apple.com

Apple's iPod: A College Life Icon

By: Steven McKenzie

Posted: 10/4/06

Few things have had as deep an impact on modern day culture as Apple's iPod. The iPod is a portable media player that comes in various models and colors with different amounts of storage space and media playing capabilities. The price range varies from $79 to $349.
The iPod was created in 2001 after the popular iTunes was released. The first model came in five and ten gigabyte formats and cost $399 and $499 respectively. Apple began to refine the iPod and released four other versions over the span of five years. While the iPod remained the poster child of Apple's selection, they began to release different models to appeal to a broader customer base. The iPod Mini was released in January 2004 and departed from the plain white look of the iPod. It was smaller in size and storage space, carrying a price tag of $249, substantially less than the iPod. The Mini was replaced by the sleek, color screen iPod Nano in September 2005, which was released along with the screen-less iPod Shuffle. The shuffle is the most affordable of the iPod lineup, and the new version released earlier this month is the smallest portable media player; less than two inches wide and one inch tall.
With various models and prices, the iPod is a fixture of college life. For Meredith Levine, her iPod is very important. "It contains all the time and effort I put into my music collection, which is a lot." Ryan Conry uses his iPod with the iHome, a radio/clock iPod accessory, "They are amazing," he said. "I would never get up without it."
The iPod does not stop at music. There is a notepad and calendar feature to help keep the busy college student organized. Students can also share pictures on the color screen models, as well as view videos. iPods can also be used as external hard drives, so large files can be easily and safely transported from computer to computer.
Other companies have begun to use the iPod and its technology to boost their own popularity. SparkNotes offers study guides that can be downloaded and viewed on an iPod. Motorola partnered with Apple to produce cellular phones with the capabilities to hold up to one hundred songs on certain models.
With the popularity of the iPods also came the risk of theft. The MTA noted a significant rise in the amount of iPods stolen in 2005. The numbers were high enough for the MTA to launch a campaign to warn public transportation users to watch their devices.
Levine says, "I always keep it in my hand and make sure it is on me the whole time." Other iPod owners have switched from the white ear buds, synonymous with the iPod, to other brand headphones to divert attention and
prevent theft.
Public transportation is not the only place where iPod theft is happening. In 2004, Temple University's The Temple News reported 312 iPod thefts, up 11% from 2003. Dartmouth College and the University of Montana at Missoula reported similar problems. Solutions have begun to arise with insurance companies offering policies on items such as laptops and portable devices like iPods.
With Apple's dominance in the portable media player market, the iPod is becoming a mainstay on college campuses. Although the price remains high for some models, demand remains strong. Apple makes the iPod more affordable through various student discounts. Other large electronics stores such as Best Buy also offer sales on iPods.