If you look, you'll find that the price differential between Apple products and PC (only) products is not as great as the common misconception you are perpetuating here. Another misconception is that there should be NO price differential. That is simply not the case, since Apple is not the same kind of company that most of its competitors are. Gateway, Dell, etc. do virtually no R&D (on a relative basis, anyway) and therefore don't need the margins on their products that Apple does. Other companies (HP, IBM) have the scale that this is not as much of an issue for them. R&D is Apple's lifeblood and they need to continue to funnel a large percentage of their operating revenue to it. As for why people would buy an Apple product over a competing, cheaper product, one answer is that they may simply find they like it more. Just look at the iPod.
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4GB 'iPod Mini' and 15GB iPod
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If you look, you'll find that the price differential between Apple products and PC (only) products is not as great as the common misconception you are perpetuating here. Another misconception is that there should be NO price differential. That is simply not the case, since Apple is not the same kind of company that most of its competitors are. Gateway, Dell, etc. do virtually no R&D (on a relative basis, anyway) and therefore don't need the margins on their products that Apple does. Other companies (HP, IBM) have the scale that this is not as much of an issue for them. R&D is Apple's lifeblood and they need to continue to funnel a large percentage of their operating revenue to it. As for why people would buy an Apple product over a competing, cheaper product, one answer is that they may simply find they like it more. Just look at the iPod.
this is from apple internal specs:
What's in the Box?
Apple does not include a packing list with iPod mini.
The following is a list of items that came with the U.S./Canada version (M9394G/A) of iPod mini on January 6, 2004. This list will be different for different configurations and countries.
iPod mini
Manual Packet
iPod User's Guide
Quick Reference
Apple Software License Agreement, Single Use License
Apple Limited Warranty - iPod
CD Packet
iPod mini CD (includes Mac and Windows software).
Cables
iPod Dock Connector to FireWire cable
iPod Dock Connector to USB cable
Earbud-style headphones
Earbud Covers (2 sets, color black)
iPod AC Adapter
AC Plug (two prong)
iPod mini Belt clip
LOL what? Where are you getting this? Have you even been to the http://www.apple.com/ipod/specs.html page? READ CAREFULLY. See the included accessories?
Riiiiiiight.
See the optional accessories?
Riiiiiiight.
Just to confirm, go to the Apple.com store. Go through the checkout process... see the available optional accessories?
Riiiiiiight.
LOL how is that false advertising? Is *who* dumb or something?
Interesting Theory on new iPods
I like many people were hoping for a ~100 mini ipod (at least under 200). But looking at the price differences as almost everyone has noticed maybe the mini ipod is a product designed on puropose to FAIL! Could its purpose to gut the high end flash memory player market? Before anyone looks at a $200 256mb Xbrand player they are going to see the mini ipod deal (comparitively) then realize the low end ipod is worth the extra money over the mini ipod! They just killed the $200 mp3 player, and may get many of those folks to jump up to the 15G ipod!
THE 4GB MINI IPOD IS DESIGNED TO DRIVE 15GB IPOD SALES AND KILL $200 FLASH MP3 PLAYERS.
Many people are saying they are back to deciding on a 15gb ipod since it is only $50 more. That is the proof.
I like many people were hoping for a ~100 mini ipod (at least under 200). But looking at the price differences as almost everyone has noticed maybe the mini ipod is a product designed on puropose to FAIL! Could its purpose to gut the high end flash memory player market? Before anyone looks at a $200 256mb Xbrand player they are going to see the mini ipod deal (comparitively) then realize the low end ipod is worth the extra money over the mini ipod! They just killed the $200 mp3 player, and may get many of those folks to jump up to the 15G ipod!
THE 4GB MINI IPOD IS DESIGNED TO DRIVE 15GB IPOD SALES AND KILL $200 FLASH MP3 PLAYERS.
Many people are saying they are back to deciding on a 15gb ipod since it is only $50 more. That is the proof.
By May 2004 the ipod mini will be $199, otherwise I will eat my hat!
If anyone would like to make a bet with me I would be more than happy.
If anyone would like to make a bet with me I would be more than happy.
Apple should be selling the mini iPod at cost, and try to make their money on iTunes music downloads, rather than the hardware itself.
I think apple is trying to do more than that by making Apple an everyday name that people think about so that next time they need a computer, they'll get an iMac or an iBook. I never really wanted a computer at home until apple released the 5gig iPod. I waited several months and purchased the first line of flat panel iMacs, then waited several more months and got a 10gig iPod.
If everyone gets an iPod and uses iTunes, maybe they'll start buying macs.
I think apple is trying to do more than that by making Apple an everyday name that people think about so that next time they need a computer, they'll get an iMac or an iBook. I never really wanted a computer at home until apple released the 5gig iPod. I waited several months and purchased the first line of flat panel iMacs, then waited several more months and got a 10gig iPod.
If everyone gets an iPod and uses iTunes, maybe they'll start buying macs.
Still no good for joggers
The price point of $249 is not an issue for me - if, and only if, it would do what I was going to buy it for: NOT SKIP when running. It's not a flash drive - it's a compact flash mini-drive - so it has all of the problems that the regular iPods have for runners - i.e., too many moving parts that forget how to work when jostled.
Although it is now advertised for running (see the copy included on the armband link on the apple site: "Take your iPod mini on your next hike, go jogging or run errands"), it is only as useful as the larger iPods - 20+ minutes, if that, and then you have to re-set the whole thing. For a runner who doesn't want to sweat, that's fine. But for the exerciser market, this is a flop. If I were to buy another iPod now, I'd go for the higher gigs - I can fit my existing iPod in an armband holder if I want and if I get my time down to a 4:00 minute mile I can still do my typical 5 mile workout.
The price point of $249 is not an issue for me - if, and only if, it would do what I was going to buy it for: NOT SKIP when running. It's not a flash drive - it's a compact flash mini-drive - so it has all of the problems that the regular iPods have for runners - i.e., too many moving parts that forget how to work when jostled.
Although it is now advertised for running (see the copy included on the armband link on the apple site: "Take your iPod mini on your next hike, go jogging or run errands"), it is only as useful as the larger iPods - 20+ minutes, if that, and then you have to re-set the whole thing. For a runner who doesn't want to sweat, that's fine. But for the exerciser market, this is a flop. If I were to buy another iPod now, I'd go for the higher gigs - I can fit my existing iPod in an armband holder if I want and if I get my time down to a 4:00 minute mile I can still do my typical 5 mile workout.
Re: Interesting Theory on new iPods
I like your thinking 🙂
look up a few post on page 6 🙂
to quick for ya 😉
I like your thinking 🙂
look up a few post on page 6 🙂
to quick for ya 😉
pjkelnhofer
macrumors 6502a
Re: Did you hear the crickets in the audience?
Exactly, to me it looked kind of ridiculous with the chart. As he was going down the chart. You get 16x more memory, and 16x more songs, in a 50% smaller box, it was leading to for $XX less, and then he says for only $50 more (silence). They should have left the price off the chart! It would not have been so obvious!!!
Not to mention, everyone knows he was not comparing it to the right thing. There are players in the price range ($200 - $250) with a lot more than 256Mb. Old Rio 1.5 Gb = $219, New Rio 4Gb = $250, Dell 15Gb = $250. You can say what you want about style, but to compare it to a $50 cheaper machine when there are equal (or greater) storage machines in the same price range was basically tried to pull a fast one on the audience.
Either price it at $199 or compare to a $249 model!
Shame on Steve!
Exactly, to me it looked kind of ridiculous with the chart. As he was going down the chart. You get 16x more memory, and 16x more songs, in a 50% smaller box, it was leading to for $XX less, and then he says for only $50 more (silence). They should have left the price off the chart! It would not have been so obvious!!!
Not to mention, everyone knows he was not comparing it to the right thing. There are players in the price range ($200 - $250) with a lot more than 256Mb. Old Rio 1.5 Gb = $219, New Rio 4Gb = $250, Dell 15Gb = $250. You can say what you want about style, but to compare it to a $50 cheaper machine when there are equal (or greater) storage machines in the same price range was basically tried to pull a fast one on the audience.
Either price it at $199 or compare to a $249 model!
Shame on Steve!
well I think you're paying for mini
I know plenty of people who want something a little smaller and dont have that much music to lug around. You're definitely paying for portability and style here. Plus in the last couple of years them kids have been wear tighter and smaller clothes. iPod was getting a bit tight.
The price isn't too bad, if it was under $200 I would have felt a little burned seeing as how I got the 40 GB 2 months ago.
Gee if it was about value why not strap an XRAID to your back and enjoy that $3/Gig value, you could carry a million songs everywhere you go. You could christen it the iHump.
I know plenty of people who want something a little smaller and dont have that much music to lug around. You're definitely paying for portability and style here. Plus in the last couple of years them kids have been wear tighter and smaller clothes. iPod was getting a bit tight.
The price isn't too bad, if it was under $200 I would have felt a little burned seeing as how I got the 40 GB 2 months ago.
Gee if it was about value why not strap an XRAID to your back and enjoy that $3/Gig value, you could carry a million songs everywhere you go. You could christen it the iHump.
All you people are acting like this is the Cube, priced at 1800.00 when it first came out.
The 1800 price of the Cube was the travesty, not the Cube innovation.
You are talking 50.00 bucks here, not 500 or 1000 bucks.
Apple had to price it at $250.00, so it could lower it if they had too.
Do you really think Apple and SJ would be that popular if (Apple) released it at 200.00 or less to only realize they have to
introuduce a Price Increase, that would have gone over very well.
You people need to get a clue, we aret talking 50 bucks here, and they already smaller and look cooler than the current 3G iPods which scratch easy.
By March or sooner they will be $199.0 or less.
When Apple finally comes out with a x86 or PPC based Cheap Mac to compete with PC's, you guys will be the first to complain the price is $700.00 not $500.00, come on.
No satisfying you people.
Wait, This just in, Steve Jobs just announced the Mac Personal Starship future automobile for $100.00 and it still isn't cheap enough.
The 1800 price of the Cube was the travesty, not the Cube innovation.
You are talking 50.00 bucks here, not 500 or 1000 bucks.
Apple had to price it at $250.00, so it could lower it if they had too.
Do you really think Apple and SJ would be that popular if (Apple) released it at 200.00 or less to only realize they have to
introuduce a Price Increase, that would have gone over very well.
You people need to get a clue, we aret talking 50 bucks here, and they already smaller and look cooler than the current 3G iPods which scratch easy.
By March or sooner they will be $199.0 or less.
When Apple finally comes out with a x86 or PPC based Cheap Mac to compete with PC's, you guys will be the first to complain the price is $700.00 not $500.00, come on.
No satisfying you people.
Wait, This just in, Steve Jobs just announced the Mac Personal Starship future automobile for $100.00 and it still isn't cheap enough.
Afraid you've got it backwards. Jobs has repeatedly said that there is little to no profit to be had in the software (music). The profit is all in the hardware.
Re: Interesting Theory on new iPods
deciding is not buying... i will stay deciding until they are under 200 PERIOD
deciding is not buying... i will stay deciding until they are under 200 PERIOD
Not very smart
Well, I have to admit that I was excited to see a new "cheaper" iPod come out before the announcement today. I didn't really expect a $100 version unless it was flash based (with no memory included).
However, I think the marketing strategy on the iPod Mini is completely ridiculous. It doesn't address the main point of its target--that is to say that it is trying to take away market share from "flash-based" players.
Not only is it not a flash-based player (which is why people use them in gyms and when exercising), but it also has a high price... these are two of the three main reasons for getting a flash player (small-size and portability is the other).
Never mind that the real iPod is a good size and size reduction wasn't needed anyway.
So, what will this do? My guess is it was intended to drive sales of the original iPod even further... I doubt the iPod Mini will sell much at all.
Glad to see that there were other, much better developments!
Well, I have to admit that I was excited to see a new "cheaper" iPod come out before the announcement today. I didn't really expect a $100 version unless it was flash based (with no memory included).
However, I think the marketing strategy on the iPod Mini is completely ridiculous. It doesn't address the main point of its target--that is to say that it is trying to take away market share from "flash-based" players.
Not only is it not a flash-based player (which is why people use them in gyms and when exercising), but it also has a high price... these are two of the three main reasons for getting a flash player (small-size and portability is the other).
Never mind that the real iPod is a good size and size reduction wasn't needed anyway.
So, what will this do? My guess is it was intended to drive sales of the original iPod even further... I doubt the iPod Mini will sell much at all.
Glad to see that there were other, much better developments!
TMA
macrumors 6502a
iPod UK price?
I had a look at Apple UK's website (www.apple.com/uk) and can't see any mention of the iPod mini.
I'm curious, and scared, to see what Apple are going to charge in the UK for this. We already pay a hell of alot more than the USA for almost all Apple hardware, standard iPods included. Apple better not think that $249 = £200+ or i'll be one pissed little bunny. At current exchange rates it should be around £140 (http://www.xe.com) I actually think this is an ok price for what you're getting although a cheaper 2gig model might have been nice.
Finally, I personally would pick this over the cheapest standard iPod. The size and practicality of the unit is more important to me than the size of the hard disk (oeeerrr sounds abit kinky 😉 )
Edit: ERRM I'm slightly worried that the iPod mini isn't going to appear on Apple uk at all! Perhaps i'm just being paranoid.
I had a look at Apple UK's website (www.apple.com/uk) and can't see any mention of the iPod mini.
I'm curious, and scared, to see what Apple are going to charge in the UK for this. We already pay a hell of alot more than the USA for almost all Apple hardware, standard iPods included. Apple better not think that $249 = £200+ or i'll be one pissed little bunny. At current exchange rates it should be around £140 (http://www.xe.com) I actually think this is an ok price for what you're getting although a cheaper 2gig model might have been nice.
Finally, I personally would pick this over the cheapest standard iPod. The size and practicality of the unit is more important to me than the size of the hard disk (oeeerrr sounds abit kinky 😉 )
Edit: ERRM I'm slightly worried that the iPod mini isn't going to appear on Apple uk at all! Perhaps i'm just being paranoid.
LethalWolfe
macrumors G3
LOL
You bought into the rumor hype hook, line, and sinker and you blame Jobs? LOL Man, I thought severe lack of personal accountability was a US-centric problem. Thanx for proving me wrong.
I think all the hype-monkies turned doom & gloomers need to take a deep breath, come back to reality, and wait 2 or 3 months after the mini's have hit the streets before you label it "DOA." Many people have been calling the iPod overpriced since day one even though the damn things are selling like mad and is the #1 player out there.
iPods are hardware and Apple is a hardware company. They make some damn nice software (iTMS included) selling at some damn nice prices in order to get you to buy their hardware (which is what they make their money on). I wouldn't be surprised if Apple barely breaks even when it comes to software.
And, as others have stated, compare the iPod Mini's price to other same-sized flashed based players and then get back to me about how over priced it is. Flash is smaller and more expensive, HDD is bigger and cheaper. Gee, smaller physical size but more expensive vs bigger physical size but cheaper... remind anyone of when the first iPods came out?
Lethal
Although it is now advertised for running (see the copy included on the armband link on the apple site: "Take your iPod mini on your next hike, go jogging or run errands"), it is only as useful as the larger iPods - 20+ minutes, if that, and then you have to re-set the whole thing. For a runner who doesn't want to sweat, that's fine. But for the exerciser market, this is a flop. If I were to buy another iPod now, I'd go for the higher gigs - I can fit my existing iPod in an armband holder if I want and if I get my time down to a 4:00 minute mile I can still do my typical 5 mile workout.
biking is better on your knees and won't jostle the ipod nearly as much. just a suggestion.
biking is better on your knees and won't jostle the ipod nearly as much. just a suggestion.
The price isn't too bad, if it was under $200 I would have felt a little burned seeing as how I got the 40 GB 2 months ago.
SAME HERE!!!
Gee if it was about value why not strap an XRAID to your back and enjoy that $3/Gig value, you could carry a million songs everywhere you go. You could christen it the iHump.
How many times could you fly around the world without hearing the same song with the iHump??
Great IDEA!
SAME HERE!!!
Gee if it was about value why not strap an XRAID to your back and enjoy that $3/Gig value, you could carry a million songs everywhere you go. You could christen it the iHump.
How many times could you fly around the world without hearing the same song with the iHump??
Great IDEA!
Oh come now, that's not fair!
Rio is, after all, the company that tried wooing the tech-savvy female audience this Christmas by casting out a cammo-green 256MB upgradable flash player ... they know their market far too well!
IMHO, I haven't seen the 4GB Rio, but if it has that joystick like the smaller/older model does, the one that people keep complaining about snapping off or becomming jammed in one position (next song, next song, next song, next song...), they're no competition for Apple at all.
Unfortunately, Apple is forever doomed to be competing with mediocre chimps in business suits. I'd absolutely love to see Apple take on some real and credible design/usage companies some day ...
pjkelnhofer
macrumors 6502a
Price per Gb
I apologize if some one already posted this, but I looked and could not find it in the thread
.
iPod 40Gb = $500 = $12.50/Gb
iPod 20Gb = $400 = $20/Gb
iPod 15Gb = $300 = $20/Gb
iPod mini 4Gb = $250 = $62.50/Gb
So mini cost (per Gb) triple a 15Gb or 20Gb and 5 times the 40Gb.
And Steve pitched to us as a value ("the best $50 you will ever spend")!
It must be for the Windows market. Most Apple users I know aren't that stupid.
I apologize if some one already posted this, but I looked and could not find it in the thread
.
iPod 40Gb = $500 = $12.50/Gb
iPod 20Gb = $400 = $20/Gb
iPod 15Gb = $300 = $20/Gb
iPod mini 4Gb = $250 = $62.50/Gb
So mini cost (per Gb) triple a 15Gb or 20Gb and 5 times the 40Gb.
And Steve pitched to us as a value ("the best $50 you will ever spend")!
It must be for the Windows market. Most Apple users I know aren't that stupid.
from a teen
from my 15 year old cousn:
WOW they look coooool!
Dont they have a bigger one (storage)
Cant they make the bigger ones in color?
I like it, but for 250 dollars i cant fit 1/2 of my songs!!
from my 15 year old cousn:
WOW they look coooool!
Dont they have a bigger one (storage)
Cant they make the bigger ones in color?
I like it, but for 250 dollars i cant fit 1/2 of my songs!!
Hemingray
macrumors 68030
I have to agree here. $249 for 4GB seems like too much when you can get a 15GB iPod for $50 more. $199 would have been perfect. Let's hope that Apple priced it at $249 because they had to. I could easily see these mini iPods going for $199 six months down the road. Apple is going to squeeze every last drop out of the iPod's popularity, and I don't blame them. But I'm still a little disappointed they didn't break the $199 psychological price barrier.