Inside the iPod mystique

Trying to figure out what's cool is one thing.

Trying to understand why something is cool is more complicated.

Exhibit A: In a lengthy piece for the New York Times Magazine, Rob Walker tries to dissect the mystique, the allure of Apple's iPod music player. In the two years since its debut, the iPod has become a pop-cultural icon, and its distinctive white earbuds are marks of style.

What exactly led to that? Is it the sleek design, the intuitive software, the inside workings veiled in secrecy, Steve Jobs' audacity in remaking the music business just to sell a $300 appliance? Walker considers all those possibilities, and more.