80 GB iPod?

[limi]

I wonder about the RPMs of this little drive, if it is low you couldn't run a computer off of it with desirable speeds. If it is high enough then bring on bigger laptop drives. 🙂

It's 4200rpm, the same as the normal PowerBook drives are at the moment. Not that rpm is the only determining factor, but they are probably fast enough to run a laptop off. I believe the thinnest Sony laptop, the X505, uses one. Have a look: http://www.dynamism.com/x505/

 

[Ted13]

I can't wait -- my 40gb iPod is full, and I have less than 1/2 of my CD collection in iTunes. The trouble is, I doubt that they would use the 80gb for a regular iPod, instead they'll want extra cash for features I won't want.

I'm an avid digital photographer, but the iPod photo is totally useless unless you can off-load your camera directly to it. Until and unless they add feature, you have to buy an attachment, which works just as well with the non "photo" iPod...

Ted

 

[mechamac]

sweet sarcasm....

An 80 gig iPod will never, ever happen. This announcement means nothing.

I mean, golly, why not run an article noting that Apple has not shut down their R&D group....are new products from Apple a possibility in 2005????

(love this site, but especially after the 60 GB announcement a while back I couldn't resist)

 

[Mord]

this is a obvious good thing but it may take a long while to get 80GB ipods, maybe in september

 

[shamino]

Fantastic an 80 GB iPod. Wonder if they can keep the price around $499?

Probably. The way the hard drive industry seems to work, the latest and greatest drives always occupy the same price point. So as new/larger models come out, the prices of everything else goes down, and the smallest models are discontinued.

WRT iPods, Apple has kept with this tradition. $500 for the high-end one, $400 for the mid-range and $300 for the low-end.

The iPod Photo added $100 to this, but that is easily explained by the color screen and video-out. It is logical to assume that a (currently hypothetical) non-photo 60G iPod would sell for $500 right now.

I don't know of Apple will put an 80G drive in a straight iPod, but they probably will put it in the iPod Photo. When they do, I think we can expect the 80G model to sell at the current high-end price ($600), with the 60G reduced to $500 and the 40G reduced to $400.

Maybe with corresponding price reductions in the non-photo line (reduce the non-photo 40G to $300 and drop the 20G model to make room for larger minis.)

All this is speculation, of course, but it fits with recent trends, so we're likely to see something similar. Of course, Toshiba won't be shipping the 80G drive for a year and they will re-issue the 40G drive in a thinner form-factor before that, so Apple may decide to do a round of iPod updates before moving to the larger capacities.

 

[SiliconAddict]

Thanks but no. I'm perfectly happy with my 60GB iPod. Short of Apple releasing a iPod Video, at least for me, there is no reason. I have about 9GB of free space left on my baby. That should last me a couple more years. 🙂

 

[shamino]

If Apple do (and I'm sure they will) use the new form-factor drives, then I reckon they will put a bigger battery into the increased space available to extend play-time, rather than make it any thinner.

And I would disagree with this assertion.

The 20G iPod is in a thinner case from the 40G. I think Apple would love the opportunity to start selling 40's using the same case as the 20. Smaller is a selling point, and there's an advantage to being able to use one size case for both the 20 and 40.

We'll see what happens in a few months, when the thinner 40G drive ships...

 

[Diatribe]

thats exactly what i was thinking

why don't we have bigger laptop drives!!!

100GB HDs are already out. 120GBs will be available beginning of next year. By the end of the year we'll be up to 160-180GB.
The next PBs will have a 100GB option, you'll see.

 

[Savage Henry]

I see this as little more than support for the iPod Photo line ... no video, no WiFi, no waffle-grill panel, just plain ole photos.

But I do agree with those hoping the price of the other range will come down. I can't see the consumers supporting the range at higher prices than they are right now.

 

[macridah]

Mmmm 80gb color WiFiPod....

dude, i would be in utopia ... how about it also would have a quicktime?

 

[wordmunger]

I think we'll see 100 GB+ laptop HD this coming year

Yeah, I've heard those rumors as well. However, since a 2.5-inch drive platter has 190 percent of the surface area compared to a 1.8-inch drive, we should be seeing 150 GB laptop HDs. That's what I'm asking: why the holdup?

 

[shamino]

I too was thinking the samething. I bought a iMac G5 with a 160GB hardrive cuz the powerbook only went up to 80 (i do movies and rip all my CD's, and my friends 😀 ). Soon, we'll see powerbooks with >100 GB hardrives.

The largest 2.5" hard drives currently shipping at 100G. (A quick browse of Seagate's web site shows two models. One at 4200 RPM and one at 5400 RPM.

Why Apple doesn't offer either of these as BTO options in their Powerbooks/iBooks is unknown to me.

 

[ifjake]

i wish Apple would just let the iPod be a music player. what is it now $300 for 20Gb, $400 for 40Gb, $500 for 40Gb photo, and $600 for 60Gb photo. anyone who wants more space is going to have to shell out more money for extra stuff. i'm all for Apple making a PDA of some sort (again) but i'm not liking this "let's see how much extra features we can shove into the iPod because people will buy it." i'm still very disappointed that they put in color screens and photo junk into the iPod before quality stereo recording capabilities (not mono voice memo iMic nonsense). screw pictures and video, i just want Apple to maximize the audio possibilities of this thing. no iPod for me yet.

 

[Raid]

Although I really doubt that Apple will reduce the prices on the iPods, at least we keep getting more 'bang for our buck'. For those of us that need the higher GB apple keeps increasing the capacity of the drives, but keeping the cost flat. We just have to decide when the best time to upgrade is (now I'm thinking 60GB iPod photo for Christmas 2005). If cost is more of a factor, it looks like Apple is trying to branch across to those people with the rumored flash based iPods (at least I hope they price them significantly lower than the mini!).

 

[Diatribe]

Yeah, I've heard those rumors as well. However, since a 2.5-inch drive platter has 190 percent of the surface area compared to a 1.8-inch drive, we should be seeing 150 GB laptop HDs. That's what I'm asking: why the holdup?

You will in 2005.

 

[Diatribe]

Why Apple doesn't offer either of these as BTO options in their Powerbooks/iBooks is unknown to me.

Because Apple never changes the specs between upgrades. That's why.

 

[The Red Wolf]

State of the iPod

If I were to get a Gen5 (Theoretical) 80 GB iPod. I would want an 80 gig iPod not a gimmick stricken media gadget. Give me a Monochrome screen. Simplicity, power, Bluetooth or AirPort Extreme for wireless syncing and ear buds. That would be an iPod. $499. $399 w/o wireless 60 GB. I firmly believe in the iPod being the centerpiece of digital music. I don't want a iPod: Phone, TV, Beta, VHS, Hi8, WMA, QuickTime, THX Home Theater, dishwashing, pet walking, Replecant that Dreams of Electric Sheep.

 

[virividox]

Hmmm, this would be excellent for the "Home on the iPod" feature that is virtually nonexistent.

I hope they shove this feature in Tiger before it's release. Dang it Apple, PUT IT IN YOUR NEXT OS!!!

yeah i cant fit my home dir on my ipod!!! i want to tho but then by the time an ipod can fit my home dir, id probably upgrade my hd and then id need a new ipod to fit it...the vicious cycle

 

[dejo]

i'm still very disappointed that they put in color screens and photo junk into the iPod before quality stereo recording capabilities (not mono voice memo iMic nonsense). screw pictures and video, i just want Apple to maximize the audio possibilities of this thing. no iPod for me yet.

What would you do with quality stereo recording capabilities in an iPod?

 

[littlecorgi]

Hmmm, I'm not enthusiastic about the increase in disk space. I just want an FM tuner & recorder built into the ipod. Is this too much to ask of apple 😕 😕 😕

 

[sushi]

Just get what you need, when you need it, and you'll never be disappointed.

Wise words indeed.

It is impossible to stay up with all technology. The key is to determine what you need, then get it and enjoy using it.

Heck, as much as I would like to get a new 40GB iPod, I could not justify the cost considering that my G1 10GB iPod still works great.

Of course if my 10GB goes South, I would replace it in a heartbeat. But until then, still happy with it.

Sushi

 

[johnpaul191]

I wonder about the RPMs of this little drive, if it is low you couldn't run a computer off of it with desirable speeds. If it is high enough then bring on bigger laptop drives. 🙂

they are 4200RPM according to the article. the drives seek time is supposedly not really fast enough to use in a laptop as the main drive (for AV for example).
supposedly there is a question about the drive's durability too. the iPod loads a lot of the music in cache. if the drive could not handle being a full Hd, that may be a reason home on ipod never showed up in 10.3?

 

[shamino]

I think we'll see 100 GB+ laptop HD this coming year

100G drives already exist. All Apple has to do is start offering them as options.

If you have a 15" or 17" PowerBook, you can buy a 100G drive and install it yourself. I wouldn't recommend a HD upgrade on an iBook or 12" PowerBook. The procedure is not easy on those models.

 

[shamino]

i wish Apple would just let the iPod be a music player. what is it now $300 for 20Gb, $400 for 40Gb, $500 for 40Gb photo, and $600 for 60Gb photo. anyone who wants more space is going to have to shell out more money for extra stuff.

Agreed. I would really rather spend $500 on a 60G iPod without the photo nonsense. A color screen is nice, but it's not worth $100.

 

[KrysBaz]

I'm still have my G1 5gb Ipod.
I love it to bits, but will be upgrading soon (probably the U2 one)
At the moment I don't need photo, video etc in my Ipod, as i have no need for this functionality, I don't even have enough Music to fill 60GB let alone 80.

When I upgrade I'll be happy until the next time my'pod becomes either
1) To Old
2) To Small
3) Broken

I'm all for staying at the leading edge with the biggest most powerful units, but I can't see many people getting an 80gb Ipod as a first foray in to the Mac music world, but then again we all have to start somewhere