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Public Outcry Over iPod mini |
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 Wow, you'd think Apple re-released the Flower Power iMac or something. There are about nine gazillion stories on the Web about Apple's new iPod mini (of course debuted at the MacWorld Expo Keynote on Tuesday) and it seems that EVERYONE has something to say on the subject. I actually don't have anything to say, but that's never stopped me before, so I'm plunging boldly forward! Or staggering slightly to the side ... whatever.
Anyhow, a quick rundown for anyone who hasn't been following the news lately (or maybe has been spending lots of time in a spider hole): Rumors before Steve's big speech the other day pointed to new iPods with 2GB and 4GB hard drives priced at around $149-$199 respectively. When Steve introed the $249 iPod mini (with a 4GB hard drive) the crowd immediately neglected to gasp in awe. The product was so underwhelming compared to what was rumored, that many of the Mac faithful (myself included) wondered how in the hell Apple would sell such a thing - especially since you can now get a 15GB iPod for $299.
Steve's pitch was that Apple is going after the high-end flash-based MP3 player market ($150-$200 price range), and that for a mere $50 more you're getting Apple's award-winning iPod interface, access to the iTunes Music Store, a slim and elegant form factor, a choice of colors, a slap in the ass, and a shove out the door. Ok, well, not that last one, but the slap in the ass is available in all states but Delaware. I not sure why Delaware isn't on board, but that sort of thing is highly frowned upon there.
So anyway ... you have lots of people down on Apple because the iPod mini is priced $50 bucks higher than any flash-based player and $50 below a regular iPod. Many people hold the logical view that if you're going to pay $249, you're going to save up just a little extra and pay the $50 bucks more for the extra 11GB you'd get with a low-end iPod, right?
Well maybe. After poking around the Mac Web and trying to look at this topic from all angles, I ran across a few things that now make me think Apple can actually make money selling iPod minis. First of all, over at MacDailyNews, SteveJack (what do these guys have against spaces?) wisely opines that, "Just like large flat panel displays (and everything else) the "early adopters" will buy [iPod mini] at $249 and Apple will collect the money". Of course, as time goes on, supply will increase, Apple will have more (and probably higher capacity) hard drives at it's disposal, and can then offer lower prices - maybe even different models below the $200 mark.
Plus there's the size factor. Many people will choose the mini just because it fits in their purse/pocket/cargo pants/buttocks/what have you. And don't count out looks! The original iMac and fruit-flavored versions sold like hotcakes because people thought they were "cute". As a Wired article points out, looks just may help out sales of iPod mini:
"It's shiny and new, so I'm getting one," said Jeannene Hansen, a teacher and consultant from San Francisco, who already has a 15-GB iPod.
"It's a fashion accessory, although I'd have a tough choice coming up with the right color," she added. "I'm a bit bling bling, so I'd go with the gold. Maybe one for every outfit."
There ya have it - don't count out the people who'll use iPod mini as an accessory (or ... let me try this out ... bling bling. Did I say that right?)
On top of that, look at iSight. Apple is selling a high-end webcam for $149. It has more features than just about any Webcam and has Apple's elegance and ease-of-use. And Apple is doing a great job selling it! Apple charges people a premium for the best product(s) around, but I think people other than the Mac faithful are finally starting to realize that with Apple, you get what you pay for and it's worth the little bit extra you pay.
So through the iPod's great brand name and the features the iPod mini has, I think it'll do just fine.
Anyhow, what do you think? Will iPod mini sell, or will it just receive design awards and quickly be shuffled out of the product line and into a museum, ala the Cube?
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January 7 2004, 10:54 PM EDT, by
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Comments:
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| rlhamon |
1/8/04, 1:07 AM EDT |
mini-iPods will sell. As odd as it seems people would look at the 4gig hd and figure that's more music than I'll listen to in a day or two or a week maybe. Apple is smart in one since if they brought out the mini ipod for 199.99 then they have no room to go down in price and that's not a good thing. By July mini-ipods will be at the 199.99 and still 249.99 and will be a success because.... "IT'S AN IPOD."
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| ChrisHoo |
1/8/04, 8:50 AM EDT |
Almost every opinion I've read on the web iWhines about the price of the iPod mini, but fails to notice the fact that it is SMALLER. Making things smaller costs more - I'm sick of hearing 'Pay $50 more and get 11Gb' arguement.
Just like the way bulky mobile phones are OK for some, most would pay a bit more for a smaller phone which actually does less.
My $0.02
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| Carsten Schmidt |
1/8/04, 10:08 AM EDT |
I think it will sell, but I think it will not take market share from flash memory players. Teh reason is a lot of people buy flash memory players because they can't skip -- to go running, gym... -- while my iPod never skipped on me I think they have a valid argument -- no moving parts are better when you bounce a device around. So the mini ipod won't really solve this issue since it uses a HD. But the new formfactor and the color will open up a whole new market -- I think it will be kind of like Swatch watches for the rich people just as the woman in your quote says. Plus its only 50 dollars less than the next bigger iPod but that might make a big difference for some parents who want to give a iPod but dont' want to go overboard. I think that while it is more expensive per gig it makes up a bit by its "cool" factor -- kids will still love getting a mini iPod rather than getting a Rio.
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| jonathan monahan |
1/8/04, 2:55 PM EDT |
Ok, here's my $0.02. They will sell yes but they should have come out for $199. Who cares if they make no money to begin with? In 6 months the microdrives will be cheaper and they will make money and offer a better one at the same prices. Now I do agree that smaller costs more money but for crying out loud the iPod is SMALL. Pretty soon they'll be the size of contacts and everyone knows what happens when you lose one of thoes little buggers.
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| okcalla |
1/8/04, 9:49 PM EDT |
no doubt it will sell especially to those such as the teacher. people want them as a fashion accessory. and for those that want to jog yea ok no moving parts and blah blah blah yea thats great but remember most of them couldnt care less all they want is somthing that works and looks good. hence the early "el cheap-o" flash player taking off only to be shoved in a drawer somewhere. and as rlhamon said the 249 gives them somewhere to go in price giving other customers the idea that hey im getting a bargain here! as well the ipod has more applications. itunes, garagebandyou can even backup almost a whole hard drive and then some on larger models. i just wish they had stuck a white mini in there the white some how just looks better. as well how small is too small when u have trouble finding places to put the function buttons have you gone far enough or should u press on and go smaller? both ipods will sell equally well and hopefully people will see how well they work and see how well it works with it's own program and relate that to their computers.
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| Aaron Thrushlund |
1/9/04, 2:41 AM EDT |
The ipod is a fetish object. It's only a matter of time before we see leather studded versions.
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| DMF33 |
1/13/04, 5:54 AM EDT |
There is no doubt that this will be a very successful product. I was at Best Buy over the weekend and most 256mb players were still $189.00, and with the mini you get 4gb of space. I have said before and I'll say it again, when people see this player they will never settle for the "rest of the players". It's style will win out and good for Apple to sell it for a profit, because this is why they are in business.
This player will be very successful with women, who do not look at size of hard drives, but function and this player will meet their needs!
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| Chris |
5/17/04, 3:08 PM EDT |
Quote: "This player will be very successful with women, who do not look at size of hard drives, but function and this player will meet their needs!"
Trust me, women are all about the size. She'll say ooh you 4Gb is enough, it makes me happy when really she wants 10Gb+
Madonna even sang songs about it.
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"I'll take that little one, way in the back," I said. "That little collie mix?" said the animal shelter guy. "No," I said, "the one behind him." "The gray terrier?" he said. "He's gray," I said, "but way in the back, in the corner." "You mean the water faucet?" he said. I realized then it was a water faucet, but I didn't want to look like a jerk, so I said, "Yeah, that's the one I want." It ended up costing me almost five hundred dollars to get that faucet removed. But you know, I've still got that faucet, and I wouldn't trade it for any dog in the world.
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