iPod: Has It Been 5 Years Already?
A friend today pointed me to this page on the Macintouch web site with the first reactions to the iPod, which was announced five years ago, on October 23, 2001. It’s kind of interesting to read some of these reactions, especially now after we know the success of the iPod; it’s especially interesting to see just how wrong so many of the commenters were. But of course, some people naysay everything…
Here are some examples:
- If the iPod is an example of Apple’s future direction, I guess my shares of Apple stock will be a long time recovering.
- I’m puzzled by this new Apple product, there’s absolutely nothing new about it, it’s a simple consumer gadget without any soul…
- I expect more from Apple when they kick up such a media frenzy. Can you imagine the press from Wired, Times, CNN, etc. that went to the Apple campus to see Apple’s next brilliant product looking at each other with blank stares on their faces. An MP3 player? How 1996? Why the hell are we here?
- Let’s hope that Apple will introduce a pro version in future with a color display, larger drives and full QuickTime support (iTunes and iMovie on the go).
- The iPod is certainly not revolutionary technology — other hard drive-based players have been around for a while. But, like many other Apple endeavors, it may be the first version of the technology that’s really worth having to the general public
In any case, it’s always fun to read armchair pundits and compare their comments with what really happened. I just hope that first guy held on to his Apple stock…
