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iPod The Death of the iPod Mini... big mistake.

Spanky Deluxe said:
I read about the new iPod Nano last night and I couldn't help but feel pissed off that they've cancelled the Mini.
Click to expand...
It's all a name game. The regular iPods will get a size reduction comparable to the mini in January. Apple is positioning themselves to introduce such a smaller iPod. I see it coming from 20 miles away. Just wait.
 
I am waiting for an iPod micro with 0.85" or 0.7" disk and FireWire (and I'll keep on waiting until they add Bluetooth).
 
Lacero said:
It's all a name game. The regular iPods will get a size reduction comparable to the mini in January. Apple is positioning themselves to introduce such a smaller iPod. I see it coming from 20 miles away. Just wait.
Click to expand...

I agree 100%-- smaller on the basic ipod will be the next move. However, it looks like that upgrade will still have to be hard drive based. The flash memory prices are not dropping at the rate they once were-- I understand that the 4GB card in the nano is over $200 alone. At that rate, it may be a few years yet before I can replace my 30 gig 3G with a 20-30 gig nano.
 
i still love the mini- the anodized aluminum is fantastic. shame they didn't have a color screen. i imagine they'll become a bit of a collectable now.
 
Just a whiner...

Spanky Deluxe said:
Hi,

I read about the new iPod Nano last night and I couldn't help but feel pissed off that they've cancelled the Mini. The Mini only had a one year shelf life and will now look old. If there was a new model of the mini out that still looked roughly like the older one then the Rev As and Bs then it wouldn't be as bad but as it is there is nothing out there that looks anything like the minis. The Nano looks like a squished iPod Photo, the Shuffle looks like a super-squished iPod Photo and now nothing looks like a Mini.
That doesn't stop me feeling angry though. I bought my Mini four months ago thinking that since they were so popular they would last a while - maybe even outlive its big brother but now its old.
Phil
Click to expand...

How does ANY of what you said affect your mini? It still has great battery life, still looks good but just won't be available anymore from the Apple Store.
It seems to me you bought the mini as a fashion item and are now pissed off that there is something new and cooler out. GET OVER IT. There will ALWAYS be something new and better out in the electronics world...
Oh, and you can probably fetch QUITE a good resale price on your mini now that it's discontinued...ever thought of that?
 
I was on the verge of buying an iPod this weekend, and now they release the nano, which puts a dent in my plans.

I'd never considered the mini, simply cause i didn't like the style of it.
I certainly don't like the colour options.
I'm actually amazed at how many people do like em though.

I still think the 1 gen iPod witht h wheel that looked like a speaker was the best design ever!

I also wanted some serious storage capacity, 20 or 3ogb would be great.

Now, I'm confused....

The nano is just like a regular ipod, but cheaper, pity about the storage size, but do I really need 30gb of music on hand all time?

afterr eading this thread, I'll definately have to relook at the mini, simply cause the price is now going to be very attractive.

decisions.. decisions....
 
I think they did the right thing the mini had a good life. But I think most people bought it because it looked good had the iPod name and was cheeper then the big ones. The nano has all that just with less value. But it won't be to long till they update it with more memory.
 
I'm a high school student in a wealthy area-so as one would expect, there is an abundance of iPods floating around. Here's how I looking at this nano:

1) There are people that like the iPod mini because of the fashion aspect- they aren't going to come close to filling 20 gigs. Ever.
2) There are people that aren't going to come close to filling 20 gigs and hate the mini because they want the iPod look.
3) There are people that have sizeable libraries but don't like the ipod look/reliability
4) There are people that have sizeable libraries and are attracted by the ipod look.

At this point Group 1 has already been reached (for the most part- some lag behind here and there.) It's been over a year since the mini was released so they've had christmas and birthdays to get their desired mini. THEY'VE GOTTEN IT ALREADY.

Group 2 hasn't bought in to the mini and they aren't going to. Now, if they have something SMALLER with the iPod look, they're going to jump on it come Christmas time or after the first MP of school (a gift for good grades).

Group 3 doesn't count.

Group 4 doesnt' count either. They've already got their iPods- and if not, they're still not buying a nano.

The target group right now is those who want a compact(er) mp3 player but didn't like the mini. The only reason member of Group 1 wouldn't have a mini is the price. But Apple would rather shut down than lower mini prices AGAIN and introduce DIFFERENT size denominations. The mini became the most buyable it could after it switched to 4 and 6 gig w/ altered prices. It's time for something new.

I think that you guys are underestimating the genius of the Apple. If you're able to take a (relatively) old idea (mp3 players) and TAKE OVER the market from NOTHING, I'm going to trust that they're making a smart business decision rather than faceless figures here on Macrumors.
 
Lacero said:
It's all a name game. The regular iPods will get a size reduction comparable to the mini in January. Apple is positioning themselves to introduce such a smaller iPod. I see it coming from 20 miles away. Just wait.
Click to expand...

I agree with what you say about the size, but I daresay it will be before the Holiday buying-season. Since I saw the Nano, I've been waiting for the "full-size" iPod to become, well, less sizeable. What would thoroughly eliminate the competition than a player with 20GB in such a small casing, not to mention that Apple could consider colors for the iPod. The fact that ThinkSecret mentioned a switch from white to anodized aluminum for the iPod makes so much more sense after the release of the Nano.
 
I bought a nano... form factor is killer. Shows album artwork- Its replacing my shuffle and mini which I sold tonight which paod for my nano and left me an extra 20$- The interface is killer, as I found the shuffle to random- I expect them to come out with more iPods and as I am on my 4th being my nano, its easy to sell my old ones so the dollars I recoup make it make sense to get a new one- Not about need, all desire-
 
I think what is going to happen is that full sized iPods are going to be introduced with Mini-type shells. I mean metal usually means professional in the Apple line-up - metal Powerbooks, metal G5s. Sounds about right to me.

I think this is another reason that Apple has the Nano now. So Apple can make a 5G iPod with "metal" as a feature and not have it seem like copying the Minis too much.
 
After G said:
I think what is going to happen is that full sized iPods are going to be introduced with Mini-type shells. I mean metal usually means professional in the Apple line-up - metal Powerbooks, metal G5s. Sounds about right to me.

I think this is another reason that Apple has the Nano now. So Apple can make a 5G iPod with "metal" as a feature and not have it seem like copying the Minis too much.
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right on the money, imho. (small note, though: "metal" should be anodized aluminum)
 
So by now you would think people would realize Apple knows what the heck they are doing with product design decisions. There have been a few major blunders by Apple with this area but not many in recent management. The biggest I think was the decision to put DVD drives in instead of CD burners. Back on topic- the Nano is the best change they could have made. There is a reason they don't come out with a 4 and 6 and it probably doesn't have to do with flash drive size (although it could) I would think it has more to do with the fact that if they did the product line could not be updated as easily in 4 -8 months when it starts getting stagnet. Same thing with colors- go no colors right now, then maybe add colors again in 12 months to update the line and provide more excitement over the product. I know I would have bought one of these over my shuffle and it will by my next purchase but will probably wait until a 6 comes out just because I already have a shuffle.

Apple always has reasons they do or don't do things and most of the time they are marketing based decisions as they should be. You never want technology to limit decision making if you can help it. Marketing is what makes your products sell and makes the company succeed. Way to go Apple.

Also, remember, as people's collections grow considerably there will still be a sizeable market for the larger regular iPod's and they will also probably keep the personalized iPods in that line as well (ie, Harry Potter, U2, etc.)
 
Spanky Deluxe said:
Hi,

I read about the new iPod Nano last night and I couldn't help but feel pissed off that they've cancelled the Mini. The Mini only had a one year shelf life and will now look old. If there was a new model of the mini out that still looked roughly like the older one then the Rev As and Bs then it wouldn't be as bad but as it is there is nothing out there that looks anything like the minis. The Nano looks like a squished iPod Photo, the Shuffle looks like a super-squished iPod Photo and now nothing looks like a Mini.
Of course I can understand why they cancelled the Mini - a lot of people would rather have bought a Mini with a higher capacity for a less amount of money and they'd rather people buy Nanos for more. That doesn't stop me feeling angry though. I bought my Mini four months ago thinking that since they were so popular they would last a while - maybe even outlive its big brother but now its old.
Don't get me wrong, I think the Nano looks great. I don't think it looks as good as the Minis did and I'd rather it were wider and shorter with a larget click wheel and screen but the thin-ness of it is rather cool.


Phil
Click to expand...


You shouldn't be buying producucts because they are popular and help you fit in. Tool!
 
Good point...

Jopling said:
You shouldn't be buying producucts because they are popular and help you fit in. Tool!
Click to expand...

Well said!

Quick question...now that the mini is no longer being sold, does that automatically mean it no longer works? Or that it's obsolete?

Answer: HECK NO!

Welcome to the world of technology, where anything and everything will soon be replaced by a newer, faster, smaller model.

That said...while I really would like a nano, I look at it as a pure luxury item...disk size is too small to be a real back up, and it just doesn't have the effectiveness of a shuffle (used as a thumb drive). As the past owner of a shuffle, mini, 3G iPod and now a 4G photo version, I can honestly say the nano doesn't quite have the flexibility the others do.

However...damn, it is cool looking!
 
Sun Baked said:
If it's polycarbonate (which is Apple's preferred plastic) it'll scratch real easy.

Especially with a shiny finish.

But this also makes it a whole lot easier to sell 3rd party covers.
Click to expand...
I also think it's an easy 'neon' sign that screams, "Apple." But I still can't really see the papa bear iPods getting anodized metallic finishes simply because 1) they've kept it this way for quite awhile now (which isn't really indicative, I know), and 2)the new nanos look so similar to the iPod that we know so well.
 
Apple Stores this weekend...people lined up to by two and three nanos. Amazon...#10 best seller. This solely on word of mouth. Apple hasn't spent a dime on print or TV advertising yet. Just imagine when that starts up. Wall Street firms bumping up their projected earnings for Apple this quarter now. Apple just hit a new 52 week high on Friday. So explain in more detail this big mistake Apple is making that you speak of. I don't understand. All I see is everyone going ga-ga over the nano unlike any iPod ever released to date.
 
Chupa Chupa said:
hasn't spent a dime on print or TV advertising yet. Just imagine when that starts
Click to expand...

Um they have... The advertisments on tv. One on the back of the bussness section of the USA today. I was browsing websites today and guess what... I saw 4 iPod nano adds. But still word of mouth is incredible. I was at my cross country meet yesterday showed it to everyone I know of 3 people that were going to the mall to go and get one and EVERYONE who saw it wanted it.
 
the_freddinator said:
Group 4 doesnt' count either. They've already got their iPods- and if not, they're still not buying a nano.
Click to expand...

Im a highschool group 4 and I got one. but then again im not the day-to-day consumer when it comes to apple products.
 
mwpeters8182 said:
Another reason that getting rid of the mini might not be the best idea is the fact that it now costs $50 more to get a 4GB player. I really like the look of the nano, but I don't know if I'd want a 2GB player.

MP
Click to expand...

Be sure that you, or anybody else who frequents this forum are not the target market for the Nano.

They are for people who are dazzled by the small size, undeniably good looks, and the fact that they can hold 1000 songs (! ;). That's to say Nanos are for the average consumer with disposable income.

With the Nano, Apple significantly upped the "cool" factor of the iPod, and created something that people who had previously been satisfied with their Minis will flock to buy.
 
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It plays for up to 14 hours between battery charges.

14 hour battery life is nothing to scoff at.

It will be nice to go on a road trip and not have to have the ipod plugged into the cigarette lighter, and or have it hard wired in my car.

I like my simple ipod setup I have in my cars, I just need to plug it into the front of my stereo, and my ipod rests in the center console of my car where I control it from. It isn't hard to reach down and hit a button, or even pick the ipod up to look at the screen (at road level) so I can monitor traffic while I change playlists, or songs. Having the nano will mean that I don't need to have my power cord along on day trips anymore.
 
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