KATIE CLARY
Living Editor
A new bandwagon is rolling across the Pepperdine hillside, bobbing to the bump of a musical beat. Meet iPod, if you haven’t already, Apple’s digital music player for Mac and Windows computers. While mp3 players have already been on the rise in recent years, the iPod is quickly launching into iconic status.
Senior David Carter sad he counted eight of the distinctive white boxes at the gym this week, noticeably higher than before Christmas. An iPod-user since November, Carter explained what he considers the name-brand mp3 player’s appeal.
“Other than the size and space that it holds, it’s so small that it’s easy to keep on you and you don’t have to worry about it,” Carter said. “It’s not so clunky as a Discman.”
But the number of iPods inundating Pepperdine’s campus doesn’t compare to what its East Coast cousin is experiencing. North Carolina’s Duke University is swimming in them thanks to an innovative experiment.
In August, Duke University distributed 20 GB iPods to each first-year student — all 1,600 of them. According to the college’s Web site, with the help of Apple Computer, Inc., “Duke hopes to stimulate creative uses of digital technology in academic and campus life by providing students with the iPod.”
The music players came charged and preloaded with audio-welcomes from the Duke president and provost. The university has incorporated iPods into class work, from posting downloadable economics lectures to study, to recording interviews about water quality for an environmental-science class.
In the words of Napolean Dynomite: “Luckeey.”
Like many trendy items, particularly trendy technology, iPods aren’t cheap. The 20 GB model that stores up to 10,000 songs, costs $299, and the 40 GB version runs $399. The same stack of cash can buy you a plane ticket to London or a four-day cruise down to Mexico.
Even when bought at the Pepperdine computer store that offers a $20 discount, students’ wallets will be a couple hundred dollars lighter after the purchase.
But freshman Lauren Carfioli, who bought her iPod from the computer store in August, said the handy device has repaid itself twice over.
“It’s pretty expensive, but in a way reasonable,” Carfioli said.
She opted for the iPod primarily because she didn’t want to bring all her CDs to college. Like a musical sponge, her iPod now contains her own CD collection as well as her sister’s and it’s gradually absorbing more from across campus.
“Yes, it’s definitely worthwhile,” Carfioli said. “My little sister got one after I did, and then my dad bought one.”
The iPod provides peace of mind in other ways too. Senior Carin Huizenga said she was a frequent Napster downloader as a college freshman and sophomore until the federal government and Pepperdine administration scared her away by cracking down on the popular, albeit illegal, practice.
“That’s kind of why I’m excited (about my iPod),” she said, citing the advantages of downloading music legally and in a customized way. “I don’t mind spending a buck to get a song, rather than having to buy an entire CD.”
The iTunes Music Store sells 1 million songs for 99 cents each. Available at all hours of the day and for a deceivingly low price, iTunes can be a slippery slope.
“I’m trying to budget my money so I’ve had to be very disciplined since I got back from Christmas,” Huizenga said.
Some students say the Apple name isn’t necessary. Alumnus Jesse Black swears by his Creative Zen, which costs significantly less than the iPod and in his words, “has all the features of the iPod” and a battery life that outlasts iPod by four or five hours.
“If you want style and you want people to think you’re cool, then tote around an iPod,” he said. “If you just want to listen to music then save $150 and be smart, buy a Zen.”
A little research turns up several iPod alternatives. Also look up scaled-back models such as Rio’s Karma, Rio’s S35S or TDK’s 128.
No matter what the brand, all mp3 players can create an interesting side effect. With a wealth of music more conveniently accessible, Carter and others must consciously resist iPod-bubble syndrome, where everyone rocks out in their individual little worlds.
“Using it requires that you isolate yourselves from what’s going on around you,” Carter said.
He tries to limit his iPod use for time spent alone, he said.
Huizenga agreed.
“That’s why I don’t want to be in the Sandbar listening to it,” she said.
“I feel antisocial, and I like talking to people.”
But some temptations are hard to resist. Carfioli admits to plugging into her music while walking to class everyday.
“But it’s not really a problem, I still wave to people,” she said.
Senior Shaun Grant, who received his iPod for his June birthday, said the iPod is great to use while at the gym and in class.
“I use it to work out. I use it in class — just joking, well, kind of.”
Voicing what seems to be a growing sentiment on campus, Grant speaks with contentment.
“It’s great to have an iPod,” he said.
For everyone else, start hoping that Pepperdine goes the same way as Duke.
01-27-2005
