I have a pair of the latter, and the mic/clicker is much better placed and of higher quality than the included Apple version, whilst being attached to headphones of infinitely better quality.

The iPod white earphones and cable are a gimmick in that they make no functional difference, but they are a significant part of the design aesthetic and became a positive marketing device, an indispensable indicator that it’s an iPod you’re listening to.

With the iPhone headphones, though, there is a functional difference. They have the microphone and the “clicker.” Those two pieces make a huge difference, and is that functionality that nobody else has (at least to my knowledge) that leaves me putting down my far superior sounding Shure headphones in favour of the functions provided in the factory iPhone headphones.

They are substantively different, though I won’t disagree with this:

I suspect, Derek, that if you found headphones that offered the same functionality with other positive assets (say, Aleksandr’s noise sealing qualities) you’d let yourself slide away from being true to the design.

If the Shure headphones I have came with a microphone and clicker, I’d drop the factory headphones before you could say “Web Directions.” But for now, I’m sticking with the factory unit and sacrificing superior sound for a superior overall experience.

The iPod white earphones and cable are a gimmick in that they make no functional difference, but they are a significant part of the design aesthetic and became a positive marketing device, an indispensable indicator that it’s an iPod you’re listening to.

I’m not convinced about the idea that it’s the nature of the headphones being designed for the iPod that makes them more attractive to you, though.

I suspect, Derek, that if you found headphones that offered the same functionality with other positive assets (say, Aleksandr’s noise sealing qualities) you’d let yourself slide away from being true to the design.

You might even say that the product designers failed to meet user requirements or expectations.

bq. gimmick = an accessory that adds to the basic function of the given thing, but not it’s essential part for functioning.

I would say that for me, the microphone/clicker is an essential part of functioning for the iPhone headphones. It is an integral part of what those headphones are designed for. The stock iPhone headphones are designed specifically for the experience of using an iPhone, whereas other headphones are built to be “compatible” with the iPhone.

In any case, that’s the point of my original post – there is a difference between something being designed specifically for a context and something being technically compatible with a particular device. I think the mic/clicker is an integral part of that.

For me, gimmick = an accessory that adds to the basic function of the given thing, but not it’s essential part for functioning.

Given that, if it is simply a gimmick, why did you bother putting them on your expensive headphones?

In any case, in my opinion, this little piece is what makes the headphones as a whole so compelling to use, even if the sound isn’t that great. I have a high-end pair of headphones that I use when I am on a flight – but other than that, I am using the stock ones because they have the mic/clicker thingie. That piece of added technology is worth it.

Nate, ER6i are so good in sealing the noise out, that I’m listening the music at around 30-35% of max volume, which is fine level whether I’m in a bus or at home. With stock ones, I had to go up to 80% to be able to hear the music properly. Even then it’s just not good enough in all cases.
Once you try them out and get used to them, getting back to ordinary headphones is *pain*.

I commute a lot and have tried everything. Nothing beats good noise seal.

@Aleksander
I don’t think I know of any headphones or speakers that adjust themselves to my ears that may be more sensitive in the morning. I always find them to be loud first thing in the morning, regardless. That isn’t a fault of the headphones.