I have been meaning to write this particular post for a while.
When IPODs first came out, or, more correctly, when you first started to see them being used by a large portion of the public transport using population, i couldn't understand what the big deal was. they seemed to be like everything else in this weird, other-culture fearing province - A FAD. A fad like car tempos and those rather pretty, but inexplicably popular icicle-style christmas lights. since then, i have decided that i want an IPOD Nano. Well, i want a real IPOD, but i am poor. However, i don't really know why i want one, which is the main reason i don't have one already. if i can't come up with one good reason why i think it will at least make my life more pleasurable, i don't think i should put out that kind of cash. i don't listen to music that much because i find it difficult to concentrate on what i'm reading when it's playing, even instrumental jazz which is what i listen to the most. i do listen to music when doing latin homework (which i won't be having next year, sadly) and i am pretty certain i would use an IPOD on public transport because i rarely go to the trouble of taking the book i "should" be reading out of my bag.
However, and this is what caused me to finally put up this post, after reading an entry on Guillaume's blog, i discovered pandora by the music genome project. it's a personal DJ. i can taylor a radio system to my specific tastes. the most awesome piece of internet technology i have seen all year. of course, i can't load pandora onto an IPOD, but it sure does give me good suggestions for making purchases at the MusicStore.
Okay, so why am i writing this? Because i need help. I cannot make this life-changing (LOL) decision on my own. Consider this a survey on what you think of the IPOD fad...
Factors to consider with the specific advice you give me that have not been previously mentioned:
(a) currently an IPOD represents over two weeks salary and i am trying to save up so as not to work next semester.
(b) yes, i have a MAC so ITUNES is my software of choice.
(c) i have been to all of two live concerts in my life. i prefer the theatre.
(d) i am horribly intimidated by the musically-knowledgeable.
So, whatcha think? why do you have one or not have one and what light can you shed on my particular conundrum?