...of Good Stewardship of Money and Time

CTC Readers' Poll:
iPod Mania 

 In the February 1, 2006 issue of the newsletter, we asked this question:

"A recent article in the Wall Street Journal said that iPods are now selling at a rate of 100 every minute. Does anyone in your family own an iPod? If so, what do you use it for?"

Editor's Note: We received 65 responses to this question:
24 said that you/your family DOES NOT own an iPod (37%)
38 said that you/your family DOES own an iPod (58%)
3 said that you/your family DOES NOT own an iPod but you wish you did (5%)

We did not have room to list all the comments we received , but here are a few of the most memorable:

"I don't own an ipod, but it is on my wish list. The reason it is on my list is because I am learning to play two instruments and listening to unusual recordings is easier if I can download them from the Internet and listen at my leisure. Also, there is a recorder component that would be very helpful for recording festival workshops and lessons and song swaps. It may very well be a couple of years before I save up enough for it, but by then maybe I can pick one up at a yard sale!" ~ Sara


 
"iPod is a brand name and as with most brand names, someone has to pay for all that advertising--namely the consumer. In the spirit of saving money but still enjoying technology, we purchased a basic mp3 player made by Sandisk, a reputable company but without much of the hype/name recognition of iPod. It's actually smaller in size than an iPod but hold just as many songs. It was about half the price purchased new. Had we bought it second hand (ie eBay) we would have saved even more. We use it a great deal--my husband takes it on many business trips and long driving trips and we both use it during exercise. My husband has an extensive disk collection and now we are able to put all our favorite songs on this gadget and get more enjoyment out of them." ~ Sarah
 


I have an Ipod. It was a Christmas gift last year (04), and I wasn't sure what I needed it for. Now I truly wonder how I lived without it. I download books onto it, and listen to them as I take my daily walk. Listening to the books makes the walk much more enjoyable and I go much further each day, improving my health and learning and being
entertained at the same time." ~ Lynn


"My 14 year old son has an iPod.  This was an important 'want' of his because it was just too much 'work' to carry around a personal CD player and have to change those CDs all the time!  This is a homeschooled young man who is not out among the latest fads!  Well, he worked packing blueberries this past summer and earned enough money to purchase his iPod.  He loves it, and feels it was worth every minute of his labor.  He puts all his music CDs on it and has it in his pocket most of the time.  He doesn't purchase downloads from the internet.  I think an iPod is pretty cool too, but not cool enough for me to spend a couple of hundred dollars on!" ~ Sharon


 
"My husband bought a smaller version of an iPod called the iPod Shuffle. We bought it thru his company sponsored discount program with Apple Computers. The great thing about this device is that not only is it an MP3 player, it also works as a portable hard drive or 'jump drive.' So, my husband can load computer files and transfer or have access to them at work, at home, or traveling via his Shuffle,  all the while still having access to music on his playlist. At the time, the cost was $99. We think its well worth it. My husband knows that in an emergency he can have his entire career portfolio (he's a designer) loaded on a device no larger than a pack of gum.
 
My husband bought me an iPod for mother's day last year, but we returned it because in addition to the expense, I needed to upgrade my computer system in order to work it properly. Wasn't worth the expense. So, I just listen to music the old fashioned way." ~ Cara

"Our son in LA bought his contractor dad an iPod to listen to while he is painting....of course he had to come and show his dad how to download songs for free off the internet. It has been great for my husband and my son loves it that he bought his dad something he really does use. My husband is still driving his 1985 Isuzu pick-up truck in his business -- He doesn't really like new things, so his liking the ipod surprised us all!" ~ Robyn
 

"We do not own an iPod. I wouldn't even know what to do with one.
I asked my 19 yr old son if he would want one, and he said that they are a waste of time and money. I've not seen anyone with one or using one. Where are all the ones that are supposedly being sold?" ~ Ellie
 

Editor's Note: Thanks to all our readers who took time to write, even though we only had room to post these few.

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