p>i hope its sony that usurps ipods from the digital music throne. sony usually has nice stuff that are not only practical and just overall excellent but also asthetically pleasing</p>
<p>I'm jumping on the "above your consumerist proganda!" bandwagon because there are better things to do with $200 than buy an ipod, but maybe I'll get an old one in a few years if they become cheap</p>