The Mac X-Files |
|
|
This blog contains my random ramblings about everything Mac and some things OT
Archives
All links open new windows
 Latest Joy of Tech Links
Hardware
Posts made with
Listed on
|
Wednesday, January 07, 2004
iPod mini So, are you disappointed too? The general tenor of the comments on the new iPod mini that can be found on various mac fora and mailing-list are 'neat but too expensive'. I must admit I was a bit disappointed too at first, but thinking about it, it's a smart move. Apple will be selling the all-new, all-colorful, all-cool iPod mini in big numbers thus making a good deal of money. Then, in a few month there will be a new line-up of the iPod mini, a 8-10GB model (to fill in the gap to the iPod) for USD 249 and the 4GB low end will drop to USD 199, thus breaking deeper into the mid-level player market. Taking this speculation a bit further, I would expect a line-up of 3 sizes of iPod mini and 2 sizes of the iPod, all depending on the pace at which Hitachi can offer bigger HDs at a decent price. This strategy would clearly follow the line-up in Apples computer offerings: iMac - Powermac iBook - Powerbook iPod mini - iPod Now as for a timeframe, a good date to expect a revision of the iPod mini and a possible price-drop might be the one year anniversary of the iTunes Music Store. The sales of the iPod mini -and the iPod for that matter too- might rise internationally, if Apple finally manages to get the iTMS up and running outside the US. Lots of rumors to that issue are around, including Canada, Australia, Europe and Japan. Japan might rank on top of the list for Apple as the brand is well-known in Japan and has a good share of the market. Also, Japanese people are great lovers of gadgets of all kind, especially if they are electronic. A japanese iTMS might be just around the corner. Canada and Australia might be good candidates too as they are both big countries with a fair amount of money to be spent on an iTMS. Europe, though, is another story. Not that it would lack lots of consumers with money to spend and a decent interest in electronic gadgets, but licensing issues might delay the launch of the iTMS in Europe for a long time. I honestly don't think Apple will launch it, unless it can cover at least the UK, France, and Germany and some of the Scandinavian countries. Let's just hope it will not take as long as the international availability to order prints and books from iPhoto.
Comments:
Post a Comment
|
