Walking down the walkways and halls of Sacramento State, I notice things. Sure, I see the posters of upcoming events on campus, and job openings, but recently I have noticed something about the student body itself.

It started with those cute, subtle white headphones. However, those white headphones mean more than just a music listener ?” it means they are “podding.” I would see them on male, female, young and old. It seems everyone is rocking out to his or her iPod!

Ipods have become increasingly popular, especially on college campuses. But why are they so popular? We all had CD players, but one specific brand or style never seemed to garner such a market share that Apple’s iPod holds today.

So I thought about it, and realized that iPods are more than just an MP3 player, but a fashionable accessory!

Before I get accused of being jealous, I must point out I own an MP3 player, but have also used an iPod on several occasions. But let’s do some math. For most students, they have about ten minutes between classes. That only leaves about two or maybe three songs between classes.

These figures don’t include possible time lost before getting to class early, which most do. I find it funny when I see students fumbling with their (uncomfortable) iPod headphones between classes to listen to a couple of songs.

I figured it would be best to find out why iPods are as popular as they are. I spoke with Mui Van, the senior portable electronics representative at a local retailer, to find out more. “I think the reason why people like the iPods so much is because Apple did a great job marketing the product as being the coolest MP3 player out there,” Van said.

Van herself owns an iPod mini. I asked her what made her want one. “Because it was pink,” Van replied. Obviously the iPod has captured a style that many young people enjoy. Apple offers different bright colors and models. However, the new Nano iPod has garnered much attention. “Ipod Nanos are going to be my No. 1 selling product for the holidays,” Van said.

I can’t blame Apple for great marketing, but I think the fashion-ability and “in-crowd status” one attains exceeds the iPods actual usefulness. Even though Van owns an iPod herself, she admits other MP3 players offer other features, but most don’t consider them. “The iPods hold about 75 percent of the market share. Some smart people do look into others, but mostly they just want iPods,” Van said.

Obviously, iPods are a huge success, and are only becoming more popular with the new Nano model, but it bothers me to see yet another product that becomes synonymous with “cool.” It is quite foolish that we let a large corporation use a marketable item as a new way to label those as haves or have-nots. So for those interested in an MP3 player, at least look at what other players have to offer. Maybe I’m a square, but I’m going to pass on the iPod hype.

Andrew Stiffler can be reached at [email protected]