Related link: http://www.apple.com/ipodphoto/

I stopped into the Apple Store on North Michigan in Chicago. I had an hour to kill, and I needed to pick up some things anyway (nothing exciting: some iPod Cleaner), and I needed to check some eBay auctions that just closed (Paypal is refunding seller fees all day today!). While I’m here, I might as well post to my weblog too (since my crappy Comcast broadband is grumpy today). I love this place.

The store is packed. People are huddled around the new G5 iMac (on which I am typing this). I don’t like the form factor myself, but I never have liked attached monitors (or in this case, attached computers).

Apple employees are walking up to everyone they can corner to show them the new 60 Gb iPod, and people like it. I’m not just talking about the iPod: I actually like the store workers talking to me, unlike the bozos at the CompUSA down the street.

Sadly, the new iPod is $500, and I just bought a 40Gb a couple months ago.

I think the two guys behind me are both customers, although one is showing the other how to burn DVDs. The guy next to me is checking his email. A kid on the other side of the partition is playing a MIDI keyboard hooked up to GarageBand. People are smiling. And holy moly, there’s my wife! I didn’t show up with her but I’m supposed ot meet her in 15 minutes! She’s checking her email too. Gotta go….