Runners at Duke use iPod to check their pulse iPod image © Copyright 2004 Apple Computer

An iPod is a little computer packed in a metal container with a shiny plastic cover that is programmed to play digital music files (most in the popular MP3 format). Headphones go in one end and a cable goes in the other for charging its batteries and transferring music files from your computer. It comes in your choice of pastel colors on the plastic front and free engraving for the metallic back.

Depending on the storage capacity of your iPod, you can carry around a few hundred to a few thousand songs on it. A small screen, circular touch pad, and single button let you navigate through songs by title, artist, or genre.

"iPod" is Apple's brand name for its digital music player. Other companies make the devices, too, but with the majority of the market and nearly all the publicity, the iPod is the Kleenex of the brands.

Because iPods are essentially computers, they can store files besides music and offer other features. Some have calendars and contact lists. The fanciest version lets you listen to songs and look at pictures. A microphone attachment lets you record sounds. There's even a laser-pointer attachment.

The iPods Duke's Class of 2008 received are white with the Duke shield and name engraved on the back. They have 20 gigabytes of storage space, enough for a few thousand songs, and came pre-loaded with recorded messages from the president and the provost, a tour of East Campus, and the Duke fight songs "Blue & White" and "Fight! Blue Devils, Fight!" An attachable microphone was part of the package.