Sluggish sales of 1.8-inch drives may signal end to iPod classic

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  • Reply 21 of 76
    Wow - I'd love a 250GB classic. Then I could fit ALL my music on an ipod.



    I have some flash ipods, and they're nice to carry around. But for the office, it's real nice to have my whole music collection here to listen to whatever I'm in the mood for (including several gigs of podcasts)



    Unless they're losing money, no need to kill it. Keep a few around, make money off we music collectors...
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  • Reply 22 of 76
    dimmokdimmok Posts: 359member
    Tearing.....sniff, sniff.
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  • Reply 23 of 76
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by luke1robb View Post


    What if Apple turned the screen sideways (psuedo iPod nano-style) and just had a bigger storage space in the iPod. Make it a little more expensive ($300) and sell it as a BIG storage media storage and playback device to those who need more than 80-100GB.



    Thoguhts?



    At this point in the iPod Classic's life I don't think Cupertino wants to invest the time in a major redesign or propping up a dying dinosaur.



    I think one of two things will happen.

    1) Apple will keep the 120GB size for another year or so until the iPod Touch catches up and then discontinue it.



    2) Convert the iPod Classic to flash memory and keep it around for a few more years.(Some people just like the physical size and the touch wheel interface as opposed to the mini's size or the Touch's touchscreen. Classic = interface)
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  • Reply 24 of 76
    bsenkabsenka Posts: 802member
    A 250GB HD iPod Classic? Now THAT I'd wait in line for!



    I've got nothing against moving to flash memory over hard drives, I'm just concerned about the trend towards reduced capacity and nothing but touch screens. My 160GB Classic is my main iPod, I use it for several hours every day. The Touch almost never gets used. I also use my Classic as a portable hard drive to transport files between home and the studio.



    If a larger than 160GB flash based model comes out that still has physical controls and the ability to enable disk use, I'd buy it.
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  • Reply 25 of 76
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by anantksundaram View Post


    My 60GB iPod -- remember those? -- sits in my car (connected to the audio system) at all times. I take it out once a month or so to sync with iTunes.



    So far, it has been through two harsh winters, and is on its second summer, and it still works beautifully!



    I think they are very rugged machines.



    My 10GB iPod has a FireWire 400 port on it! Remember those?

    It is still in very good condition as is my 4GB iPhone(I'm keeping it even though I've upgraded to the 3GS).

    Now I just wish I had a Newton to round out my collection.
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  • Reply 26 of 76
    virgil-tb2virgil-tb2 Posts: 1,416member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by elkcip View Post


    Right when they were getting to the size I needed for all my music. I have two 160GB, one sits in my glovebox feeding the car stereo, one is my walkabout that stays docked in my sounddock.



    Hope they vastly increase the size of the SSD Ipods before they are going to kill the classic.



    I'll never understand why people seem to need this much space just for music.



    I'm a music collector and I always buy full albums instead of songs and people are always ribbing me about how "stupid large" my music library is but even so it's only 16 Gigs or so. I can't imagine even owning 10 times that amount of music let alone really needing to play it all the time.



    If it was for music *and* video it makes some kind of sense, but music alone should not take up that much space.
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  • Reply 27 of 76
    virgil-tb2virgil-tb2 Posts: 1,416member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by mitchelljd View Post


    ... sorry, there isn't any real reason to give up on hard drives, but there is a reason to say apple hasn't exactly given too much love in the ipod line to it. here apple could be faulted for not updating the classic form to be more modern like the touch if not actually be a ipod touch.



    This is just wrong.



    There is no evidence to support the idea that Apple hasn't "supported" the HD models in the iPod line. After all, they started the idea, went with it in al the form factors available and only phased them out as similarly priced solid state storage became available.



    Just because they didn't decide to make a shoe-box sized version of the iPod touch that weighs a pound and a half with a 250 Gig hard drive on the back doesn't mean they aren't supporting hard drives. The classic is already a niche product, why should they make some horribly designed sub-niche product that would ruin their design reputation for the three or four people that want them?
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  • Reply 28 of 76
    I think it's unlikely that Apple will cut the iPod Classic in the near term. There's the obvious reason that even 64GB is not 120GB or 250GB. But beyond that, there is the price issue. The 120GB iPod Classic costs $249 while a 8GB iPod Touch costs $229. Even if iPod Touch capacity doubles, the cost per gigabyte is still significantly higher with the iPod Touch. Apple still needs a high capacity option at a reasonable price for those who are primarily looking for music player functionality. A 64GB iPod Touch looks to cost $399.



    Seeing there reports little interest in 250GB 1.8" HDDs, Apple is obviously not using it for near-term refreshes. The next iPod Classic will probably return to 160GB in the thin form-factor or maybe 200GB if they are available.
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  • Reply 29 of 76
    bsenkabsenka Posts: 802member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Virgil-TB2 View Post


    I'll never understand why people seem to need this much space just for music.



    I'm a music collector and I always buy full albums instead of songs and people are always ribbing me about how "stupid large" my music library is but even so it's only 16 Gigs or so. I can't imagine even owning 10 times that amount of music let alone really needing to play it all the time.



    16GB is a VERY small collection by today's standards. My iTunes library is over 185GB, and I still don't have anywhere near all of my CDs imported yet.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Virgil-TB2 View Post


    If it was for music *and* video it makes some kind of sense, but music alone should not take up that much space.



    That's the thing, iPods do a lot more than just play songs. Movies, TV shows, podcasts, audiobooks, etc. They all take space. The beauty of the Classic is being able to take everything with you, especially in the car. As it is, with the capacity max of 160GB for my classic, I STILL have to exclude most podcasts and videos from auto-syncing. That's why what I really want is a 250GB iPod.
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  • Reply 30 of 76
    zoolookzoolook Posts: 657member
    I think there is still a market for high capacity iPods. A full season of any TV show, plus the average album collection, is way more than 32GB or even 64GB, so 100GBs plus is still desirable. So the question becomes, what is the capacity cieling for most consumers, and how long will it be before SSD is affordable at that capacity. I think it's going to settle aroud 120 - 160GBs
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  • Reply 31 of 76
    antkm1antkm1 Posts: 1,441member
    I don't think this report confirms anything in regards to the future of the iPod Classic IMO.

    I have the 80 Gb Classic and i love it to death! I never leave the house without my Classic and my iPhone.



    But, if this does signal the end of an era, i will go out and purchase a 160 Gb right away. Even though I have an iPhone with podcasts and videos on it. It still doesn't replace the iPod classic for work, as a shower radio or in the car. You just can't easily control the iPhone or iPod Touch without looking down at the screen (major road hazard IMO). Sure most car adapters now transfer control to the car stereo controls but not all cars...my 2000 Honda or people like me who still use an FM Transmitter. Plus, on the FM Transmitter you have to disable the phone/web functions to play it.



    I'm one of those people who like the simplicity of the Classic and I like having my entire library in the palm of my hand at any time. The iPhone and iPod Touch will never replace that FOR ME...iPod Classic for Music and Podcasts, and iPhone/Touch for videos, photos etc.



    What i'd like to see is a flash-version of the Classic. But, having a 160 Gb flash drive is still way too expensive. They can barely get that in the MB Air. Sure, I only have about 50 Gb of music and video, but some day i'll have more.
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  • Reply 32 of 76
    Too bad, I like the high storage capacity of the iPod classics. It allows me to take a large portion of my music collection with me. I hope Apple doesn't kill it off until flash memory has the same capacity, if it ever does.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Virgil-TB2 View Post


    I'll never understand why people seem to need this much space just for music. I'm a music collector and I always buy full albums instead of songs and people are always ribbing me about how "stupid large" my music library is but even so it's only 16 Gigs or so. I can't imagine even owning 10 times that amount of music let alone really needing to play it all the time.



    16 gigs isn't "stupid large." Mine is about 150GB so far. Not all of it was purchased music, though, most of it came from my CD music collection. Everything from electronic to opera.
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  • Reply 33 of 76
    melgrossmelgross Posts: 33,717member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by mcarling View Post


    Yup! I'm told there are two NYC subway commuters who have Zunes, but everyone else laughs at them.



    It really is pretty amazing. I play a game when I get on the subway. I give myself points whenever someone sitting right next to me is using an iPhone or Touch. Sometimes I get two points because people on both sides are!



    I take points away when it doesn't happen. I'm almost breaking even. That's amazing, and it doesn't count all the people using them in the car that aren't sitting next to me (when I CAN get a seat, that is).



    But I'm ahead of you, I've seen three Zunes since they first came out, but not one in several months.



    Interestingly enough, in London last week, we also saw lots of iPhone/Touches, but no Zunes.
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  • Reply 34 of 76
    docno42docno42 Posts: 3,764member
    I would love to see them slap a 250 GB hard drive in an iPod Touch (or heck, even an iPhone) but I have a feeling there are fewer who feel as I do then want matte screen's on a 15" MPB



    I'm not holding my breath, but it would be nice!
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  • Reply 35 of 76
    melgrossmelgross Posts: 33,717member
    By the way, the story is wrong in one important area.



    Flash prices have gone up 137% in the past 6 months. That's more than two and a half times. It's expected that the price increases, which are pretty much across the board, are going to hold back SSD adoption for a good 6 to 9 months from where they were expected to be.



    Some people may remember a few years back when RAM prices dropped a lot because of a glut. 512 MB DIMMS were selling for $49. But 6 months later they were at $125 for the same capacity. It took a year for prices to approach where they had been.



    Let's keep this in mind before we get too excited.
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  • Reply 36 of 76
    melgrossmelgross Posts: 33,717member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Virgil-TB2 View Post


    I'll never understand why people seem to need this much space just for music.



    I'm a music collector and I always buy full albums instead of songs and people are always ribbing me about how "stupid large" my music library is but even so it's only 16 Gigs or so. I can't imagine even owning 10 times that amount of music let alone really needing to play it all the time.



    If it was for music *and* video it makes some kind of sense, but music alone should not take up that much space.



    Because a lot of it isn't gotten from, let us say, legit sources, so it doesn't cost them anything.
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  • Reply 37 of 76
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by melgross View Post


    Because a lot of it isn't gotten from, let us say, legit sources, so it doesn't cost them anything.



    True. Moreover, some audiophiles import from CDs at higher 'resolutions.'
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  • Reply 38 of 76
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Virgil-TB2 View Post


    I'll never understand why people seem to need this much space just for music.



    I'm a music collector and I always buy full albums instead of songs and people are always ribbing me about how "stupid large" my music library is but even so it's only 16 Gigs or so. I can't imagine even owning 10 times that amount of music let alone really needing to play it all the time.



    If it was for music *and* video it makes some kind of sense, but music alone should not take up that much space.



    This is laughable. I have 2TB of music - my 6000+ CD collection (ripped to Apple Lossless) plus a ton of downloaded music. No video, no podcasts, no data files. Just music. I would love to have the entire 2TB on an iPod.



    So it is about 2TB right now. But it is growing all the time. My trouble is having enough external hard drive capacity to store it in a convenient form. I have two 2TB Western Digital drives and several 1TB drives. I'm waiting anxiously for higher capacity 3.5" drives which I want to RAID. A couple of 10TB in a RAID 1 configuration would be nice... would take care of my music storage needs for a couple of years, until I outgrow that
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  • Reply 39 of 76
    melgrossmelgross Posts: 33,717member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by anantksundaram View Post


    True. Moreover, some audiophiles import from CDs at higher 'resolutions.'



    In some cases, yes. But those saying they need more than 160 GB for their music collections are a bit suspect in most cases.
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  • Reply 40 of 76
    melgrossmelgross Posts: 33,717member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by FineWine View Post


    This is laughable. I have 2TB of music - my 6000+ CD collection (ripped to Apple Lossless) plus a ton of downloaded music. No video, no podcasts, no data files. Just music. I would love to have the entire 2TB on an iPod.



    So it is about 2TB right now. But it is growing all the time. My trouble is having enough external hard drive capacity to store it in a convenient form. I have two 2TB Western Digital drives and several 1TB drives. I'm waiting anxiously for higher capacity 3.5" drives which I want to RAID. A couple of 10TB in a RAID 1 configuration would be nice... would take care of my music storage needs for a couple of years, until I outgrow that



    I don't doubt you, but you realize that you are also very rare.
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