University Chronicle

Issue date: 2/19/07 Section: Intermission

Media Credit: Bounyoo Philavanh

Media Credit: Bounyoo Philavanh

Attention tech-savvy gurus and music lovers. Since 2001, Apple has revolutionized the portable music industry to the point where it is becoming a rarity to see students on campus without white cords dangling from their ears.

In a generation where tech-gadgets pour from the walls, the members of the iPod nation embrace every second of their precious players. They shun today's commercial-filled radio, scoff at the idea of a new CD release and happily download more than 1.2 million songs per day from Apple's iTunes online store.

"One is quality. Two, Apple seems to have a nice looking thing that catches everybody's eyes, and everybody uses it," Carl Schmitt, a store manager at the campus Computer Store, said. "And they have the software that works well to buy songs, to buy videos and it works."

The fascination with the iPod has now given the listener a chance to upload an entire CD collection and put 10,000 songs in a pocket, or with the newly released iPod shuffle, at a mere 1.62 inches long, their pocket's pocket.

"I chose an iPod because they are easy to use and start up quickly. I used to have an old MP3 player and you had to go through a whole bunch of menus just to get it started, so they're simple to use and fast," Derick Segerstrom, a junior at SCSU said. "It's kind of a personal preference; I just bought an iPod because they seem reliable."

What makes the iPod such a unique and cultural icon is the vast array of model configurations, sizes and colors. The 80GB version holds up to 20,000 songs, up to 25,000 photos and up to 100 hours of video, or any combination of each. The iPod can also download TV episodes, new iPod games, best-selling audio books, podcasts, including complete tours to zoos, museums and French chateaus.

But with growing competition and an ever-changing technology base, what can Apple do to maintain loyalty? What is new and where can people get it?

"A lot of people come specifically for iPods. We offer the full range, from the nano or the shuffle to the iPod video," said Nate Whitney, a computer technician at Dijital Majik Computer Clinic in St. Cloud. "We sell exclusively the iPods simply because we found that they've been the best both with reliability and serviceability."

The Computer Store in the basement of the Miller Center also offers a full range of Apple gear aside from the typically associated "computer stuff only" product.

"iPods are all the ones that are on the education Web site that they (Apple) maintain for us, being from the shuffle, all the different colors, to the nano type, all different colors and the eight gig and the 30 gig video and the 80 gig video," Schmitt said. "We have cases, some FM radio, we have come docking, external speakers, even a radio alarm clock which also plays the iPod, power accessories and video accessories."

According to Apple, the next big thing projected to change the world is its revolutionary iPhone.

"Everybody's waiting for this new Apple iPhone, which is a phone combined with an iPod, that's probably the latest and greatest thing coming out," Whitney said. "You essentially load up your whole life in that device and will be able to communicate with everybody anywhere."

The iPhone combines three things into one, with a mobile phone, a widescreen iPod with touch controls and an Internet communications device with desktop-class e-mail, Web browsing, maps and searching.

"It's going to be a bigger seller for them because it's all in one," Schmitt said. "It has your iPod things on it, it has a phone on it, it has everything that you want, a bigger screen and still slim and easy to carry. It looks cool; a lot of people have stopped by asking about it."

Students interested in the Apple products are encouraged to visit the Computer Store on campus, because among other things, it often gives students discount pricing.

"I believe the service here is probably better than a lot of places, it's all on campus. If you have problems with it and it has to get sent in with warranty and all that, we can do it all for them," Schmitt said. "We try to stick with products we sell here that give the best support."

"Price-wise, Apple has changed their pricing structure and the Apple account exec for our area has helped out, so we actually sell them cheaper than any place in town or even at Apple," he said.

*Photos by Bounyoo Philavanh

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