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Published Friday, October 14, 2005 by seanlmccarthy | E-mail this post

HOW MANY iPODS ARE TOO MANY iPODS? Methinks we realized the answer this week, when Steve Jobs "finally" (in the eyes of Appleheads) launched the video version of the gadget everyone keeps talking about. And by everyone, of course, Jack Shafer means the press. His piece in Slate brings up good points about how the media fails to question these many new variations of the iPod. Just when you thought you were cool by buying the Mini, Apple brings you the Shuffle. But wait. You could've had a Nano. Or if you waited just another couple of weeks, you could have this brand-new video iPod! All sounds like a game show, doesn't it? I own what's now called a "third-generation" iPod from 2003, and don't plan on upgrading until it quits on me -- as the iPod is wont to do (see class-action settlement for details). Which, if I were more superstitious than I already am, would mean that my iPod should go kaput later today.