Duke Freshmen Receive iPods

[James Fee]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.chronicle.duke.edu/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/08/20/412620dfa7d23' target='_blank'>http://www.chronicle.duke.edu/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/08/20/412620dfa7d23</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Cool" was the word of the night as eager members of the Class of 2008 gathered en masse on the East Campus Quadrangle Thursday to receive their long-awaited and highly-publicized welcome gifts: 20-gigabyte Apple iPods. “This is so cool,” freshman after freshman exclaimed as they were handed boxes containing the tiny digital devices that are at the heart of the much-hyped Duke iPod First-Year Experience. Some students stared quizzically at the colorful cardboard cubes that held their new possessions as they walked away from the distribution tent, but others broke right in, ripping off the plastic lining and opening the cardboard flaps to proudly display the sleek white and silver devices within. Freshman Julie Dexheimer admired the “Duke Class of 2008” engraving on the iPod’s metallic back that caught her reflection as she carefully turned the gadget in her hand. “I’ve never seen one before,” she admitted, gently pushing the buttons and trying to navigate the menu. “Stop. Pause. Back. I don’t know how to use it yet!”</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/412620dfa7d23-70-1.jpg" /> <br /><br />Boy how times have changed. When I was a freshman, all I got was alcohol poising... <br /><br />:drinking:

[Chris Gohlke]

"Freshman Julie Dexheimer admired the “Duke Class of 2008” engraving on the iPod’s metallic back that caught her reflection as she carefully turned the gadget in her hand. “


With the special engraving, wonder how long they take to turn up on ebay as a collectors item. Then they can buy an an Iriver.

[bdegroodt]

This is a cool idea. Especially now that the iPods have the listen only type mode. Of course, if I was spending $40K/year on my tuition, I'd "expect" such innovations.

Speaking of free iPods, anybody seen this (http://www.freeiPods.com/default.aspx?referer=8139961)yet? Wired ran an article on it (http://www.wired.com/news/mac/0,2125,64614-2,00.html?tw=wn_story_page_next1), and they claim it's on the up and up (of course the moment I signed up, my email address went nuts with spam, but that's why I used my "throw away" email address).

[arebelspy]

Stupid publicity stunt. iPods have nothing to do with learning just cause you can transfer appointments to them.. you can do that with cell phones and I bet 95% of those freshmen (if not more) already have those and don't use it this way. How about getting them something useful, like a PDA (pocket pc, of course ;) )?

-arebelspy

[James Fee]

Well it is Duke that is running the "promotion", not Apple. I think it is to improve their Freshman Year Experience and make Duke an easier choice than other top line Universities. If it takes an iPod to make a student choose Duke over Stanford, I think that is a good investment on Duke's part.

[dean_shan]

They may get a 'free' iPod but I will get my entire education for the less then one year at Duke.

[bdegroodt]

Wasn't/Isn't Duke also giving PowerBooks to students? Thought I remember something about that a year or so ago.

[Gary Sheynkman]

damn....screw U of Chicago and Cornell....im goin to duke

[klinux]

When I was a freshman, all I got was alcohol poising... :drinking:

Looks like the effects of alcohol posioning last longer than I thought? :)

And hey, Cornell can party like all the major schools! I chose Cornell over U of C and never looked back!

[James Fee]

Looks like the effects of alcohol posioning last longer than I thought? :)
Well I was lucky to go to Arizona State when it was still a party school. Now its all biotech... :cry: