iPod Shuffle Drives Flash Memory Demand

[jncrow]

Don't think charging would be a problem. Just bring it in once in a while to refresh the playlist.

http://tekgems.com/Products/wo-msc-cr-plg.htm

The more I've played with the iPs this morning the more I'm thinking of going back to Target for a second...for my car.

As it is I have a Belkin cup-holder mount and power supply for the original iPod with a direct line into my stereo via an adapter for the CD changer. But alas, it has become such a chore taking the iPod back and forth from the car to house, clicking into its mount, taking out of the car and into my pocket whenever I enter a store, etc... Life is hard.

The iPs could easily be tucked away out of sight but still within reach to press the agonizingly simple "Play" button. I'd just have to bring it back in the house for a recharge and refill every week or two. Hmmm....

 

[dicklacara]

i think they need to play DOWN the "random"-ness of it and play UP the workout/sport/portability aspect.

IMO, the random shuffle of randomly selected songs is what makes the shuffle so attractive...

You are doing whatever, and an unexpected (or forgotten) song plays... you find yourself, saying "oh" or " "oooh", outloud...

...like unexpectedly bumping into an old friend...

... it is a very special sensation!

 

[dejo]

If you have supplier problems, that's poor planning. If Apple knew it was going to sell x thousand units per quarter and only arranged for x/2 thousand units per quarter from its suppliers, that's just plain poor planning.

And what about if Apple forecasts they need x thousand units per quarter but the supplier says "We are unable to supply that many without building a new factory and thereby increasing unit cost substantially as well as taking time"? That is still Apple's fault?

 

[jettredmont]

And what about if Apple forecasts they need x thousand units per quarter but the supplier says "We are unable to supply that many without building a new factory and thereby increasing unit cost substantially as well as taking time"? That is still Apple's fault?

Absolutely!

Apple has the choice:

1. Go to a different supplier who has capacity (either fully or for a portion of the needed supply, although Apple tends to prefer single provider per part)
2. Fund ramp-up of the current supplier

This is just basic business here. When you are selling something, all the supply problems and shipping problems and dollar fluctuation problems etc in the world don't matter. Either you get the product into customers' hands at a reasonable price, or you don't. That's what reflects on your company, and aside from a "Wrath of God" excuse (all flash ram providers in the world were hit by the wrath of God and therefore are unable to supply any chips to anyone) supplier problems should be kept 100% invisible from the customer.

At the end of the day, there's a big Apple logo on the box that customers can't find. The buck stops there. Apple takes the credit for the low cost, the design, etc; they also take blame for supply problems. And well they should.

 

[elo]

I agree that ultimate credit or blame for supply issues must fall with the decision maker. But I think Apple forecasted the demand for Shuffles pretty well. Supply are tight (which doesn't hurt the hype and is a generally sound business approach otherwise), but people who want them generally seem able to find them. This is in contrast to the mini, which was absolutely unobtainable for months when its hype was at the highest point.

As far as the dancins shilloutes commercials go, I think they've run their course. The commercials themselves are still entertaining (and make for great print ads), but I would imagine that the vast majority of viewers isn't watching them closely enough to tell the product has changed. With the current tight supply, though, this hardly matters at the moment.

 

[BigDogg]

Good thing Apple is releasing low-end products.This will really help lure in those swithchers.

Anyone wanna bet triple digit stock by week's end?

I wouldn't be surprised

 

[LaMerVipere]

I love when people on MacRumors start out their posts with things like, "It's basic economics!" or "It's basic business!"

Yes, Apple, with all of its resources and its standing as the go-to company for high-end consumer and industry personal computer products decided to abandon all their highly paid, greatly schooled, executives' business training just so they could hear people whine to them about "basic! basic!"

Honestly people, don't you think if there was a way, Apple would have found it?

 

[Trout74]

I love when people on MacRumors start out their posts with things like, "It's basic economics!" or "It's basic business!"

Yes, Apple, with all of its resources and its standing as the go-to company for high-end consumer and industry personal computer products decided to abandon all their highly paid, greatly schooled, executives' business training just so they could hear people whine to them about "basic! basic!"

Honestly people, don't you think if there was a way, Apple would have found it?

agreed,

However, I honestly believe, a little "shortage" makes things more popular.

examples, from waaaaay back

cabbage Patch dolls, were all the rage in the 80's and people couldnt get enough of them and women were fist fighting in target to buy one.

Tickle me Elmo, same story as above

original ipod.

When you want something, but cant have it you long,pray, dream, yearn for it. You talk about it, and get others interested.

You always want what you cant have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Once you finally have the agbility to have it you go GAGA for it and go overboard.

Coke machine on every corner, if its empty you could care less. If there were only one coke machine in town, you would line up waiting for the weekly fill up, as people drive by noticing the line, and then they think, man I want a coke, then the line gets longer and attracts more people.

so shortages seem like good ways to get MORE people interested, and waiting.

If they made 250,000 shuffles, they would have enough for Everyone that wanted one initally. But if they make 50,000, and everyone that wnats one talks about it, and searches and asks stores if they have one, and on and on, next thing you know, 1Million people want one. Very good marketing. Can you name a product Apple makes that isnt always in short supple when it comes out?

trout