Nano To Reach 12 GB By Fall?

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif

A recent Gartner report points out that Apple's buying power may be able to press NAND flash prices low enough for greatly increased capacity Nano's when their rumored refresh appears in the fall.

Gartner forecasts that a 16Gb (2GB) device will be available in the third quarter for about $30, down from its current price of about $35. Due to Apple's procurement power and investment, it is conceivable that it could get pricing for a device at $25 or even $20. This pricing would enable capacities of 12GB, leaving enough room for the remaining component and manufacturing costs as well as Apple's margin, while still reaching a $250 price point.

A recent rumor stated that Apple has been stocking up on NAND flash memory, presumably for iPods. The current highest-capacity iPod Nano is 4 GB.

[celebrian23]

I would love that. I'd probably sell my 30GB as the space is way too big for my needs but the 4GB nano is too small. I want a midsize goshdarnit.

[Fiveos22]

Originally Posted by celebrian23

I would love that. I'd probably sell my 30GB as the space is way too big for my needs but the 4GB nano is too small. I want a midsize goshdarnit.

I'm waiting (but probably not going to buy) for the >80 gig iPod. Right now, my MacBook is just a bit too snug to hold my music collection and a bigger iPod would really hit the spot (though that spot does not currently include my pocket book).

Originally Posted by Leondunkleyc

Just perfect, summer's only just started and now a reason for me to wish for its end...

ha! tell me that's not true.

[4God]

Originally Posted by celebrian23

...<snip>.......I want a midsize goshdarnit.

Me too. The 12 giger would be perfect for me.

[AP_piano295]

It would be cool if the memory stock up was for the new "true video ipod" What if it had flash and a HD so you could stick some of your stuff on the flash so you could leave the HD off and save power.

Wont happen but it would be cool

[w_parietti22]

Thats good... it will make iPods more closely spec'd.

[~Shard~]

12 GB would be nice, but I don't know if Apple would make such a significant jump so quickly, even if they had the means. The technology might be there, but there's more to running a successful business than simple technology decisions. Apple might choose to go with 6 GB or 8 GB nanos for starters, as this might make better sense from a business perspective. It will of course depend on what competition is doing as well, profit margins, many factors at play here...

Regardless, larger capacity nanos and full-screen video iPods this fall would make a deadly combination for both consumers and Apple themselves heading into the busy Christmas shopping season!

[DevilsRejection]

New Nanos will be 6GB for 199 and 8GB for 249

[RichP]

Originally Posted by DevilsRejection

New Nanos will be 6GB for 199 and 8GB for 249

12 sounds nice, but what you just said sounds much more realistic.

[DevilsRejection]

Originally Posted by RichP

12 sounds nice, but what you just said sounds much more realistic.

i'd be impressed if we say 10gb nano's but i'm not holding my breathe for those

[DTphonehome]

Great, how can I possibly be content with a 2 GB when I get my MB?

[rockthecasbah]

Originally Posted by DTphonehome

Great, how can I possibly be content with a 2 GB when I get my MB?

well although it isn't certain, you can sell it unopened to the unknowing person that doesn't follow iPod rumors while the getttin's good. It wouldnt be until after the summer sale is over but i'd do that if i were you.

[Preacher85]

8 GB or at the max 10 GB sounds realistic, but 12 would be perfect, as my iTunes Library currently sits at 12.87 GB, and I could easily do without some of the playlists on the iPod. I'm looking to buy a nano when they are refreshed to run with, as my 4th Gen 20 GB color is just too darn bulky. Here's to hoping for 12!

[heffledave]

Originally Posted by Preacher85

8 GB or at the max 10 GB sounds realistic, but 12 would be perfect, as my iTunes Library currently sits at 12.87 GB, and I could easily do without some of the playlists on the iPod. I'm looking to buy a nano when they are refreshed to run with, as my 4th Gen 20 GB color is just too darn bulky. Here's to hoping for 12!

Unfortunately, for those of us whose libraries soar way past 12 GB, that amount of storage wouldn't be nearly enough. Though it's no where in the near future, a full-size iPod running on flash memory would be more appealing--smaller, lighter, no moving parts, and shorter access times? All while being able to hold as much information as today's current 5G iPods? Now that would be impressive.

...then again, so would a 12 GB iPod. What's next? Holographic storage? Mmmmmmm...

[Harpo]

When, oh when, will hard drives be replaced with flash memory?


Probably never. They'll come out with something else by the time flash gets cheap enough.

[DevilsRejection]

Originally Posted by Harpo

When, oh when, will hard drives be replaced with flash memory?


Probably never. They'll come out with something else by the time flash gets cheap enough.

i say a decade

[MattyMac]

Originally Posted by DevilsRejection

i say a decade

Look how far they have come in just half a decade...you cant be serious

[sam10685]

Originally Posted by DevilsRejection

i say a decade

i don't think so... technolohy and methods of producing technology r advancing at a very rapid rate.

[Leondunkleyc]

.

[Staffroomer]

And they'll be even cheaper if they're made with slave labor!!!

*just kidding*

[Leondunkleyc]

.

[wmmk]

Well, I'd love to see this happen. Right now, I own a 30 gig video, and am just about filling all of it. With all of my podcasts and growing CD collection (mostly higher quality AAC, like 190 kbps or so), the free space in my iPod gets smaller every day. If the nano gets bigger, the "true" video iPod will need a bigger HDD and extra cool features, such as downloadable games and applications. Maybe even PDA-like functionality to compete with the origami. Also, this would leave the 2-6 GB range open to iPhone, which would be really cool. Basically I wouldn't get a 12 GB nano, but I thnk it'd help the apple product line.

[cbigfoot1987]

Originally Posted by Harpo

When, oh when, will hard drives be replaced with flash memory?


Probably never. They'll come out with something else by the time flash gets cheap enough.

Wit apple i asy next year it will be a $200 option for a 120GB NAND (Remember i think access speeds are the sane as a 15,000RPM with NAND) from the 160GB 5400RPM HD or $100 from the 7200RPM 160GB. ITs currently about $3000 for a SATA Notebook drive at 60GB using NAND MEMORY

[Fiveos22]

Originally Posted by cbigfoot1987

Wit apple i asy next year it will be a $200 option for a 120GB NAND (Remember i think access speeds are the sane as a 15,000RPM with NAND) from the 160GB 5400RPM HD or $100 from the 7200RPM 160GB. ITs currently about $3000 for a SATA Notebook drive at 60GB using NAND MEMORY

Boy, is your keyboard sticky?

[stoid]

Originally Posted by cbigfoot1987

Wit apple i asy next year it will be a $200 option for a 120GB NAND (Remember i think access speeds are the sane as a 15,000RPM with NAND) from the 160GB 5400RPM HD or $100 from the 7200RPM 160GB. ITs currently about $3000 for a SATA Notebook drive at 60GB using NAND MEMORY

Optimistically, if Apple can secure these chips for $20 a pop 120GB is still going to cost them $1200. If Apple has to pay $25 it's $1500, so I don't think that a 120GB option for $200 is likely. If NAND memory follows Moore's Theorem and doubles every 12-18 months, you're looking at 4-6 years before that price is possible.