Since Apple first introduced the iPod in October 2001, the small white cords hanging from the ears of passersby have become ubiquitous. According to a July Newsweek cover story, more than three million people own an iPod, and competitors have had little luck so far against the combined force of Apple's mp3 player and its music organizing software, iTunes.
The young adult demographic is a major player in the iPod trend: a survey conducted recently by securities firm Piper Jaffray & Co. found that 16 percent of teens own iPods, and that another 24 percent have plans to purchase one within the following year.
The commercials advertising the device have become equally well known, featuring new music and a simple theme of bright backgrounds, silhouetted dancing figures and those little white strings leading to the earbuds.
These campaigns have been successful enough to be recognizable, in and of themselves, as a part of the iPod culture. They have reached this level because of "smart marketing, vision and taste" on the part of Apple, said Associate Professor of Sociology James Ennis.
Ennis went on to explain that "the key is the integration with iTunes." iTunes, the partner to the iPod, is a music organizing and sharing tool that has proliferated throughout the Internet (Every student interviewed who owns an iPod uses iTunes).
Such a sudden cultural phenomenon is rare but explainable. According to Newsweek's article, music is very intertwined with people's emotions, "and the purchase of something that opens up one's entire music collection ... makes for an intense relationship."
Tufts Associate Professor of Anthropology David Guss said that the iPod is so successful because it "empower[s] people to become more than simply passive consumers. iPod and other systems create new circuitries in which consumers are also producers."
By Guss's definition, then, many Tufts students are indeed both consumers and producers. "Most of my friends have them," freshman Ben Brooks said of iPods.
Adding credence to Guss's analysis, many students employ iPods as updated, personalized CD players, taking pride in their ability to produce their own music repertoires -whether through iTunes or other means.
"If there's a new album I want, I'll get that from the iTunes store," sophomore Abena Agyemang said. "Otherwise, I get it from my old CDs."
Old CD collections serve as a popular source for music on the iPod, enabling students to legally copy their favorite CDs into the iPod's memory.
"I get most of my music from my friends," sophomore Stacey Watkins said. "I burn it onto data CDs [and copy to my iPod from those], and my friends send me music through [instant messaging] too."
One venue that won't be supplying budget-conscious iPod owners with music is Tufts' recently announced partnership with CDigix, which will not supply students with free music for their iPods; in order to transfer music to portable listening devices like the iPod, students will have to pay.
Many college students have integrated their iPods into the fabric of their everyday routines.
"I use it mostly on the way to the gym and on my way to classes," said freshman Cynthia McMurry, one of many students who take their iPods to the gym for workouts.
Graduate student Jessica Davis said that she has had her iPod since April and uses it "mostly for exercising."
Other students use their iPods to fill spaces between classes or while traveling.
"I use mine while I'm studying or when I'm going somewhere on the T," Agyemang said.
"Most often, I have mine on in my car," said senior Jason Freedman, who has the FM transmitter accessory to use in his car
The iPod's cultural resonance has been felt on other campuses besides Tufts. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, Duke University gave new iPods to every incoming student in the Class of 2008 this fall.
The cost of the iPod is a big deterrent-the iPod mini is the cheapest option and costs $249. Fletcher student Kristen Zimmerman said that she'd love to have one but that the only thing stopping her was the cost.
Others received one as a gift, like sophomore Leticia Frazao. "My parents got it for me for Christmas," she said, after she researched her options and told her parents she wanted one.
Why do some students prefer the iPod? "It's cuter than the other one I looked at," Agyemang said. Others said that they simply did not do any research into their other options.
About half of the students interviewed, however, did buy the iPod for themselves. "I bought mine myself," Lowenstein said, but after only "minimal research."
"I bought mine myself," freshman Nicki Sobecki agreed. "I did research through my friends, just by asking around," she added.
Out of those students who do not own iPods, many are not aware of the other, cheaper brands. Others, however, defy the cultural trend: they simply do not want an mp3 player.
"I never seriously thought about buying them," Brooks said.
Sophomore Laura Crook agreed. "I've never really researched them, but I've never really had the desire to get one," she said.
