Snapturtle

Robert Scoble, a Microsoft employee, has posted some interesting “insights” into why you shouldn’t buy an iPod. His “first comments”:http://radio.weblogs.com/0001011/2004/01/26.html#a6361 were related to Microsoft’s WMA technology and how it’s superior to Apple’s use of AAC (an “open audio format”:http://www.dolby.com/company/is.ot.0011.TechOverview.03.html created by Dolby, Sony, AT&T, and Fraunhofer IIS). I’ve posted quite a few comments on his thread and to save you from having to read through more than 130 comments, I basically said both formats suck because of the use of DRM (Digital Rights Management) and both can be easily defeated by re-ripping purchased songs back into the standard MP3 format.

Robert then goes on to talk about how fellow MS employees have contacted him about his comments and that they own iPods. Robert then “attempts to remind us of 1989″:http://radio.weblogs.com/0001011/2004/01/28.html#a6418 when Apple was in control of the computer market.

Where does market share come into play here Robert? You do realize that 5% of the computer market is LARGER than what the primo auto makers have? Why do I care that Windows is the dominate platform? Shit, MS makes software for the Mac, they seem to know the Mac still has a very rabid following and is able to turn a profit selling software for it. You never did respond to my comment about Ultimate TV Everything Microsoft touches does not always turn into gold and the same can be said for Apple (the Cube).

As for the iPod even if it’s market share went below say 10% it would still be firmly planted in the market when you have 500+ crappy WMA devices that seperately would never have more than 2% of the market.

You MS tools think that anything less than a market leader is a failure. Tell that to Porsche, Ferrari, etc. whom have no where near 5% of the auto market yet still manage to do just fine.

The whole topic of Mac vs PC is really quite boring. I choose to use a Mac. I always have and always will. I shouldn’t have to be forced into a platform I don’t enjoy using and I shouldn’t be forced to use a “crappy MP3 player”:http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/category.aspx/dj?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs (“here”:http://accessories.gateway.com/AccessoryStore/Consumer+Electronics_381930/Audio_381931/Default.htm?seg=hm, “here”:http://us.creative.com/products/category.asp?category=3, and “here”:http://www.digitalnetworksna.com/shop/_templates/cat_list_Rio.asp?cat=53) if I don’t want to.