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I can sort of see where Paco is coming from. Apple has it's strength and weaknesses but the one thing they know if marketing. By building a community around their product they've ensured it's popularity. When most people want an mp3 player they go right for the brand recognition of the iPod without even thinking about what player is best for them. When I look at the whole row of mp3 players at Best Buy or Target, the other ones all look like cheap imitations of the iPod even if they might be far superior to it. All because of the brand recognition. I love my iPod but I absolutely hate iTunes.
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Apple (iPod) is actually the one guilty of copying others and the/a minimalist design/layout it is not their "creation", rather they are the ones that "borrowed" many styling queues from the pioneer's of free-standing MP3 players, such as Diamond --- one can clearly see where the iPod got its looks from ... the Rio3000 ('98).
Let's not forget that many other companies have been at it LONGER than Apple, such as RCA, and players such as the MPMan F10.
ipod entered the scene three-years later, or more, after others. They knew that the only way to make it big was not by making a great player, but rather by creating a trend.
Apple actually created or found groupies, whom they've given players to, to help them promote their product. They go to the various tech shows and plug plug away! They are given lists of features to discuss.
Now that's spam!
Thanks, but I'll stick with my digital audio player, which is not limited to certain formats, or transfer [slash] copying "regulations".
