---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The owner of an iPod or iPad is in a…"
description: "\"“The owner of an iPod or iPad is in a fundamentally different position: his machine may have far more computational power than a PC of a decade ago, bu..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc3/tim-wu-7845_ipod_the-owner-of-an-ipod-or-ipad-is-in-a-fun_3212852.png"
---

#  The owner of an iPod or iPad is in a fundamentally…

![“The owner of an iPod or iPad is in a fundamentally different position: his machine may have far more computational power than a PC of a decade ago, but it is designed for consumption, not creation. Or,” quote by Tim Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc3/tim-wu-7845_ipod_the-owner-of-an-ipod-or-ipad-is-in-a-fun_3212852.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc3/tim-wu-7845_ipod_the-owner-of-an-ipod-or-ipad-is-in-a-fun_3212852.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc3/tim-wu-7845_ipod_the-owner-of-an-ipod-or-ipad-is-in-a-fun_3212852.png)

> ““The owner of an iPod or iPad is in a fundamentally different position: his machine may have far more computational power than a PC of a decade ago, but it is designed for consumption, not creation. Or,””

[Tim Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wu/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote highlights that modern consumer devices prioritize consumption over creation, despite having superior computing power to older PCs.

**In simple terms:** Devices are built to consume, not create.

Key Takeaway

Leverage tools that enable creation on powerful devices.

Themes

technology consumption creation power design

Mood

critical reflective

Type

analytical observational

When to use this quote

- content creation
- software development
- education
- personal projects

Key Concepts

digital media user experience hardware limits

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we redesign devices to empower creation?
- What software would unlock their potential?

A Different Perspective

Even powerful devices may lack creative software, limiting user potential.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Computational Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computational-power-5785450/) [Ipad Fundamentally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ipad-fundamentally-6009013/) [Ipod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ipod/) [Ipod Ipad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ipod-ipad-6009014/) [Owner Ipod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/owner-ipod-6009012/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/)

## Related quotes

> [Within our lifetimes, we will be able to push out enough computational power to simulate reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sweeney/within-our-lifetimes-we-will-be-able-to-push-out-enough-computational/)

[Tim Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sweeney/)

> [I think Apple is a wonderful example of spectacular marketing and I love having my iPod. There are the naysayers who say that "nyah,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-scher/i-think-apple-is-a-wonderful-example-of-spectacular-marketing-and-i/)

[Paula Scher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-scher/)

> [There's also a lot of gritty Americana type of bands. I actually have a lot of Britpop on my iPod, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-vandermeer/there-s-also-a-lot-of-gritty-americana-type-of-bands-i-actually-have/)

[Jeff VanderMeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-vandermeer/)

> [Records were vitally important to the development of music and of all music cultures. With that being pushed by the wayside, I can't see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lydon/records-were-vitally-important-to-the-development-of-music-and-of-all/)

[John Lydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lydon/)

> [My iPod's unbelievable. Seriously. The kids have put most of the music on it, but there's a complete mix of '80s rubbish and current…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lawrenson/my-ipod-s-unbelievable-seriously-the-kids-have-put-most-of-the-music/)

[Mark Lawrenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lawrenson/)

> [The biggest surprise watching video on the tiny, 2.5-inch screen (320 by 240 pixels) is completely immersive. Three unexpected factors are at work. First,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-pogue/the-biggest-surprise-watching-video-on-the-tiny-2-5-inch-screen-320/)

[David Pogue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-pogue/)

> [A lot of guys are out there with their iPods. I'm not one of them. I just never really got into it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/a-lot-of-guys-are-out-there-with-their-ipods-i-m-not-one-of-them-i/)

[Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/)

> [I'm not ashamed of it, but people would think I'm ashamed of Bieber. I got Bieber on my iPod.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-watt/i-m-not-ashamed-of-it-but-people-would-think-i-m-ashamed-of-bieber-i/)

[J. J. Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-watt/)

> [I had been doing MP3 players and handheld computers since 1990-1991, and so they sought me out because of my experience. And about 18…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-fadell/i-had-been-doing-mp3-players-and-handheld-computers-since-1990-1991/)

[Tony Fadell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-fadell/)

> [“The iPod, like the Walkman cassette player before it,C allows us to listen to our music wherever we want. Previously, recording technology had unlinked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/the-ipod-like-the-walkman-cassette-player-before-it-c-allows-us-to/)

[David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/)

> [“35,000 dollars equals a whole bunch of ipods!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-lopez/35-000-dollars-equals-a-whole-bunch-of-ipods/)

[Jose Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-lopez/)

> [I've got an iPod, of course. I'm all Mac'd up!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-revel-horwood/i-ve-got-an-ipod-of-course-i-m-all-mac-d-up/)

[Craig Revel Horwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-revel-horwood/)

> [Life is not a music player to listen to your favorite songs... its a radio ,you must adjust to enjoy whatever comes by!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simi-ngr/life-is-not-a-music-player-to-listen-to-your-favorite-songs-its-a/)

[Simi Ngr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simi-ngr/)

> [One thing that is constantly on my iPod is India Arie - I like her a lot; I listen to her a lot. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/one-thing-that-is-constantly-on-my-ipod-is-india-arie-i-like-her-a/)

[Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/)

> [Wouldn't it be nice if your iPod could detect your mood and make a playlist for it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wouldn-t-it-be-nice-if-your-ipod-could-detect-your-mood-and-make-a/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Tim Wu

> [Google has - at least at this point - maintained the line where it keeps organic results separate from the advertisements. But over time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wu/google-has-at-least-at-this-point-maintained-the-line-where-it-keeps/)

[Tim Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wu/)

> [When you pay for stuff, it has more of your interests in heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wu/when-you-pay-for-stuff-it-has-more-of-your-interests-in-heart/)

[Tim Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wu/)

> [“JUST WHAT IS GOOGLE? In 1902, the New York Telephone Company opened the world’s first school for “telephone girls.” It was an exclusive institution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wu/just-what-is-google-in-1902-the-new-york-telephone-company-opened-the/)

[Tim Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wu/)

> [“When we speak of living environments and their effects on us, then, we are often speaking too broadly—of the city, the countryside, and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wu/when-we-speak-of-living-environments-and-their-effects-on-us-then-we/)

[Tim Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wu/)

> [Now, he doesn't control the media, but Donald Trump has been incredibly successful in having his face appear everywhere. You cannot go a day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wu/now-he-doesn-t-control-the-media-but-donald-trump-has-been-incredibly/)

[Tim Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wu/)

> [The best antidote to the disruptive power of innovation is overregulation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wu/the-best-antidote-to-the-disruptive-power-of-innovation-is/)

[Tim Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wu/)

> [“In 1956, two psychologists, Donald Horton and Richard Wohl, would conclude that television’s representation of celebrities was carefully constructed to create an “illusion of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wu/in-1956-two-psychologists-donald-horton-and-richard-wohl-would/)

[tim wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wu/)

> [“Markets are born free, yet no sooner are they born than some would-be emperor is forging chains. Paradoxically,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wu/markets-are-born-free-yet-no-sooner-are-they-born-than-some-would-be/)

[Tim Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wu/)

> [I want to say, however, one thing our media in America has done which didn't happen in other totalitarian states is it has very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wu/i-want-to-say-however-one-thing-our-media-in-america-has-done-which/)

[Tim Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wu/)

> [Advertising just keeps getting heavier and heavier and heavier. It doesn't have any natural limit, and we haven't found the place for the limit.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wu/advertising-just-keeps-getting-heavier-and-heavier-and-heavier-it/)

[Tim Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wu/)

> [I wish more of the web had stayed nonprofit. But the advertising model took over and I think has delivered us to where we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wu/i-wish-more-of-the-web-had-stayed-nonprofit-but-the-advertising-model/)

[Tim Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wu/)

> [There's always people - it doesn't take many - who have a different psychological makeup than most of us who really get joy out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wu/there-s-always-people-it-doesn-t-take-many-who-have-a-different/)

[Tim Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wu/)

> [In the media, traditional media like print, we had boundaries. You know, we had spaces that ads didn't leave. They stayed where they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wu/in-the-media-traditional-media-like-print-we-had-boundaries-you-know/)

[Tim Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wu/)

> [Google - and some of the other sites, YouTube and, you know - Google has an amazing search engine. The map product is incredible.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wu/google-and-some-of-the-other-sites-youtube-and-you-know-google-has-an/)

[Tim Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wu/)

> [One thing that all the totalitarian states did was make the great leader's face everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wu/one-thing-that-all-the-totalitarian-states-did-was-make-the-great/)

[Tim Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wu/)

[Explore all 87 Tim Wu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wu/)

## More Ipod quotes

> [Wouldn't it be nice if your iPod could detect your mood and make a playlist for it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wouldn-t-it-be-nice-if-your-ipod-could-detect-your-mood-and-make-a/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [One thing that is constantly on my iPod is India Arie - I like her a lot; I listen to her a lot. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/one-thing-that-is-constantly-on-my-ipod-is-india-arie-i-like-her-a/)

[Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/)

> [Life is not a music player to listen to your favorite songs... its a radio ,you must adjust to enjoy whatever comes by!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simi-ngr/life-is-not-a-music-player-to-listen-to-your-favorite-songs-its-a/)

[Simi Ngr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simi-ngr/)

> [I've got an iPod, of course. I'm all Mac'd up!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-revel-horwood/i-ve-got-an-ipod-of-course-i-m-all-mac-d-up/)

[Craig Revel Horwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-revel-horwood/)

> [“35,000 dollars equals a whole bunch of ipods!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-lopez/35-000-dollars-equals-a-whole-bunch-of-ipods/)

[Jose Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-lopez/)

> [“The iPod, like the Walkman cassette player before it,C allows us to listen to our music wherever we want. Previously, recording technology had unlinked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/the-ipod-like-the-walkman-cassette-player-before-it-c-allows-us-to/)

[David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/)

> [I had been doing MP3 players and handheld computers since 1990-1991, and so they sought me out because of my experience. And about 18…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-fadell/i-had-been-doing-mp3-players-and-handheld-computers-since-1990-1991/)

[Tony Fadell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-fadell/)

> [I'm not ashamed of it, but people would think I'm ashamed of Bieber. I got Bieber on my iPod.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-watt/i-m-not-ashamed-of-it-but-people-would-think-i-m-ashamed-of-bieber-i/)

[J. J. Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-watt/)

> [A lot of guys are out there with their iPods. I'm not one of them. I just never really got into it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/a-lot-of-guys-are-out-there-with-their-ipods-i-m-not-one-of-them-i/)

[Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/)

> [The biggest surprise watching video on the tiny, 2.5-inch screen (320 by 240 pixels) is completely immersive. Three unexpected factors are at work. First,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-pogue/the-biggest-surprise-watching-video-on-the-tiny-2-5-inch-screen-320/)

[David Pogue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-pogue/)

> [My iPod's unbelievable. Seriously. The kids have put most of the music on it, but there's a complete mix of '80s rubbish and current…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lawrenson/my-ipod-s-unbelievable-seriously-the-kids-have-put-most-of-the-music/)

[Mark Lawrenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lawrenson/)

> [Records were vitally important to the development of music and of all music cultures. With that being pushed by the wayside, I can't see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lydon/records-were-vitally-important-to-the-development-of-music-and-of-all/)

[John Lydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lydon/)

> [There's also a lot of gritty Americana type of bands. I actually have a lot of Britpop on my iPod, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-vandermeer/there-s-also-a-lot-of-gritty-americana-type-of-bands-i-actually-have/)

[Jeff VanderMeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-vandermeer/)

> [I think Apple is a wonderful example of spectacular marketing and I love having my iPod. There are the naysayers who say that "nyah,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-scher/i-think-apple-is-a-wonderful-example-of-spectacular-marketing-and-i/)

[Paula Scher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-scher/)

> [The Zune concentrates on being a Portable Media Player. Not a web brsower. Not a game machine. Maybe in the future it'll do even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-zune-concentrates-on-being-a-portable-media-player-not-a-web/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Browse all 223 Ipod quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ipod/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“The owner of an iPod or iPad is in a fundamentally different position: his machine may have far more computational power than a PC of a decade ago, but it is designed for consumption, not creation. Or,”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Tim Wu"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wu/the-owner-of-an-ipod-or-ipad-is-in-a-fundamentally-different-position/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Ipod"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wu/the-owner-of-an-ipod-or-ipad-is-in-a-fundamentally-different-position/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc3/tim-wu-7845_ipod_the-owner-of-an-ipod-or-ipad-is-in-a-fun_3212852.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc3/tim-wu-7845_ipod_the-owner-of-an-ipod-or-ipad-is-in-a-fun_3212852.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc3/tim-wu-7845_ipod_the-owner-of-an-ipod-or-ipad-is-in-a-fun_3212852.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The owner of an iPod or iPad is in a fundamentally different position: his machine may have far more…” — Tim Wu",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Tim Wu",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wu/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“The owner of an iPod or...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wu/the-owner-of-an-ipod-or-ipad-is-in-a-fundamentally-different-position/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wu/the-owner-of-an-ipod-or-ipad-is-in-a-fundamentally-different-position/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
