Chapter 1. Touring the iPod

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Understand why the iPod is more hip than hype.

• Get an overview of what makes an iPod an iPod.

• Meet the iPods.

• Learn what you can do with an iPod.

In less than three years of existence, Apple's iPod has become one of the most popular personal digital devices ever created. When initially released, the iPod's critics said it was too expensive when compared to other digital music players and that people would never spend the additional money to get the iPod's much superior functionality and style (even the critics couldn't deny the iPod's amazing attributes). As they often are, the critics were very much mistaken. People who love music love the iPod. Its combination of features and style, and because it's simply very, very cool, led it to quickly dominate sales of personal music players, a position in which it remains today.