>> Go ahead and scoff at the iPod for being "merely" popular, but >> achieving popularity is exactly the right measure. Popularity >> is the sum total of all the features weighted by their >> significance to the people manking [sic] the purchase. > >So, that would mean that Windows is far superior to MacOS.
Very few people buy a Windows computer because they want to. It is not a free choice in a free market. Therefore evaluations need to be made with that in mind. To judge Windows by its ubiquity is like saying "Our dictator's party is obviously wonderful for the people, everywhere you look in Crapistan the people have his picture on the wall and sing his praises." Nobody tells people what MP3 player to buy. Hence popularity is a good surrogate for quality and desirable features because that is a free market. That the Zune "squirts" and the iPod does not counts for almost nothing. Adding WiFi is playing catch up, but not that useful. Buying music while driving should be criminal. Using iTunes on a desktop computer is a much better way to buy music, so I give very few points for WiFi. The radio feature does nothing for people who are really into music as broadcast playlists are crap. Music subscription plans are are for dummies who don't know where to find music online. Etc. etc. A list of features does not make for a compelling product, but is that not MS's usual way of working. It is called "shovelware." The MS Office of music. ************************************************************************* ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *************************************************************************
