Analyst: iPod for Windows soon
<a href="http://www.macminute.com"; target="_blank">http://www.macminute.com</a>;
Analyst Charlie Wolf says that Apple will release iPod for Windows this summer, maybe at macWorld. Apple seems to like this guy because they give him information first that they don't directly announce. They recently told him there would be 124 Apple Stores by the end of 2003.
According to an another article at MacCentral it could be a big hit:
"Based on a reasonable assessment of demand, the iPod could capture about 10 percent of the portable music player market," Wolf concluded. He said that the projections of 10 percent market share in 2003 translate to $115 million in earnings and sales of $650 million"
This could make Apple a more mainstream name. There would be a million or so Windows users walking around with iPods and establishing Apple as a cool company like Sony.
Analyst Charlie Wolf says that Apple will release iPod for Windows this summer, maybe at macWorld. Apple seems to like this guy because they give him information first that they don't directly announce. They recently told him there would be 124 Apple Stores by the end of 2003.
According to an another article at MacCentral it could be a big hit:
"Based on a reasonable assessment of demand, the iPod could capture about 10 percent of the portable music player market," Wolf concluded. He said that the projections of 10 percent market share in 2003 translate to $115 million in earnings and sales of $650 million"
This could make Apple a more mainstream name. There would be a million or so Windows users walking around with iPods and establishing Apple as a cool company like Sony.
Comments
making iPod for windows would either need to be more priced or have much fewer features~!
I think people like this idea in a qualitative way but have not measured its success in a quantitative way. The bottom line is that first iMovie, and then iTunes, and then iPod, and then iPhoto have all failed to get people to switch to the Mac in meaningful amounts. The sales numbers just don't show it.
Last quarter Apple sold 57,000 iPods. They started a promotion this quarter where you get $100 off if you buy an iPod with any Mac. That is a pretty big incentive because the iPod is well worth the money at $300. If sales numbers stayed the same, then iPod simply hasn't pulled in new users. My guess is that they did stay the same. With $100 savings you would hope sales would jump at least 40 or 50 per cent.
So if the iAdvantages don't get people to make the big jump then the logical thing is for Apple to introduce themselves to new customers while they are still using Windows. Brand image is a powerful thing. If people have an Apple product in their hands and are really pleased with the way it works they are much more likely to consider a Mac. If people have a connection to Apple they are much more likely to read an article about them on the internet, listen while a Switch commercial comes on, or go into an Apple store and take a look around. This will eventually lead to more sales.
Well, you get the idea. If you wouldn?t switch for any of these things, why on earth do you believe that a PC user would be inclined to switch for an overpriced, under featured, lower capacity, but very stylish and easy to use MP3 player? The ?iPod as a reason to switch? argument doesn?t make a lot of sense to me.
I wouldn't see how it would hurt. It might even encourage the ownership of a Mac in addition to a PC for many PC users. The opposite could also apply, but the people using Macs already know they're better, so I don't think that's a big problem.
The question is what would the iPod synch with? Windows Media Player? WinAmp? Or would there be a Windows version of iTunes?
I don't think that anyone id going to buy a Mac because of the iPod, that is not what I meant in my post. Rather, I think that it is one more item in the list of good things about Macs: They aren't butt ugly, they don't crash, they are easy to use, etc, etc, etc. The more things that are in this list, the easier it is for a PC person to decide to buy a Mac.
<strong>In response to the iPod as a reason to switch:
I don't think that anyone id going to buy a Mac because of the iPod, that is not what I meant in my post. Rather, I think that it is one more item in the list of good things about Macs: They aren't butt ugly, they don't crash, they are easy to use, etc, etc, etc. The more things that are in this list, the easier it is for a PC person to decide to buy a Mac.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I understand your point, but there are many PCs out there that are not ugly, and WindowsXP doesn't crash. So, those points won't matter to a user who is happy with a stable and funky looking PC (especially when they cost less).
If they would've done this when the iPod was first introduced they'd be in a much better position.
[edit]
Gah, #2000!
[ 06-24-2002: Message edited by: groverat ]</p>