HP Music Website and HP iTunes

[elo]

I would caution people against thinking of this as a "Trojan Horse." Apple has long needed to get past the business model where it only makes money if people switch to the Mac. It's much better if they devise ways (as they seem to be doing with the iPod) to make money even when people choose something else.

The truth is, outside the geek community, most Windows users are open to whatever software or hardware works the best (as far as software goes, this often means whatever is right in front of them). If it's from Apple, great. If not, no biggie. To the extent that Apple puts its products right in front of Windows users, it stands to be enormously successful.

Needless to say, one helpful side effect of this (from Apple's view) is that regular use of Apple products will help break down the wall keeping many people from looking at Macs. But at this point, Apple must be about more than the Mac.

elo

(A completely satisfied Windows user, who is also enjoying his iPod and iTunes!)

 

[ssnmx]

The HP iPod looks horrible. Really, that color looks outdated. On the other hand, I hope this is the first of many alliances with the PC companies, because it would give them a presence in that market.

I agree that only Windows-geeks want everything windows... normal people don't care, they just want programs that work. iTunes is a nice hook.

 

[derekamoss]

I would imagine that they way Apple makes money off of this is the same way they made money off of the Pepsi / iTunes campaign. HP has probably bought all the iPods that they are usingfor the regualr price so Apple still makes a profit and then they also get their products in a different market which gives them more potential money in the future along with licensing AAC to HP.

 

[JDOG_]

Blegh, Apple already does this!

What about the endless parade of stock photos of generic happy young hipsters? I hate this carp. I hope this deal at least brings Apple some cash, because if they cozy up to HP or other bland tech giants for too long, the dullness might start to wear off on them. Yuck.

Man, have you seen a 3G iPod brochure as of late? These "stock photos" you speak of are emblazened on every page, featuring rich (mostly white) people sporting their iPods in hipster poses and commenting on the versatility of their iPods...complete with favorite song!

Style is one thing, the chance to sell a cr@pload of product is another, don't think Apple wouldn't pass this up. If the deal does go sour Apple can always put it on Hp, but I think this is going to be very lucrative for both parties: Apple sells more units and gets a few more customers, HP gets PC/HP loyalists to buy an iPod that is guaranteed to work with their new HP machine.

 

[abdul]

HP and WMA

has anyone downloaded the HP version of itunes or not. i remember hearing that Hp were working with apple to make an audio conversion software that converts wma to aac. is that option on the hp version?

 

[rhpenguin]

I do support for Compaq PC's and just did my training for the spring 04' machines.. They are all preloaded with iTunes.

Its pretty sweet being able to recomend Apple products now.

 

[Dahl]

Now HP and Starbucks will be selling music together in SB's cafes.
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/newsarticle.asp?nid=19457
I wonder if it's iTunes, since they are promoting R. Wainwright and he just played at an Apple store ?

 

[iMan]

HP iPod's

There is an interesting note in Norways largest IT paper today about the HP iTunes (http://www.itavisen.no/art/1303107.html - sorry, norwegian language only).
Amidst the story about HP now featuring iTunes preinstalled and also some PCs with Linux, is a note about the HP iPod that goes something like this:

" HP has announced that they will release their own version of Apples mp3 player iPod, manufactured on license from Apple. Planned release this summer. According to a source in Apple that IT avisen has speaked with, it is NOT in a design that resembles Apples iPod. However the inside is supposed to be similar."

Seems like the hPod is really going to be put in a different skin of sorts... other than the color.