Get an iPod now, it's inevitable

So, I finally broke down over break and got an iPod. Now this possibly could be the biggest "who cares" of all time because it seems everyone got an iPod over break. However, I am not a big music fan and yet I was inexplicably drawn toward these little devices.\nIt's not that I don't like music. I do. It's just that I've never invested much time or money into music as I do toward movies, television or DVDs. I've never been a person to go searching for new music; I would never claim to have been the first to hear some song or band, nor have I ever been to a concert. This may seem weird, but I just don't care enough.\nHonestly, I felt compelled to purchase one because I thought they were cool and would obviously make me cooler for having one. Now I know you're saying, "Paul, aren't you already cool and getting an iPod would be like adding only 2 cool points to infinity?" Yes, that is true, but I was still compelled by these urges. So why did I feel the need to purchase an iPod? Well I have three possible ideas:\nTheory 1): I wanted an iPod so I can listen to all my music when either going to class, exercising or studying. All without having to carry CDs around for variety; plus no skipping.\nThese are all great functions of the iPod but I never felt the urge to do any of them before I got my iPod. Now I find myself going to class, exercising and studying just so I can listen to music and justify my purchase. It's like I'm saying, "Finally, I can do all the things I never wanted to do before. I'm awesome." It's a good theory and probably the reason many people got one over break. In fact, it's the reason I rationalized it to my parents, but it's not really my reason. \nTheory 2): I'm an Apple person and therefore purchase Apple products. My friend had a theory claiming that I'd be the first of our group to get an iPod because I love Apples and thus would love anything Apple. Well, these aren't pies. I do use Apples frequently, but I'm a telecom major and it's just what we use for our projects. Not that I don't like Apple, but using them is not really a love ... just a necessity. Also, I'm the same dude who thought four of us could handle a keg on our own for New Year's, so maybe my judgment is not the best. So much beer to pour out. Luckily, I had an iPod on to drown out my gentle sobbing.\nTheory 3): Everyone will eventually buy an iPod because those commercials have subliminal messages with their damned flashy colors and U2 lyrics. In fact, if you listen closely, you can here Bono singing, "Buy an iPod, buy an iPod" repeatedly.\nClearly this is the reason. Screw those subliminal ads. This also explains why I had to get "Vertigo" off of iTunes. I should have seen this ploy coming; even my sister got an iPod mini, which I believe is the first piece of technology she has ever bought. However, it's not just my family that was taken in by these subliminal commercials. Look around campus at the people walking to class with little white plugs dangling out of their ears into their coats. Go to the library where the people listen to their iPods while still avoiding the Apple computers; they're not Apple people. Or even the countless people on treadmills silently exercising while listening to their music. Damn you U2 for making me healthier! It's almost like Apple is using the iPod in an attempt to turn us all into some sort of evil, class-going, sharp-minded, physically fit music listening cult. \nAnd I have to say I am loving it.\nSeriously, I have never felt like such an in-crowd person before in my life. Everyone from my last apartment has an iPod except for one roommate. We still talk to him of course, but we just respect him a little less. What am I saying? A lot less actually, there is almost no respect there. Of course, he claims that it's just not important to him, but he spent the last semester in London so I can only assume he hasn't seen the ads, and therefore doesn't understand how cool they are. I would explain it but I can never hear him talking to me because I'm listening to my iPod.\nAlready Apple has unleashed the Apple Shuffle hoping its low cost will reel in the remaining non-believers. Excuse me, I mean non-users. Duke University gave them out to all their incoming students last fall, car companies are making ports to connect iPods to your car stereo. Picture iPods are already available. How long will it be before iPods with movies or Internet connections are available? Innovation is inevitable. Yes, soon everyone will have an iPod and as soon as that happens, Apple can finally hardwire an iPod to your brain -- iPod and human living in perfect harmony, each needs the other. Follow the white rabbit.