4GB 'iPod Mini' and 15GB iPod

[kevcomposer]

Man that was an awesome MacWorld keynote until Steve got to the price for the iPod mini. I personally don't need one since I have a 30 gig already, but I was really hoping Apple would finally do something competitive and price those things below $200.

Most of those flash players are purchased by college students and teens, they don't have money to be throwing around and I cannot see those iPod minis selling to anyone except those of us who are Apple fanatics and like the new toys...and can afford to buy them.

 

[Peyote]

Originally posted by machinehien
My guess is that the anodized finish might still scratch easily, so dark colors would accumulate dozens of tiny siver scratches that would be clearly visible. Light pastels might conceal it better.

The only black anodizing I've ever seen that looked good was a hard coat anodizing, which whould be more durable, and ver attractive, but that's a slightly different process. Most of the time black just turns out grey.


I still think they should have gone with plaid.

 

[mainemike]

Re: No enthusiasm ?

Originally posted by JoeRadar
I think what really stood out to me was the lack of enthusiasm.

I felt Steve Jobs' heart wasn't into today's performance.

I noticed the same thing, Joe.

And the sense of "vague disappointment" was palpable. Kind of felt like a downer somehow. People were psyched going in, and kind of quiet going out.

The excitement will be back.

 

[Macgamer1096]

Strategy

The 4 GB isnt there to simulate its sales its there to stimulate the 15GB if you'd noticed it's to close for comfort to the 15's price so much so that it the choice will always come down to the 15 the real intro is for the 15 and will be the only benefitter. Also i thought a better move would have been to bring back a 5 GB model where you dont change it any and the price would be an obvious 200 put that in the charts Steve. Finally we see that they know they have a winner with the iPod so much so they'll do anything to conquer the market and by eliminating the flash drive player people section by converting them subtly works then all the power to em as either way an iPod is always an iPod no matter what the color. On the other hand i believe that the japanese market will find this mini an excellent choice as they seem like a stylish form factored culture no to be politically in correct but it works with phones like that








2nd Revision 10GB iPod owner- "Its my bread and butter"

 

[pjkelnhofer]

Re: Re: Re: No offense

Originally posted by NusuniAdmin
Its all opinion anyways. You are just a poor little kiddy who wont accept people like form over function, it is a fact of life.

If people prefer form over function why is Apple's desktop share stuck around 3%.

The original iPod wasn't just about the "cool" factor. It was the best thing availible when it came out. Now there are a lot more hard drive mp3 players out there.

Personally, I still think it is the best made stuff out there.

That being said, I do worry that Apple may be in the beginning of making the same mistake with iPod they made with the original Mac. I am worried that in the long term cheaper, lower quality, less "cool" mp3 players will win out because in the end too many people will just look at the price.

My complaint about the pricing of the iPod mini stems from a concern that it will be a bad move for Apple. Look at it this way. Twenty years ago the original Macintosh came out. The future for Apple looked very bright. Soon Windows came out, but Mac supporters believed that Mac OS would win out. Better interface, better hardware, better software (remember when Word came out first for Mac), they said. People won't mind paying more for higher quality, they said. It turns out that a lot of people buy the cheapest thing that can do what they need even if there may be a higher quality alternative price only slightly higher (just ask anyone who bought BetaMax).

I guess I am worried that Apple hasn't learned from past mistakes. I want Apple to be around for the rest of my computing life. When the time comes for me to get a desktop I don't want anyone telling me, "Dude, you're getting a Dell."

Addendum:
I just about Apple not learning from it's history (ie losing market share in the desktop world) and it just to me that the iPod colors may be another example.

I have been led to believe that Apple was left with plethora of "Strawberry" iMacs. In fact wasn't the "flavors" the only aspect of the original iMac that was not a success?

When the 2nd Gen. minis come out, I expect to see fewer colors.

 

[autrefois]

Re: Re: No enthusiasm ?

Originally posted by mainemike
I noticed the same thing, Joe.

And the sense of "vague disappointment" was palpable. Kind of felt like a downer somehow. People were psyched going in, and kind of quiet going out.

The excitement will be back.

I noticed the same thing, too. I thought at the beginning because the same spark wasn't there, "Oh no, there isn't any big news today."

Then during the GarageBand demo, I was so excited about that, that I forgot the otherwise low-key presentation and crowd response, until the iPod mini price was announced. Didn't SJ even say, after the silence, "Well, that's what we're offering" almost as an acknowledgement of the lack of response? I'm pretty sure he did.

One other silly thing perhaps, but my family and I have noticed that SJ very often says "BOOM!!!" when demonstrating products during the keynote. 🙂 This time, I only noticed one "BOOM," and it was said more to himself than to the crowd.

I wonder if he suspected that people might be disappointed after all the iPod mini rumors circulating. Just my take on it.

 

[mainemike]

Re: Did you hear the crickets in the audience?

Originally posted by Photorun
When Steve said the price you could have heard a pin drop, people there were like all excited, anticipating a REALISTIC price like $149 or $199 maybe high end, but NOOOO!!!

You know, folks.....

I found myself disappointed at the price of the iPod mini as well, but I think we do have to keep a couple of things in mind.

For one, it's pretty clear to me that the rumor sites are given more credence than they deserve. But the repected rumor sites will be the first ones to admit this.
People twist themselves into a fever pitch and are swept away by any rumor that even resembles something vaguely credible.

Another thing: I felt that Steve Jobs opened himself up for disappointment when he made such a big deal about the price of iLife '04 as compared to PC alternatives. When he mentioned that you could spend $300+ on equivalent PC software (which is, in his words, "not even as good") and he brought out the $49 price tag for iLife '04...well, that was salesmanship AND showmanship. He made me think iLife '04 was a GREAT BARGAIN for $49 when I used to get this stuff for FREE!

Anyway, the audience was wowed by the $49 price tag of iLife which seemed so cheap and superior to a PC package of similar software.

Perhaps expecting a similar aggressive low price stance on the iPod mini line, the audience was decidedly NOT wowed when Jobs tried to make another comparison between the iPod minis and other flash players. In fact, people were taken aback with sticker shock when the price exceeded their expectations. (Yep - I heard the crickets and I think I saw a tumbleweed blow through the Moscone Center as well.)

If you ask me, Steve should have spent a bit more time tweaking his keynote before hitting the stage. Maybe with a little less flair on the iLife comparison?

 

[noel4r]

the only good thing about the keynote was GarageBand which i have no use for but a very good app for a very good price....

 

[toughboy]

Originally posted by gola
The pricing seems a bit high, no? 50$ between 4 and 15 GB? Crazy.

I agree, pricing seems so high...

should at most be 199 where it is 250 dollars.. crazy!

nice design though... I liked the silver one... but I'd never buy a iPod mini if I wouldnt be an owner of a 15gb one, because of the 50$ difference between those two items...

and finally.. I dont care about those flash players' prices.. if it is not feasible to release a product, then dont!..

 

[pjkelnhofer]

Re: Re: Re: No enthusiasm ?

Originally posted by autrefois
I noticed the same thing, too. I thought at the beginning because the same spark wasn't there, "Oh no, there isn't any big news today."

Then during the GarageBand demo, I was so excited about that, that I forgot the otherwise low-key presentation and crowd response, until the iPod mini price was announced. Didn't SJ even say, after the silence, "Well, that's what we're offering" almost as an acknowledgement of the lack of response? I'm pretty sure he did.

I could not agree more. I keep wondering if they wanted the price lower and couldn't do it, or if some other product (20th Anniversay Mac?) was not ready in time for MacWorld.

Too much time was spent on GarageBand. A very cool little application that not many people will really use. Before people who are excited about it start complaining, really, it should not be a part of iLife - everyone has pictures, everyone listens to music, most people have camcorders and DVD players - how many people have the talent or even urge to make their own music? Enough that it needs to be bundled onto every new computer? That said it was the best (entertainment-wise) part of the Keynote.

The iPod mini was the low point: big build up, little reward. Was anyone an that crowd really expecting it to cost more than the Rio Player it was being compared to? At the very least he should have "WOWED" us with the size and coolness first and mentioned the price later. Once $249 was announced I think half the people missed what an amazing little product it is. They just fixated (and judging by the response here still are - myself included - fixating) on the price and what it really means for Apple's future.

 

[ITR 81]

The iPod mini is sold to me and about 16 of my PC and Mac friends. Most are getting it because they want a small MP3 player or because like me they want to exercise with it on.

More then likely the price will drop in 6 months to $199 to make room for bigger models like a 6 or 8 iPod mini.

People fail to realise that technology costs alot at first but drops in price about every 6 months or so.

If Apple dropped the USB 2.0 cable the price would drop to $210-219 but then again all the PC iPod people would be up in arms about that ****. Because to Mac user firewire just works. To a PC user it can be a pain in the arse because you have to have all updated drivers and a compliant firewire card..and most PC users don't have one of these or both. So most are still using USB 1.1 or 2.0 if they bought or built a new PC in last few yrs.

Main PC iPod user gripe which far out number Mac iPod users is that the reg. iPod doesn't come with a USB 2.0 cable std.

I have feeling this means the reg. iPods will also now include a USB 2.0 cable or atleast I hope so.

 

[pjkelnhofer]

Originally posted by ITR 81
The iPod mini is sold to me and about 16 of my PC and Mac friends. Most are getting it because they want a small MP3 player or because like me they want to exercise with it on.

I suspect they may be dissappointed. I have mostly heard poor reviews for running with an iPod (I know my friend's skips about 25 minutes into his workout everyday - just about the size of the buffer). Since, the mini is also a hard drive device why would it be any better for this. Just because Apple sells an armband doesn't mean you can run with it on.

Any iPod owners have input on exercising while wearing the iPod?

 

[Belly-laughs]

I haven´t read the whole thread (now >20p) so please excuse me if someone´s had this view earlier....

My initial reaction to the price was negative. When comparing the mini to the flash player Jobs went "...half the size, double the memory..." Next I expected him to say "...half the price." But he didn´t.

But looking at the product I now think they can justify the price. It´s beatiful (of course subject to taste) but more importantly; it´s a wonderful piece of engineering. The multifunction wheel has been taken further, making the bigger iPod feel dated, it comes with both USB 2 and FireWire. And the same easy to use operating system.

When people compare this product in the shops to other players they will feel it´s worth what extra money they will have to fork out to get it. The tactile feel, the user interface... Everything just oozes quality and sexyness compared to the competition. Apple will never go cheap.

And of course it´s a small step up to the 15GB iPod, pehaps securing it´s position as the real bargain, cheap GB/$.

I think we will have to wait for the Pepsi promotion to see if they introduce a 2GB model under $200 or reduce the price of the current model.

Exciting indeed!

 

[Count Blah]

Originally posted by NusuniAdmin
Its all opinion anyways. You are just a poor little kiddy who wont accept people like form over function, it is a fact of life. I actualy went to our local apple store around 6 pm today and they said they've already had around 100 preorders on the mini, which is not too shabby. Especialy since its a little reseller in the middle of nowhere.Many people prefer the smaller more compactness of stuff. I personaly do. (which is why I am saving up for a 14" ibook or 12" pb). I have stuck a regular ipod in my pocket before it just seems a little wieghty, especialy if i bought one and went jogging.
Either way if the mini does wind up being disaster then o well, If apple does not want to repeat history they would probly drop the mini. the whole point is, you people are really one sided. Look on the other side. Some people like smaller more compact things. When I first found out about these at school i surveyed arond 100 kids and about 50 kids right off the bat said they wanted one. Most of them say that even though the ipod is small they would like one smaller and more compact.

You call me a kiddie for saying that I like the new design and simply wanted a $199 - 2Gig version, then you go and talk to your fellow kiddies at your school who agree with me about liking the smaller design? You are a strange debater indeed.

My point was that 2Gigs at $199 would not eat away at the 15Gig iPod folks, but would pull in a lot of the $100 - $200 MP3 player folks. At least that is what Steve was claiming to want to do in the keynote. But some people have hard ceilings on what they are willing to pay, like parents, for an MP3 player.

Oh well, what could have been. But the dream of Apple getting a strangle hold of an industry was a pipe dream yet again. Why do I set myself up for such disappointment time after time?

All I know is that the silence at the keynote for the pricing of the iPod mini was earily similar to the cube pricing announcement.

 

[marblesoda]

I agree with most of you guys that the mini ipod is overpriced, but still think that it will do decently because of its form factor...This isn't completely related but anyways, I had just gotten a 20 gb ipod for x-mas and have noticed that the case that it came with has scratched the back as well as part of the screen, which really pisses me off, even though I have been really careful with it since I had read all about how easily it scratches before... noticed first scratch the day I got it after taking it out of case and have since seen scratches in the same place where the tab on the case is grrrr (and unless hands are able to scratch it while your holding it I have no other explanation for the scratches since i've never even laid it down on my desk)...Just wondering if anyone else has encountered this problem and if I should complain to apple about it (even though I don't like complaining much about apple, it really sucks that the own case that they designed for the ipod can scratch it)

 

[fearless]

Originally posted by CrackedButter
Only in the US it seems...

Yes, a temporary tragedy... my partner's travelling to the US in a fortnight, and if she gets through the photo ID she'll buy a couple - or three - silver for me, pink for her daughter - and in the absence of leopard skin, probably gold for herself... at $249 (or $199) it's costume jewellery... AND it plays music while you jog... what's wrong with that? Oh, and even 4GB is big enough to take an OMF from Final Cut into a ProTools suite... and what would I do with 10,000 songs? I run for an hour, max, and I only bother with 5 bands at a time... it's the first iPod I've felt I could buy, use and wear... call me shallow but...

 

[gaijinjim]

I think the most agree....

Oh, iPod mini. Cute, but STUPID!!

Sorry to the people that like it and are going to buy it, but I have one question? WHY? For $50 more you can go out and get a 15GB iPod. In this case, size does matter. 😀 HD size.

Apple seems to be trying to push the 15GB big bro iPod. I may have gotten a mini in the near future had the price been realistic.

BTW, I still use my original first generation 5GB iPod. Been almost two years now. Oh, and it goes to the gym with me every day without the need for an armband.

 

[gekko513]

Well received in Norway

The iPod mini gets a nice front-page news spot on the internet version of Norway's second largest newspaper.

The newspaper quotes Apple (translated by myself): "The smallest portable music player ever with room for 1000 cd-quality songs", and then goes on to say "The price also seems to be more manageable starting at $249."

I think the small size and sleek design/ui of the iPod is it's key strength. These properties has been enhanced in the new iPod mini, and I definitely think it is worth the price.

 

[fearless]

I still think they should have gone with plaid.

Or leopard for those still stuck in Jaguar imagery...

 

[gekko513]

Holy cow ... I just realized that the $299 iPod is actually priced at $428 in Norway! This includes 24% VAT but nonetheless, that is outrageous!

 

[Dahl]

Re: Well received in Norway

Originally posted by gekko513
I think the small size and sleek design/ui of the iPod is it's key strength. These properties has been enhanced in the new iPod mini, and I definitely think it is worth the price.

I agree.
You can't really compare them on HD space alone.
The minis are cute, sexy and SMALL. It's going to be a big hit. If I were to get an iPod, I might choose a mini. I don't really need two months of music on an iPod, I would rather change the albums now and then. 🙂

 

[fearless]

Re: Re: No enthusiasm ?

Originally posted by mainemike
I noticed the same thing, Joe.

And the sense of "vague disappointment" was palpable. Kind of felt like a downer somehow. People were psyched going in, and kind of quiet going out.

The excitement will be back.

I suspect you're right. The 15GB iPod represents value, as long as there isn't a colour/MPEG4/iChatAV-with-a-cellphone-camera/BlueTooth/built-in recording version in the range... I think we'll see a lot more action from the 'classic' iPod form factor than just MP3/AAC, and perhaps it missed the bus this time, to everyone's disappointment... the iPod mini may well be the future of audio iPods, but of iPods generally? There's more ahead I'm sure...

 

[wPod]

Re: Reconsidered.

Originally posted by Jetson
I complained about the high price and I'm not alone.

However I reconsidered and looked at it from an economics point of view. At this price point the demand probably won't exceed the capacity of Apple to produce the mini iPods.

Better to market to those who are willing to pay than to be swamped by potential buyers that will be disappointed by having to wait for back orders.

That is the only rational I could think of. . . Apple can't produce that many right now so they will jack up the price, once production improves they will drop the price. I was going to buy one imidiatly had the price been around $150. . . I would wait one week to buy if it had been around $200. . . but at $250 I might as well buy a 15gb . . . but niehter 250 or 300 I want to spend, only 150 but no more than 200!!!

has anyone considered this? -->
40Gb @ $500 = $12.5 per Gb
20Gb @ $400 = $20 per Gb
15Gb @ $300 = $20 per Gb
4Gb @ $250 = $62.5 per Gb

That is 300% (ish. . . actually a little more) more per Gb for the 4Gb than the 15 (or 20) For that much of an increase it better do something more than be small and have color.

 

[gaijinjim]

Re: Re: Well received in Norway

Originally posted by Dahl
I don't really need two months of music on an iPod, I would rather change the albums now and then. 🙂

But what about one of the original ideas for the iPod. Using it as a portable HD. That was about half of the reason I bought one in the first place. Seems like with the dock they have kinda abandoned that idea.

With the originals you could still forget the FW cable and still be able to connect if someone else had one. Not so true with the dock.

 

[splashman]

Stupid?

Originally posted by gaijinjim
Oh, iPod mini. Cute, but STUPID!!

Sorry to the people that like it and are going to buy it, but I have one question? WHY? For $50 more you can go out and get a 15GB iPod. In this case, size does matter. 😀 HD size.

Apple seems to be trying to push the 15GB big bro iPod. I may have gotten a mini in the near future had the price been realistic.

BTW, I still use my original first generation 5GB iPod. Been almost two years now. Oh, and it goes to the gym with me every day without the need for an armband.

Stupid, huh?

I've got a 3g 15gig iPod. My entire CD collection, including Xmas music and stuff I don't listen to any more, takes up about 3.5 gigs. I probably buy three or four CDs a year. I have no need for it to transport or back up data files.

So, if I were in the market, which would be the less stupid choice for me? Paying $249 for a mini, or $299 for a 15giger? Hmmm.

[SARCASM ALERT]
You might want to keep in mind that not everyone has 78 gigs of illegal downloads in their possession, and of those that do, not all feel it absolutely necessary to have all 78 gigs available at all times.
[/SARCASM ALERT]

It's obvious you still find your 5gig useful. Why not someone else?