This article is pure rubbish. To wit:
"Unlike the competitors, the iPod used a high speed FireWire interface to transfer files on and off of it"
Not true: Creative's Nomad Jukebox 3, introduced prior to Ipod, features firewire connectivity.
"Besides the specifications, the iPod offered an intuitive interface and a beautiful enclosure."
This statement is open to debate.
"Even the ear buds defined themselves by being different and unique."
Simply not true.
"Almost all audio equipment was black"
Again, not true... not even close to being true. The author does not seem to know much about what he/she is writing about, or audio equipment in general.
"Everything in the design was there to allow the user to have a better experience."
That statement is very much open to debate.
Also, note that Apple was not the first to introduce hierarchical menu systems in a personal audio player - Creative had that first as well.
It looks like Apple is again given credit for an idea or design that it certainly did not originate (they borrowed the GUI-driven OS idea from a Xerox research team).
