Steven Levy’s new book on the iPod is not necessarily just for fanboys only – though it is glowing in it’s portrayal of iPods. The DRM in iTunes is dismissed as an inconvenience and not given much weight. He has written it so that each chapter can be read out of sequence as though in shuffle mode.

Neat things in the chapters:

PERFECT has an amusing description of Bill Gates seeing an iPod for the first time.

IDENTITY discusses the intimate nature of exchanging iPods with someone – you may be revealing more than you wish.

ORIGIN discusses the people who were building digital music players and stores before Apple but couldn’t do what Apple has done.

In COOL he talks with Jonathan Ive the designer responsible for the iPod’s look.

In PERSONAL he discusses amateur inventor Andreas Pavel – inventor of the first portable music player in 1972 and the social issues that have concerned people regarding personal music players.

DOWNLOAD has some interesting insights into the politics of getting labels on board with iTunes.

APPLE on the impact of Steve Jobs and the turnaround at the company. At the time he rejoined Michael Dell [Dell computers] said “I’d shut [Apple] down,” he said,”and give the money back to the shareholders.”On Jan 13, 2006 Apple’s market capitaliztion became greater than Dell’s.

PODCAST finds the roots in CB radio.

It’s a quick read. It talks about what Apple does right. Does not really get into the wrong. It is enjoyable especially the bits I mentioned above. ( )

http://www.quarterlyconversation.com/... ( )

Book offered good background on the iPod and Apple's turn-around. Good cultural context. ( )

Very disappointing.
The chapter on history was mildly interesting, but the others were pretty much fluff, and errors were not infrequent.
Dude, you're writing a marginally technical book; would it kill you to have someone technically qualified read it before publication? ( )