A long, long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, University students used strange objects called "walkmans" in order to have access to music on-the-go. A digital revolution later, the University is now occupied by a new generation raised on the World Wide Web, instant messaging and cell phones. And when it comes to portable music, the bulky walkman has been long replaced by its new counterparts -- the Discman, the mp3 player and the iPod.
A preference among the three possibilities varies according to students.
"I still have my Discman," second-year College student Mamie Belle said. "I have spent a lot of money on my CDs, so I still want to be able to use them."
Second-year Engineering student Marta Morales said she uses her CDs and mp3s on her computer, though she is not a big fan of portable music.
"I listen to music mostly in my car or on my computer," Morales said. "I don't like being isolated when I walk, so I don't have a Discman or an iPod."
While CDs are still widely used according to students, many have chosen to switch to using the popular iPod.
Cavalier Computers Sales Associate Vince Ragland said their department recently has seen a huge increase in iPod sales at the University Bookstore.
"The sales have grown big time," Ragland said. "From last year to this year our sales have increased 100 percent. It's doubled."
Third-year College student Andrea Golden recently purchased an Ipod.
Ipods "are just so much more convenient then Discmans," Goldman said. "Especially if you are moving around a lot and you can't switch CDs."
Ragland also attributed the popularity of iPods to their ability to hold large quantities of music.
"I think the reason that they have become so popular is because of the amount of music they hold," Ragland said. "They used to have the 20 gig ones, and now they have doubled its carrying capacity to 40 gigs."
Though he doesn't own an iPod, second-year Engineering student Albert Bush said Apple's business strategy has a lot to do with the iPod boom.
"Not only does it carry around a lot of music, but I also know that Apple has software that makes it very easy to download music," Bush said.
Itunes is an example of software that is easy to use, according to Ragland.
"Itunes has played a very important part in boosting the iPod, especially because you can use them both on Mac and PCs," he said.
Fourth-year College student Robert Gentil, who bought an iPod over the summer, said he has only one complaint.
"The earphones are the worst earphones I've ever had," he said. "So I don't wear them."
Although iPods are "the rave," as Gentil put it, and Discmans are the old favorites, some students look to other options for portable music.
"I have neither a discman or an Ipod -- just an mp3 player, the key chain ones," Bush said. "I prefer those because they are smaller, easier to work with and a lot cheaper than Ipods"
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