A day or two after many others have had their say about Apple’s new iPod MP3 player, ZDNet Anchordesk editorial director Patrick Houston has posted his own view, entitled XP: Phooey on youie! Why iPod is the Apple of our eyes today. As you can tell by the title, Houston heaps unabashed praise on Apple’s new digital music device.
First of all, he applauds Apple’s efforts to competitively block Microsoft’s introduction of Windows XP this week by hyping the introduction of iPod. It’s tit for tat for Microsoft, which has done the same to its own competitors many times in the past, said Houston.
Strategic timing aside, iPod’s introduction wasn’t just bunk, said Houston. “Instead, it’s a product that embodies Apple at its very best and testifies to the fact that, thank heavens, Apple is still around to spread its characteristic sense of style and pizzazz through a technology landscape that’s gotten, well, boring, XP’s arrival notwithstanding.”
Ultimately, said Houston, the iPod is yet another example of Apple’s continued ability to work itself into the hearts and minds of Mac and PC users alike. “Apple, under prodigal founder Steve Jobs, is getting really, really good. Its track record over the last few years has been nothing short of impressive: the iMac, the iBook, the Titanium PowerBook, OS X — all have been hailed as exquisite examples of computing products.”
In fact, said Houston, Apple is restoring itself to a position where it’s a plausible alternative to Microsoft, especially given recent licensing changes to Microsoft software that has given many corporate users pause.
“IPod may be the right MP3 player for all of us. OS X may be the right operating system for all of us, too,” said Houston.