No iPods at the Gates House

Among the younger set, most think that an iPod is synonymous with an mp3 player.  You know, like Kleenex is a tissue, and a Xerox is a copy.  Chalk one up to Apple's marketing machine for pulling off that feat for a product that has only been around for several years.  How bad has it gotten?  Bill Gates has forbidden his children from acquiring a iPod product:

In the latest issue of Vogue, Bill's wife, Melinda Gates, reveals that among the "very few things" on "the banned list in our household" are—you guessed it—iPods and iPhones.

Brutal, yes—especially for Bill and Melinda's three kids (two daughters and a son, aged 12, six, and nine, respectively), who'll just have to grin and bear it as their little pals make merry with the latest and greatest iPod.

And even Melinda herself admits to an occasional pang of Apple envy: "Every now and then I look at my friends and say, 'Ooh, I wouldn't mind having that iPhone.'"

Oh, this is brutal indeed.  Apparently the kiddies do have Zunes, so all is not lost.  However, maybe Bill Gates should realize that he shouldn't need to resort to banning the competition to get his children to use his companies product.  Perhaps he should let them have it, and he would see what would make the Zune even better, or the need for a Zune Phone.  Hey, just a thought, but then again, this is nothing that a decade of psychotherapy later on won't fix...

What do you think: Father Gates knows best, or just an unreasonable control freak.

Comments

[Steve]

And if it got out, that wouldn't be fodder for the Cult of Jobs? If the CEO of Ford's children all drive Toyota's would he not be ridiculed? I think it's unrealistic to believe that Gates would allow it. I wouldn't. I don't let my kids have Apple products either.

[tbird]

That's pretty funny. At least Bill knows what a Zune is. There have been times during the last two a half years I wondered if he even knew what a Zune was.
My vote is Father Gates knows best!

[John]

Granted, I see why he would want to keep his children from being corrupted (hehe) I don't see why he just doesn't let them have a iPod, and learn what it is that they say the iPod needs the most. Then, apply that to the Zune, and say, "Hey, we know what people want to see on the iPod, and now the Zune has it! Yay Zune!!!"

[Megan]

I think that's hilarious! I am surprised and extremely happy that Bill Gates kids are not poisoned with the apple and ipod virus. Good choice Bill! :)