I'm starting to like it. I recall that the original iPod sold for about as much as an ATA/PC-card carrier version, so if Apple can swing a deal on an as of yet not retailed 2GB unit, mebbe 149-199 is doable. We do know that there are 1" 2.2GB HDD's for about 179 retail (but in quantities of 10 or more). Perhaps these new units are cheaper still.
Jetison the Li-ion battery, and the firewire charging/dock. Two AAA batteries or one AA, like so many minidisc players that can get 12-20 hours out of such a config. Hey, this is supposed to be cheap, remember, spend ten bucks on some NiMH batteries if you don't want to throw out alkalines every week or so.
It would be a smaller than a 10GB iPod, but shaped a little differently from the mock-up posted here (which I thought was a respectable effort actually).
So, does a simple, no dock/battery/PS version with a cheaper HDD unit get us down to $149 USD ???
Hmmm... Apple might have a chance to make it interesting but it all depends on the price of that drive!
Does the word "mini" have to refer to the iPod's physical size? Why can it not be referring to the storage space alone? It would seem to be wise for Apple to keep the current hardware (with the exception of the storage medium) to save on costs across the board.
I think people may be taking mini iPod too literaly - it will probably be the same size but with a smaller HD and less features. To make it smaller would make it more expensive to produce.
Finally, someone gets it. "Mini" iPod refers to capacity and price, not size!
Apple would probably just bring back the 5GB hard drive in the latest enclosure for about $199.
If there is going to be a minipod, that is what it'll most probably be.
On a side note, every iPod in the UK has practically sold out, including the 40GB ones, so if price is such an issue, how come demand is out stripping supply. No one expected it to sell this well due to it's price.
Some reports contend the MiniPod will have flash memory rather then a HD.
As far as spelling, what's wrong with getting it right?
Yes, but some of those reports are based on the opinions of Rob Enderle which appears to be on a par with ripping open a chicken and attempting to perceive some meaning from the resulting pile of giblets.
If this whole miniPod rumor is true, dontcha think it would have been better for Apple to get them out in time for the Christmas buying season?
people are generous during this time of the year and will spend big. Better to get the tail end:
"Mom, Billy got one, and now they are cheaper and stuff, can I get one with the money from HOLIDAY X?"
"Well, I don't know, Billy is a big Crystal Meth dealer."
"But that does not mean if I get one I will start doing Crystal Meth."
"I guess you are right."
Now we just have to find a 13 year old kid who is a Crystal Meth dealer who is named Billy that will go around and make friends with every kid in the nation. Do you see what I am getting at?
If this whole miniPod rumor is true, dontcha think it would have been better for Apple to get them out in time for the Christmas buying season?
No. iPods are selling out almost everywhere. Apple is selling as many iPods as they can make. There is no reason to allow people to buy a cheeper version when they are willing to buy the expensive version.
If there are $99 iPods it is to entice people that are not willing to spend $299 of which there are plenty this holiday season.
Hell, I would buy one of the mock ups myself to take out when I go drinking so as not to get my 30GB one jacked or lost.
Finally, someone gets it. "Mini" iPod refers to capacity and price, not size!
Yeah, unless Apple are going to use some form of flash media and AA batteries and a tiny screen - which you've gotta reckon is highly unlikely - you would think that the current iPod form factor is just about perfect.
Tooling up for an entire new market segment - one with a lower profit margin - is not something I see Apple doing to be honest. I think we are looking at the same cases we have now with smaller HD and a less funky feature set. Which has me thinking that perhaps we will see 4G iPods in the current range with some new features too.
One thing I would like to see is Apple really diversify the iPod accessory set. Provide proper in-car holder support, etc. etc.
No. iPods are selling out almost everywhere. Apple is selling as many iPods as they can make.
Hmm, I remember going to some pretty dodgy discos because there was a queue half a mile long to get in, only to discover that it had been created by the owners to give the impression that it was a popular joint. Which of course is what it became very quickly.
When Apple has sold 100 million iPods like the Walkman did then you can start talking about sell outs. At 1 or 2 million Apple is just scratching the surface of what this could become.
those white buttons look really icky next to the black iPod, maybe if the button in the middle of the scroll was white as well? or if the buttons were black with white on the inside for writing(and perhaps a white backlight 8)
google news has several sources "confirming" a low priced ipod
when i priced mp3 players at best buy 256k players were $200. If apple can pull off a 5gb for 200 that would kill the competition, if apple doesn't go with the 5gb what size would they go with?? If they wanted people to hold say 100 songs that would mean 512 minimum at 128. at $200 that's still cheap mp3 by best buy standards. in any event a lower cost ipod and itunes elegance means majoy pressure on all the other mp3, then push that aac is of better quality compared with 128mp3 thus you can hold more songs at higher qualtiy thanthe competition. major win for apple
If apple went with a $100 ipod what size? if 512 that would rock
they could have several models
$100 512
179 1gb
200 5gb
I guess it depends on how much music apple wants people to hold in their hands. Itunes and home computer holds the rest.
is a story on msnbc of the new ipod holding 400-800 songs if so its got to be hd based 2-4gb and not memory card. memory card which is cost effective (512) would hold maybe 150 songs
what price point to maintain ipod momentum if it really needed it? does apple need a 100 ipod??
Comments
I'm starting to like it. I recall that the original iPod sold for about as much as an ATA/PC-card carrier version, so if Apple can swing a deal on an as of yet not retailed 2GB unit, mebbe 149-199 is doable. We do know that there are 1" 2.2GB HDD's for about 179 retail (but in quantities of 10 or more). Perhaps these new units are cheaper still.
Jetison the Li-ion battery, and the firewire charging/dock. Two AAA batteries or one AA, like so many minidisc players that can get 12-20 hours out of such a config. Hey, this is supposed to be cheap, remember, spend ten bucks on some NiMH batteries if you don't want to throw out alkalines every week or so.
It would be a smaller than a 10GB iPod, but shaped a little differently from the mock-up posted here (which I thought was a respectable effort actually).
So, does a simple, no dock/battery/PS version with a cheaper HDD unit get us down to $149 USD ???
Hmmm... Apple might have a chance to make it interesting but it all depends on the price of that drive!
Originally posted by /\\ldie
another one:
This one is hideous looking.
Never expose yourself to criticism from a bunch of online computer nerds.
It will get ugly.
MiniPod makes sense at least in name, or they could go with PowerPod and iPod. I think they both sound cool.
Originally posted by musicaltone
I think people may be taking mini iPod too literaly - it will probably be the same size but with a smaller HD and less features. To make it smaller would make it more expensive to produce.
Finally, someone gets it. "Mini" iPod refers to capacity and price, not size!
Edit: You too, TheFly.
If there is going to be a minipod, that is what it'll most probably be.
On a side note, every iPod in the UK has practically sold out, including the 40GB ones, so if price is such an issue, how come demand is out stripping supply. No one expected it to sell this well due to it's price.
As far as spelling, what's wrong with getting it right?
Originally posted by MacsRGood4U
Some reports contend the MiniPod will have flash memory rather then a HD.
As far as spelling, what's wrong with getting it right?
Yes, but some of those reports are based on the opinions of Rob Enderle which appears to be on a par with ripping open a chicken and attempting to perceive some meaning from the resulting pile of giblets.
Originally posted by Borborygmi
If this whole miniPod rumor is true, dontcha think it would have been better for Apple to get them out in time for the Christmas buying season?
people are generous during this time of the year and will spend big. Better to get the tail end:
"Mom, Billy got one, and now they are cheaper and stuff, can I get one with the money from HOLIDAY X?"
"Well, I don't know, Billy is a big Crystal Meth dealer."
"But that does not mean if I get one I will start doing Crystal Meth."
"I guess you are right."
Now we just have to find a 13 year old kid who is a Crystal Meth dealer who is named Billy that will go around and make friends with every kid in the nation. Do you see what I am getting at?
Originally posted by Borborygmi
If this whole miniPod rumor is true, dontcha think it would have been better for Apple to get them out in time for the Christmas buying season?
No. iPods are selling out almost everywhere. Apple is selling as many iPods as they can make. There is no reason to allow people to buy a cheeper version when they are willing to buy the expensive version.
If there are $99 iPods it is to entice people that are not willing to spend $299 of which there are plenty this holiday season.
Hell, I would buy one of the mock ups myself to take out when I go drinking so as not to get my 30GB one jacked or lost.
Originally posted by Ensign Pulver
Finally, someone gets it. "Mini" iPod refers to capacity and price, not size!
Yeah, unless Apple are going to use some form of flash media and AA batteries and a tiny screen - which you've gotta reckon is highly unlikely - you would think that the current iPod form factor is just about perfect.
Tooling up for an entire new market segment - one with a lower profit margin - is not something I see Apple doing to be honest. I think we are looking at the same cases we have now with smaller HD and a less funky feature set. Which has me thinking that perhaps we will see 4G iPods in the current range with some new features too.
One thing I would like to see is Apple really diversify the iPod accessory set. Provide proper in-car holder support, etc. etc.
Originally posted by HOM
No. iPods are selling out almost everywhere. Apple is selling as many iPods as they can make.
Hmm, I remember going to some pretty dodgy discos because there was a queue half a mile long to get in, only to discover that it had been created by the owners to give the impression that it was a popular joint. Which of course is what it became very quickly.
When Apple has sold 100 million iPods like the Walkman did then you can start talking about sell outs. At 1 or 2 million Apple is just scratching the surface of what this could become.
when i priced mp3 players at best buy 256k players were $200. If apple can pull off a 5gb for 200 that would kill the competition, if apple doesn't go with the 5gb what size would they go with?? If they wanted people to hold say 100 songs that would mean 512 minimum at 128. at $200 that's still cheap mp3 by best buy standards. in any event a lower cost ipod and itunes elegance means majoy pressure on all the other mp3, then push that aac is of better quality compared with 128mp3 thus you can hold more songs at higher qualtiy thanthe competition. major win for apple
If apple went with a $100 ipod what size? if 512 that would rock
they could have several models
$100 512
179 1gb
200 5gb
I guess it depends on how much music apple wants people to hold in their hands. Itunes and home computer holds the rest.
Think about it, it would slot into the rest of the range really well.
5GB $199
10GB $299
20GB $399
40GB $499
is a story on msnbc of the new ipod holding 400-800 songs if so its got to be hd based 2-4gb and not memory card. memory card which is cost effective (512) would hold maybe 150 songs
what price point to maintain ipod momentum if it really needed it? does apple need a 100 ipod??