Apple owns the MP3 market with something like 85% market share, not to mention the bazillions of songs "sold" on iTunes for a buck apiece, so obviously they are doing something right. But product longevity is their dirty little secret. The NY Times ran an investigative piece about it a year or so ago. Not only are iPods prone to failure, Apple practically defies you to get one repaired. They just want you to buy another one.


>I go to the gym and listen to CDs. But when I look across at my neighbor, typically they are listening to an IPod. So I doubt too many have heard this.
>
>>The latest iPods have capacity of up to 80 GB. Personally I would not invest in one of those given the proneness to failure. Apple doesn't shout this in their ads but iPods are basically expected to last a year or two.
>>
>>
>>>I wonder when will MP3 players catch up with these larger capacities. They still seem to be hung up at 2 Gbytes. My children have Zens and the way they treat them and the words disc drive make me wonder they work as long as they do.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> >Verbatim announced a 12 GB USB drive that will retail for $179. I think it will available in the next month or so. It's a 1 inch by 3 inch drive. So it will still fit in your pocket.
>>>>
>>>>>http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?quicklinx=4f59
>>>>>
>>>>>Soon be able to back up everything on these
>>>>>
>>>>>Nick