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Comment by dragonwriter | Hacker News Reader

> Here's a question: will the iPod have a retro comeback moment, as electro-mechanical media like vinyl records and even cassettes have had?

The iPod is a brand and not a product category. The analog, would be standalone digital portable media players having a retro-comeback, not then iPod itself having one.

> Or maybe once you cross into the digital divide, does the experience and associated nostalgia perhaps not work the same way?

Quite possible; is there any aspect of the experience with iPods or other standalone players that is lost using multifunction digital media devices like smartphones?

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Physical buttons. With my dedicated media device I can control it with the buttons and leave it in my pocket. When I play music on my phone I have to take it out and look at it to make sure I tap the right part of the screen.

Also a lower replacement price. Someone might want to steal my expensive smart phone, or it might break and make me sad. If I had a $20 dedicated media player, then there's nothing to worry about.

You can tap those physical buttons and the thought will never cross your mind to check the weather, and ooh since we're at it, how's things on facebook? Email? Oh boy! 10 minutes down the toilet because I wanted to change the song playing!

> Quite possible; is there any aspect of the experience with iPods or other standalone players that is lost using multifunction digital media devices like smartphones?

Battery life. Having a device with a known, dedicated use (as a psychological difference, rather than a strictly practical one). Handling the most common operations by touch, rather than actually pulling it out to use a clumsy touchscreen.

Battery life. That is, many hours of play time, and very little battery consumption when not playing. Great for multiple days of camping with no power.

Very light-weight and small. People going for a run would strap it to an arm or other convenient location.

iPods, however, were much more prevalent than other digital, portable media players. iPod Classic likely will have a comeback, as people are talking about it right now. There's was a lot of chatter when the movie Baby Driver was released, as the main character uses one, and the director talked a lot about his. Google "ipod classic nostalgia" or "ipod baby driver" to see a lot of articles.

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