The Gadgets Page

In the nineties, the “IT” letter was “e”. There was e-mail, e-solutions, eBay and e-vite. “e” was going to be the letter that changed the world. Maybe they were right. Email DID change the world and there are a collection of friends that I only associate with via email.

Later, in the nineties, “X” started to take over the spot as the “IT” letter. The media was marketing so heavily to Generation X that they thought that we would buy anything with an “X” attached to the name. We had the X-Games, Xbox and XM. Once again, a letter was marketed as a method of changing the world. Maybe they were right. X-treme sports have an entire subsection of the population all wrapped up. I am completely devoted to my Xbox.

Right now, the “IT” letter is “i”. It was started with the iMac, but the “i” that changed things for everyone was the iPod. Now there are “i”s surrounding us everywhere. We have iBooks, iCases and iSound. “i” is touted as a letter that will change the world. Maybe they are right. The iPod has revitalized the industry personal music industry, maybe even more than the original Sony Walkman.

What will the new “IT” letter be?

I know what it’s NOT going to be. I can say with certainty that the next “IT” letter will NOT be “j”. There are a few jumping on the bandwagon companies out there that are trying to rip off the iPod without ripping off the iPod by putting the letter “j” in front of their names instead. I just feel like gently patting these companies on the shoulder and saying, “There, there, sweetie. I’m sorry you’re not the ‘IT’ company right now. Maybe next time.”

I have no idea what the next “IT” letter will be. If I did, I would be registering domain names like crazy right now. Instead, I just walk around with my head rotating madly trying to absorb all of the noise and energy surrounding me.