Extreme Zip: Teens Take iPods Back-to-School

August 16 , 2006 -- A new survey suggests that 64 percent of 13-17-year-old teenagers want an iPod as part of their back-to-school supplies, while 70 percent of teens say they want a computer to complement their studying. "We're seeing a great deal of interest in some less traditional 'school supplies' during the back-to-school retail season," said Brian Hand, CEO of ShopLocal.com, a national Web-to-store comparison shopping site. "Among some of the biggest searches are for MP3 players -- iPods specifically -- and cell phones." The poll queried 500 American teenagers commissioned in July by ShopLocal.com, finding that youngsters aren't just tech-hungry but also brand-conscious. Of those who responded that they would "most want" an MP3 player for the new school year, 97 percent cited iPod as the preferred brand.