MWTokyo: Live Updates...

[arn]

Where to get your fix:

PowerPage.org (http://www.powerpage.org/) - claims Live coverage.
MacObserver (http://www.macobserver.com/news/2002/20020321/keynotecoverage2.shtml) - Live updates if they have net access during the keynote.
YourMacLife (http://www.yourmaclife.com/tokyo/tokyo.html)

We'll provide updates as we get them...

[MacAztec]

Do we have to register to PowerPage to get the streaming video?

[kishba]

i dont think they are streaming video... but they will have live text updates (they always do!)

[teabgs]

powerpage isnt even loading on my computer. Is there actually anything going on with that page?

[afonso]

http://news.com.com/2100-1040-865236.html

later,
afonso

[kishba]

Originally posted by afonso
http://news.com.com/2100-1040-865236.html

later,
afonso

23" ??!??!?!?!?!

i'm going to pass out

that's just TOO FRICKEN COOl

i was gagga over 21 inches... but 23

oh lord... must sell 17" lcd and get 23 inch...

[OSUbuckeyefan]

New flat panel!! that would be freakin sweet!!!!

[mischief]

23" @ 144DPI.

Can you say: "Holy photo-realism Batman!" :eek:

[OSUbuckeyefan]

Originally posted by mischief
23" @ 144DPI.

Can you say: "Holy photo-realism Batman!" :eek:
Holy freakin *****!! thank you baby jesus!!

[afonso]

i need a new flat to accomodate a 23 lcd!!

:p

oh well, next year maybe :)

later,
afonso

[teabgs]

http://www.macobserver.com/comments/commentindivdisplay.shtml?id=13474

I don't know if this is true, I dont want to get my hopes up but...whats this about???

[OSUbuckeyefan]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by teabgs
http://www.macobserver.com/comments/commentindivdisplay.shtml?id=13474

I don't know if this is true, I dont want to get my hopes up but...whats this about??? [/QUOTE
That would be just unreal...

[Zenith]

maybe just a joke...

[afonso]

can't believe the thing is starting up and there's no live coverage yet :(

[buffsldr]

Originally posted by afonso
can't believe the thing is starting up and there's no live coverage yet :(

Yeah... what's happening... I cant see anything

[DavidCL23]

Did I hear a G5!!!!?

[kishba]

Originally posted by buffsldr


Yeah... what's happening... I cant see anything

they just posted saying they're going to start coverage soon

i think it's already started, though

although we're only missing his "updates"--his traditional "state of the mac" speech

[OSUbuckeyefan]

Originally posted by DavidCL23
Did I hear a G5!!!!?
you heard it, but we don't know if it's true...probably just a sleazy,dirty, nasty trick!:mad:

[theranch]

I got the powerpage.org once but now it locks up my IE and am forced to quit. I got cable for a reason....to watch Keynote addresses live! I can't believe that I have to wait for the info to trickle in.

[zed]

is there any coverage of what's going on? :confused:

[ecino1]

Yeah.. powerpage.org freezes me up also.. this sucks.

[ecino1]

Look at apple store .. they are closed up.. UPDATES COMING !!!!!!

[av11d]

GR! I need to know what is happening!! Any info yet???

[Timothy]

But...$499 for the iPod? #$%^&* That hurts a bit. But only because I know that I am still going to buy it. 10 gigs is my *perfect* form factor for this baby...


BTW...the Apple Store U.S. is now offline...

[afonso]

HOT Macworld Expo Tokyo keynote coverage
March 20 - 20:05 ET Steve Jobs' Macworld Expo Tokyo keynote kicked off about 30 minutes ago with Jobs offering an overview of what will be covered during his keynote: Mac OS X, digital hub, iMac, Bluetooth, Cinema Display, and iPod. Software presentations from Adobe, Ergosoft, and FileMaker have taken center stage thus far. More to come... (updates will be delivered at least 10-15 minutes apart)

[McFreggle]

Pretty good coverage in the observer comments on Mac Observer (http://www.macobserver.com/news/2002/20020321/keynotecoverage2.shtml), it seems...

k.

[krossfyter]

telling them to disable thier images...

the suspense is killing me.. to use an overly used phrase.

[GeeYouEye]

I just visited as many online apple stores as i could think of. They're ALL closed. Question: is this good, or bad?

[nicely]

http://www.macworld.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=5&t=000643

[OSUbuckeyefan]

Originally posted by GeeYouEye
I just visited as many online apple stores as i could think of. They're ALL closed. Question: is this good, or bad?
doubleplus good!

[jelloshotsrule]

this may be dumb, but what is bluetooth?

all the apple related sites are going nuts with traffic. far more exciting than i'd have expected. should be good.

[krossfyter]

saweet!


http://www.macminute.com/mwty02/photos/keynote1-s.jpg

[McFreggle]

Originally posted by jelloshotsrule
this may be dumb, but what is bluetooth?


It's a wireless technology. The technology itself exists several years allready, but it's only now that products really start to come with bluetooth, like ericsson cell phones with wireless headphones.

He _could_ use it for a wireless 23" cinema display, but i don't think so...

[GeeYouEye]

OK, we know one of the keynote topics is Bluetooth. Does this mean we finally have an Airport/Bluetooth compatability??? God I hope so...

[McFreggle]

Originally posted by nicely
http://www.macworld.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=5&t=000643

Yup... I was going to post that one too... Very nice coverage!

[blackpeter]

(posted @ 8:39 eastern)

Jobs arrives on stage 9:31 AM

Topics to be covered 9:34 AM
Mac OS X
Digital Hub
IMac
Bluetooth
Cinema Display
IPod


Mac OS X
Demonstrations from Adobe corporation.

InDesign 2.0. 9:38 AM


GoLive 6 . 9:40 AM


Photoshop 6.0 for Mac OS X Japanese edition beginning release. 9:42 AM


Mac OS X's Chinese character. 9:47 AM


FileMaker is demonstated under X. 9:54 AM


Apple demonsrates Final Cut Pro. 9:57 AM
Message from Lucas film. 10:04 AM


The technique which was used in the Star Wars is demonstrated in Maya. Furthermore, The Trailer for Episode Two is showed. 10:07 AM

Jobs comes back on stage to talk about the Digital Hub strategy 10:10 AM

Jobs' explains his vision of the digital hub. Jobs' explains advantages of iMovie, iTunes, and iDVD. Demonstration of these applications are in process. 10:14 AM


1,000,000 downloads of iPhoto within the first two months.

Now Jobs' moves on to discuss the iMac 10:32 AM

[jaykk]

Here is an interesting article on Blue Tooth
http://wireless.newsfactor.com/perl/story/16859.html

[GeeYouEye]

OK, according to the Macworld poster, the iMac demo is finishing up now. Time for Bluetooth!! :D :D :D

[teabgs]

Why must the coverage be so sporadic??? http://www.macworld.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=5&t=000643 this is the best coverage I've found, but still it's not better then streaming.....I want to HEAR steve!! GEEZ, I wish I could watch and/or Hear what was going on over there....

[ecino1]

Steve is saying PRICE RAISES ON THE IMACS!!!!! DUE TO LCD AND RAM PRICE INCREASES!!!!!!! NO WAY... ****IN G ****.

[Timothy]

Hmmm...have we ever had that as a MW announcement? That sux...

[teabgs]

"Apparently the prices of LCD screens have gone up 25% and the price of RAM has gone up 200%. He is
saying that they are raising the price of the imac!!
Looks like a price raise $100, $150, $200 on the three models. Unbelievable! "

NOOOOOO.......not good, not good, I hope prices get back to where they were earlier today soon...

ON a high note apparently you can sync a palm in OSX wirelessly (is that a word?)

[krossfyter]

[update 2]

sony clie with bluetooth Memory stick
sync'd it with a mac via bluetooth in 30 seconds

via a USB bluetooth module (about 1.5-inch)
!

he's browsing the apple web site from a mac
via a bluetooth connection.
!!

bluetooth will be in the next build of OS X
but it will be released as beta software - TODAY
internet dialup
palm and clie sync

Apple will sell the USB bluetooth module for $49
avail early may (US)
avail early april in Japan (those may be flip-flopped)

[blackpeter]

iMac

New iMac TV ad shown

125,000 iMacs sold to date. Above what was expected. Jobs' says 5000 a day

Price increase in all three models $100, $150, $200 due to rising RAM and LCD prices


...more to come

[GeeYouEye]

Well, it's here. Now we just wait for the iPod (and hopefully a "One more thing", such as a just kidding about the price increases)

[teabgs]

the new display goes for 449800YEN which is like little under $4000

Someone updated the correct figures, here's the real price.

449,800 JPY = 3,421.55 USD

[OSUbuckeyefan]

Originally posted by teabgs
the new display goes for 449800YEN which is like little under $4000
*gulp*

[ecino1]

What a crappy expo.. price increases on the imacs and a more expensive iPod.. just what we all need.. It should've been 5gig $299.. and 10 for $399.. considering apple claims they are selling like crazy?/ I dunno, smells like a major ripoff to me.

[teabgs]

Im gonna go check it all out at Apple Store. Thought you'd all like to know its back up

[afonso]

downloaded it...

installed it...

works like a charm :) quite cool!

later,
afonso

[krossfyter]

apple store is now showing all the changes announced at the expo.

[krossfyter]

from powerpage...



hardware!

cinema display HD (high definition)
1920*1200
US$3499
449,800 in Japan

iPod

10 GB - $499
5 GB - $399

custom laser engraving on iPod US$49
27 letters on two lines

Contacts - you can sync your contacts to your iPod
via iPod Software Updater 1.1
vCard standard
new "contacts" menu in ipod
you can download

iMac

iMac prices went up $100
everything is more expensive
25% cost increase in components
200% RAM cost increase

they had one decision to make: remove features or raise price?
$100 increase in US
20,000 Yen increase in Japan
previous dealer orders will be honored

125,000 units shipped so far
10% or less have shipped to Apple retail stores
others to dealers

now shipping 5000 iMac units/day
expects to be caught up with backorders by April

[think_different]

125,000 units shipped so far !!!???:confused:

What the hell is this!?

If everybody out there, from customers to resellers, is crying for the new iMac's, where are these 125,000 units ?

I wouldn't like to say this, but is Steve lying yo us?

If mistakes were made, please Apple, admit them and tell us that you're trying hard to correct them. Just that!

[jelloshotsrule]

i tend to agree that the price won't hurt imac sales too much. i think the people who will be most soured are the ones who were just about to buy one.... that one extra day putting it off cost them. and of course the increase won't affect previous orders because that just wouldn't work. whether by law or just because people wouldn't stand for it. if you place an order for something, and are told it'll ship on day x, then day x comes and goes and there are delays. after day x the price goes up, no way will you have to pay that new price...

i think the new stuff is more exciting than i'd have expected, but it won't really affect me (or maybe even most people) as i don't have the money to spend on the screen. and of course the cost of lcds on the rise wouldn't allow them to drop prices on the others at all. the ipod update seems good. i have it downloaded, just have to juice it onto the pod. and i'm thinking about sending mine back to get it engraved! ha!

blue tooth sounds promising too. can anyone just generally describe the various facets it'll affect? ie, airport, etc... thanks

[Timothy]

OK...I was set to buy the new 10 gig iPod...but alas, I can't bring myself to do it. I was waiting for this model...I need the size...but the price increase is just too much, and I rarely complain about Apple prices.

They still don't ship with a case or a clip. And, they want to charge me for engraving too?

Apple, you can only push your luck just so far. And, this time you pushed my credit card back into my wallet.

[Xapplimatic]

All and all not a bad expo for "low-key" no broadcast..
*AWESOME* new High-Def 23" LCD!! I want one!!
iPod gets 2x size increase for $100 more.
Free software upgrade for all iPods gives sound EQ AND contact list stuff!
Bluetooth.. Guess they worked out the channel priority conflicts! Very nice
low cost networking solution (<half the price of airport to make 2 Macs talk).. and contrary to what the original post on this thread says, Apple's site says
it's available under 10.1.3, not the next OS version. (Only $43 for the USB!)

The price increase on the iMac sux, but ... industry leaders were whining
about LCD increases and RAM increases for the last few months.. so it
shouldn't be exactly a suprise.. Bonus for those who didn't "hold-out" on
ordering.. and I don't think Steve was lying about how many are shipping
have shipped. The local (non-Apple) stores here have some high-end iMac
inventory on hand.

Did I say I was drooling over the 23" HIGH DEF LCD?? Droooll....

[Spock]

iMac 1899$$ !!! Are they Nuts???

[CHess]

I don't know about anyone else, but I wasn't expecting a whole lot out of this Macwold and I'm very happy to see Apple's announcements.

I was pretty worried about the delays in the iMac shipments. A lot of them have been shipped, so I don't think the 125,000 shipped statement made by Steve Jobs is hiding anything. Still, there are a LOT of people waiting in line for their's and I was worrying that people would start to cancel and buy something else if they're forced to wait much longer. So, it sounds like they are past their holdup on shipments. I was kind of wondering if the delays are really due to cost increases and Apple trying to work out better deals on RAM and LCD prices. I don't think the $100 increase will affect sales much, though it is a shame to see.

As for the iPod, the 10GIG release is what I was hoping for, but not for an extra $100. Perhaps in a few months, they will start coming down (don't they HAVE to???). As for the laser engraving for an extra $50... Heck it's a cool option. You don't have to have to have it done and I'm sure most people have no need for it, but it is a pretty cool option for a gift item. Also, I didn't think Apple would go with putting contact data on the iPod, but they did, and that will make some users I've talked to quite happy.

Oh, and did anyone notice iTunes is now at 2.0.4?

[ivtrk]

.

[jelloshotsrule]

if my parents keep calling me katie, i'm gonna be pissed. ha

[Mr. Anderson]

Ouch.

Do I buy a new computer?

Do I buy a 23" monitor?

Maybe I should sell my car?

Going to buy a lotto ticket tomorrow....

[nathany]

While everyone that already bought one won't be upset by a price drop, and the new firmware updates sound really good... I'm still a bit disappointed.

I was all ready to spend $600 CDN on a 10 GB iPod, but instead they want $800. Now I have to decide if I really need to extra space. On one hand, my 10 GB iBook drive is stuffed and I could use the extra space for backups and all that. If already spending so much, why not spend a little more.

On the other hand, my music collection is 3.5 GB, so as a dedicated MP3 player I don't really need 10 GB - I still would have 1 GB free for backups and such. With only a 90-day warranty, I worry that overuse as a Firewire drive (due to having more space) may wear the thing out. May be better off without...

And engraving doesn't appear to be offered in the Canadian Apple Store... doh!

- n8

[j763]

I can't believe what Apple's done to the iPod, I was expecting a 10 GB model for $399 and the original 5GB model at $299... Surely with a new model, the old model's price has to come down... some day...

[Macette]

Originally posted by j763
I can't believe what Apple's done to the iPod, I was expecting a 10 GB model for $399 and the original 5GB model at $299... Surely with a new model, the old model's price has to come down... some day...


hey j763... that's ONE THOUSAND AUSTRALIAN DOLLARS FOR A 10G iPOD


there goes that overseas trip...

[CHess]

Originally posted by nathany

I was all ready to spend $600 CDN on a 10 GB iPod, but instead they want $800. Now I have to decide if I really need to extra space. On one hand, my 10 GB iBook drive is stuffed and I could use the extra space for backups and all that. If already spending so much, why not spend a little more.
- n8

I don't think you'll wear out an iPod any faster using it for its hard drive space. But why relegate such a beautiful piece of equipment as the iPod to file storage? I was running out of space on my 10Gig TiBook hard drive and I replaced it with a 30Gig for around $160 US.

Seems to me like it would make more sense to go that route and buy the cheaper iPod. Of course, I did the hard disk installation myself, which was pretty tricky.

[Dunepilot]

is RIDICULOUS ! and that's based on Apple Uk's education pricing and without VAT

Who can justify spending so much money for a monitor.

Anyone out there thinking of buying themselves a large screen, snap up a 22" flat panel while you still can.

I know we weren't promised much at Tokyo, but really, what a disaster for mac fans.:mad:

[teabgs]

Originally posted by Dunepilot
[B
I know we weren't promised much at Tokyo, but really, what a disaster for mac fans.:mad: [/B]

I don't know about that. It was a bit better then I thought. Bluetooth anyone? 23" HD LCD (even if its too expensive for anyone to buy).

It's not Apple's fault that prices had to be raised. Everyone's prices will be going up. it's not a huge increase. and besides, it will go down in time.

[nathany]

Originally posted by CHess

I don't think you'll wear out an iPod any faster using it for its hard drive space. But why relegate such a beautiful piece of equipment as the iPod to file storage?

Because my music collection is only 3.5 GB? Besides replacing my Rio 500, I can remove all the music from my drive and still have room for backups and such on the iPod. Plus it's a nice size for carrying around everywhere.


I was running out of space on my 10Gig TiBook hard drive and I replaced it with a 30Gig for around $160 US.

Seems to me like it would make more sense to go that route and buy the cheaper iPod. Of course, I did the hard disk installation myself, which was pretty tricky.

That's not a bad idea. Even if I had the current model iBook with 20 GB, I doubt I'd be quite as anxious to get an iPod. Of course I'd like to keep my warranty, and there are a lot a steps to replacing the HDD - so it would cost me a little more.

It's kind of like I want a FireFly (smartdisk.com), but with MP3 player features at the same time. Interestingly enough, the FireFly was priced the same as the iPod before (same drive), but now it is down to $199 US for 5GB. Could buy 2 for the price of an iPod 5 GB - not that it would make any sense to do so...

Oh well... maybe I should just keep waiting.

- n8

[Scab Cake]

Firstly, yes, the Cinema Display HD is very expensive, however, it has 144 dots per inch!! That's pretty much double the pixel density of my 17"! Dangit, I can't find the place where I read that the 23" has 144 pixels/inch. I'll find it and edit this message later. Anyway, those are some AMAZING specs. 16:10 ratio, 1920 x 1200 resolution...

The 22" Cinema Display was $3999 when it was first released. It sold. Not much later, it's half the price.

Secondly, is it me, or does it look like the horizontal line pattern on the sides of the screen are gone? Note the silver apple, like the new iMac, on the back and front of the display.

Thirdly, I thought the 22" display maximized the bandwidth of the ADC connector. I guess I was wrong. Anyone know where the specs are for that?

[mangis]

I will be off to Mac world tomorrow to check on the resolution of the new screen.

I must say that anyone willing to spend the money on the new ipod is a bit crazy considering the price of 2.5" 30 gb hard drives. So then, it is possible to replace the ipod drive?

[arn]

Originally posted by mangis
I will be off to Mac world tomorrow to check on the resolution of the new screen.

I must say that anyone willing to spend the money on the new ipod is a bit crazy considering the price of 2.5" 30 gb hard drives. So then, it is possible to replace the ipod drive?

Um.... a 2.5" hard drive won't fit in the iPod...

it's a 1.8"

arn

[Mr. Anderson]

Originally posted by Scab Cake
(The 23" Cinema Display)has 144 dots per inch

Do the math:

max res: 1920x1200

@144 dpi that would be 13.3" x 8.3"

The display measurements are 24.2" x 19.2"

Some space seems to be missing.

A fast calculation figuring the res given 23 as the diagonal and using the aspect ratio comes up with

98.4 dpi

Higher than 72, but not nearly 144 which would make 12pt fonts tiny.

[wake up Jobs!!!]

well youve done it again Jobs. I commend you. You have shot your self in the foot so many times, i am suprised there was anything left there to shoot this time! $500 FOR AN IPOD, WHAT ARE U CRAZY!!!!!! Pc'ers can buy new computers for $500! And highering the price of the iMacs, that is just suicide. How are you supposed to compete with pcs when you can get a highend PC for $1000! This is why Macs are still behind PCs in allmost all sales of computers. This company is doomed if they keep things up. I live in miami and as you know there is a new apple store there. I go in there all the time and talk with the workers and i watch the PC folk walk in there and look around and i listen to the conversations. "dad, i want a imac", "well son it is really expensive, i cant afford it, so lets go over to best buy and get you a compaq or somthing". HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WALK THROUGH THIS STORE TO BE TURNED AWAY BY OVERPRICED COMPUTERS!!. I AM SHURE THE PROFFESIONAL MAC USERS DO NOT THINK THIS, BUT I AM LOOKING AT THIS FROM A CONSUMER POINT OF VIEW. APPLE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO REACH THE MARKET THEY WANT TO REACH WITH OVERPRICED COMPUTERS AND ITEMS. I CAN REMEBER STEVE JOBS SAYING "SOMEDAY A MAC WILL BE IN EVERY HOUSEHOLD", WELL I DONT THINK IT WILL HAPPEN IN ANY OF OUR LIFETIMES.
THIS IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY ! THERE ISNT ANY MORE.

[Backtothemac]

Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah
People like you have been saying the same thing for the last 15 years or so.

[wake up Jobs!!!]

well it is true steve is flushing this company and its fan base DOWN THE TOLET....... AND YOU KNOW IT!!!!!

99 bottles of beer on the wall,99 bottles of beer !!

[buffsldr]

Originally posted by wake up Jobs!!!
well youve done it again Jobs. I commend you. You have shot your self in the foot so many times, i am suprised there was anything left there to shoot this time! $500 FOR AN IPOD, WHAT ARE U CRAZY!!!!!! Pc'ers can buy new computers for $500! And highering the price of the iMacs, that is just suicide. How are you supposed to compete with pcs when you can get a highend PC for $1000! This is why Macs are still behind PCs in allmost all sales of computers. This company is doomed if they keep things up. I live in miami and as you know there is a new apple store there. I go in there all the time and talk with the workers and i watch the PC folk walk in there and look around and i listen to the conversations. "dad, i want a imac", "well son it is really expensive, i cant afford it, so lets go over to best buy and get you a compaq or somthing". HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WALK THROUGH THIS STORE TO BE TURNED AWAY BY OVERPRICED COMPUTERS!!. I AM SHURE THE PROFFESIONAL MAC USERS DO NOT THINK THIS, BUT I AM LOOKING AT THIS FROM A CONSUMER POINT OF VIEW. APPLE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO REACH THE MARKET THEY WANT TO REACH WITH OVERPRICED COMPUTERS AND ITEMS. I CAN REMEBER STEVE JOBS SAYING "SOMEDAY A MAC WILL BE IN EVERY HOUSEHOLD", WELL I DONT THINK IT WILL HAPPEN IN ANY OF OUR LIFETIMES.
THIS IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY ! THERE ISNT ANY MORE.

Well, I don't know what else to say to this, except the word is "sure", not "shure".

[buffsldr]

Originally posted by wake up Jobs!!!
well it is true steve is flushing this company and its fan base DOWN THE TOLET....... AND YOU KNOW IT!!!!!

99 bottles of beer on the wall,99 bottles of beer !!

Relax, fella.

[Rower_CPU]

Well, after my long hiatus...

The 23" CDHD is gorgeous, and I can't wait to see it in person. Too bad there were no price drops, but they'll come eventually, just like we saw with CRTs.

The iPod update is a great option to stay competitive with other MP3 players, but again too expensive for most people. I'm happy with my "original" iPod and the new Contacts and EQ features they've added. The Applescript for putting your OS X Addresses in works great!

The iMac price hike is disheartening, but hopefully it will be temporary, once the parts market stabilizes and demand goes down.

Apple is still way ahead of the game, and they proved it with the Bluetooth demo. I can't wait to see Dell play catch-up.


Now...when do we actually get to SEE the keynote??? Apple...please...soon?

[jaykk]

Philip W. Schiller, senior VP Marketing talks more on iMac price hike to The Korea Herald -

Other computer manufacturers are scrambling to "deconfigure" their models, which means some features and functionalities are omitted in a bid to keep the current prices while handling the rising costs. But Apple did not opt to remove some of iMac computer features.

"As other computer makers have a variety of models, it's hard to know whether they actually raise the prices by deconfiguring their models. But our product line is so simple and so focused that we could not do such a thing," he said.

Here is the full article
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2002/03/25/200203250025.asp

[Q-bert]

Originally posted by wake up Jobs!!!
well youve done it again Jobs. I commend you. You have shot your self in the foot so many times, i am suprised there was anything left there to shoot this time! $500 FOR AN IPOD, WHAT ARE U CRAZY!!!!!! Pc'ers can buy new computers for $500!Now THAT'S interesting. I'd like to see you carry around a $500 PC to play MP3 files. You must have very big pockets... :rolleyes:

Miniaturization costs money - that's the reality of things. While it would have been great to have the "old" iPod go down by $100, it's entirely possible that the cost of the 5GB drive that the iPod uses did NOT go down at all - everybody here complaining about the price is just assuming that it did, because "it's supposed to, right?" Unless any of us work for Apple's parts procurement department, we really don't know, so don't assume.

Another thing to remember is that the iPod is selling quite well at the current price. There usually isn't a reason to drop the price of something if the sales targets are just fine at the current price, even if you have something that everyone can't afford. I could complain all day about how expensive a BMW is and how I can't afford one, but ultimately, BMW isn't under any obligation to sell it cheap enough for me to buy one. Sometimes more units and "market penetration" doesn't improve the bottom line, that's basic econ 101.

The iPod kind of qualifies as a "boutique" item, like a luxury car - sure you can buy an MP3 player for less money, but it won't be as cool, features notwithstanding. Apple knows this - why else would they start offering custom engraving on it? You don't see SonicBlue offering that on Rio Riots, do you?

Seriously, though - you might want to chill a bit, Chicken Little. All that CAPS TYPING MAKES ME WORRIED ABOUT YOUR STRESS LEVEL. ;)

[nathany]

Originally posted by Q-bert
While it would have been great to have the "old" iPod go down by $100, it's entirely possible that the cost of the 5GB drive that the iPod uses did NOT go down at all - everybody here complaining about the price is just assuming that it did, because "it's supposed to, right?"

Actually the FireFly is based on the same 1.8" 5 GB drive. It was $400 US at the same time that the iPod was introduced, but has fallen to $200. The iPod is still $400 US.
http://www.smartdisk.com/

I'm sure the iPod will drop in price later this year, and maybe they'll intro a 20 GB model at the $500 price point.

Regardless, I went out and bought the 5 GB iPod the day after the announcement. I would've liked the 10 GB, but I fit all my music and a bootable OS 9 system on the 5 GB with a 1 GB left for data backups. And of course my Contacts are on the iPod as well.

I still think it is a good value. My Rio 500 was $300 US only 2 years ago and fits just over one album. The iPod is so much more, and has freed up alot of space on the 10 GB drive on my iBook. Sure, lower prices would've been nice, but I'm happy with the purchase.

- n8