Thanks for the heads up.  I love my iPod video.  Especially when I travel.  As a matter of fact I am headed for the airport in an hour .

Although I agree with you that the accessories are a huge selling point for the iPod, I think that you are focussing on the effect, and not the cause. The accessories are really just an effect of what I believe truly makes the iPod the market leader. Steve Jobs’ brilliance wasn’t in making the best product (arguable) or even having the lowest price point (not even close) - his brilliance was in creating the best experience. Music-heads are passionate creatures by nature. The iPod just isn’t a device that plays music (and videos, etc.), it is a full musical experience, complete with access to music, an application for seamlessly integrating your larger music collection, accessires that add functionality, accessories that add attitude, a community, etc. The sum of this creates an experience that is far greater than the sum of the individual parts. No other vendor has even tried to do this, they have all simply focused on creating a single device that competes with the iPod. The iPod isn’t a device - it’s a lifestyle. Steve Jobs understands his target audience.

I would agree with all of that. I would add that Jobs’ work in getting the majors to sign onto legal digital distribution was, at the time, a major feat. Most of the labels didn’t want to play with each other; they wanted higher, variable prices for their music; and they even tighter DRM for their own download systems. At the time, I was amazed that he ended up getting so many labels to sign on to the vision.

I can’t imagine that the iPod dominance will last, though. Apple basically set up a blueprint for how to do the entire thing and I don’t believe that any of the big content deals were exclusive. I wonder whether Microsoft’s new player and store will make a dent? MS certainly has the money and industry pull to attack pretty much any tech segment that they want to go after. As you said, though, the iPod isn’t just a device or a service, it’s a lifestyle; and Apple has kept it remarkably fresh so far.

While my Nano doesn’t compete with some of the features offered on similarly priced, flash memory mp3 players, I can’t imagine being happier with someone else’s product.

This is also why, should my Dell DJ (a fine piece of hardware in its own right and one of the best gifts that I have ever received - I have no complaints whatsoever) ever break I will not even consider a replacement other than an iPod.

I think the main draw of the iPod can be summed up in the phrase “ease of use”.  You’ve got a pretty good idea that when you buy that particular piece of equipment, you won’t run into some weird bug or lousy software.  You can download iTunes for free to get an idea of how the iPod works.  And iTunes is fantastic and makes using the iPod feel natural.

Also, the iPod keeps your breath fresh and makes your teeth whiter.  Cleans those hard to reach places!  It’s a floorwax, and a dessert topping!  I loved it, much better than Cats.