Apple Rolls Out Cheaper iPod

Zardon · Jan 6, 2004, 07:51 PM

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Apple Computer Inc. on Tuesday said it would introduce a smaller and cheaper version of its popular iPod music player next month to challenge rivals in the market for flash-memory-based digital devices.

In a presentation at MacWorld in San Francisco, Apple (AAPL.O: Quote, Profile, Research) Chief Executive Steve Jobs said that Apple had shipped 730,000 iPod units in the most recent quarter, giving it the market-leading position among digital music players.

Apple said it had sold over 2 million iPod units since the launch of the popular digital music player, which has won a following for its huge storage capacity and sleek design.

The iPod has also received a boost from Apple's online music store, iTunes, which the company said has sold more than 30 million songs -- an increase of 5 million tracks from the sales numbers announced by the company less than a month ago.

"This thing is on fire," Jobs said of the iPod.

The new "iPod mini" will be priced at $249 -- $50 cheaper than the current entry-level iPod.

The device, smaller than most cell phones, will offer 4 gigabytes of storage -- enough to hold about 1,000 songs -- and will be sold in five colors, Jobs said.

Analysts had widely expected Apple to introduce a cheaper iPod to head off competition from cheaper, flash-memory based music players, especially for a younger consumers.

In his presentation, Jobs said that the company would phase out its entry-level 10-gigabyte iPod and offer a 15 gigabyte model instead for the same price of $299.

The prices on the 20-gigabyte iPod and the top-of-the-line 40-gigabyte model, which is able to hold about 10,000 songs, remained at $399 and $499 respectively.

***Veridian3*** · Jan 6, 2004, 08:12 PM

Here's all the info you need about them: http://www.apple.com/ipodmini/

Aspect · Jan 7, 2004, 12:07 AM

Way overpriced for that amount of storage.

Malus · Jan 7, 2004, 04:43 AM

Rio Karma > Ipod

I <3 my Karma!

mkk · Jan 7, 2004, 06:49 AM

I suppose the battery replacement fee for this mini iPod is the same $99 as with the previous models? That is, if you live in a country where such a service exists, or you might find yourself just as likely to simply buy a whole new product instead.

Malus · Jan 7, 2004, 08:02 PM

By the time you have to replace the battery, there will be better, cheaper players out.

mkk · Jan 8, 2004, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Malus
By the time you have to replace the battery, there will be better, cheaper players out.

OR you could buy a better product that will last you much longer in the first place. In comparison a mobile phone with the same stupid battery design wouldn't sell at all.

Jan 6, 2004, 07:51 PM	#1
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	Apple Rolls Out Cheaper iPod SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Apple Computer Inc. on Tuesday said it would introduce a smaller and cheaper version of its popular iPod music player next month to challenge rivals in the market for flash-memory-based digital devices. In a presentation at MacWorld in San Francisco, Apple (AAPL.O: Quote, Profile, Research) Chief Executive Steve Jobs said that Apple had shipped 730,000 iPod units in the most recent quarter, giving it the market-leading position among digital music players. Apple said it had sold over 2 million iPod units since the launch of the popular digital music player, which has won a following for its huge storage capacity and sleek design. The iPod has also received a boost from Apple's online music store, iTunes, which the company said has sold more than 30 million songs -- an increase of 5 million tracks from the sales numbers announced by the company less than a month ago. "This thing is on fire," Jobs said of the iPod. The new "iPod mini" will be priced at $249 -- $50 cheaper than the current entry-level iPod. The device, smaller than most cell phones, will offer 4 gigabytes of storage -- enough to hold about 1,000 songs -- and will be sold in five colors, Jobs said. Analysts had widely expected Apple to introduce a cheaper iPod to head off competition from cheaper, flash-memory based music players, especially for a younger consumers. In his presentation, Jobs said that the company would phase out its entry-level 10-gigabyte iPod and offer a 15 gigabyte model instead for the same price of $299. The prices on the 20-gigabyte iPod and the top-of-the-line 40-gigabyte model, which is able to hold about 10,000 songs, remained at $399 and $499 respectively.

Jan 7, 2004, 12:07 AM	#3
Aspect "Amusing Comment Here" Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Birmingham UK Posts: 232 Rep Power: 0	Way overpriced for that amount of storage. __________________

Jan 7, 2004, 04:43 AM	#4
Malus BSD SMASH! Join Date: May 2002 Location: A rabbit hole. . . Posts: 1,170 Rep Power: 0	Rio Karma > Ipod I <3 my Karma! __________________ quad (FreeBSD/amd64 8-CURRENT): Intel Q6600 - Asus P5E-VM HDMI - 2x2 GB Kingston PC6400 DDR2 Ram - Seagate 320GB 7200RPM HD - 2xSeagate 1TB 7200RPM HD in RAID 1 via ZFS - Lite-On 20x DVD Multi Recorder - Coolermaster Centurion 5 router (FreeBSD/amd64 8-CURRENT): Intel E4500 - Intel D945GCNL - 2 GB PC6400 Mushkin Ram - Lite-On 48x24x48x16 - Seagate 320GB 7200RPM HD - Silverstone SST-SG02-F wanderer (FreeBSD/i386 7-CURRENT): Lenovo Thinkpad T61p mini (OS X 10.5): Intel Core 2 Duo @ 1.8Ghz, 4 GB Mushkin PC5400 Ram - Headroom MicroDAC Portable sound: Rockboxed iPod Video -> Westone UM2's Not-So-Portable Sound: Headroon MicroDAC -> Singlepower PPX3-SLAM -> Grado RS-1's or Beyerdynamic DT-880's Very-Not-Portable-Sound: Squeezebox v3 -> Denon AVR-1507 -> B&W 683's & Sunfire HRS-10

Jan 7, 2004, 08:02 PM	#6
Malus BSD SMASH! Join Date: May 2002 Location: A rabbit hole. . . Posts: 1,170 Rep Power: 0	By the time you have to replace the battery, there will be better, cheaper players out. __________________ quad (FreeBSD/amd64 8-CURRENT): Intel Q6600 - Asus P5E-VM HDMI - 2x2 GB Kingston PC6400 DDR2 Ram - Seagate 320GB 7200RPM HD - 2xSeagate 1TB 7200RPM HD in RAID 1 via ZFS - Lite-On 20x DVD Multi Recorder - Coolermaster Centurion 5 router (FreeBSD/amd64 8-CURRENT): Intel E4500 - Intel D945GCNL - 2 GB PC6400 Mushkin Ram - Lite-On 48x24x48x16 - Seagate 320GB 7200RPM HD - Silverstone SST-SG02-F wanderer (FreeBSD/i386 7-CURRENT): Lenovo Thinkpad T61p mini (OS X 10.5): Intel Core 2 Duo @ 1.8Ghz, 4 GB Mushkin PC5400 Ram - Headroom MicroDAC Portable sound: Rockboxed iPod Video -> Westone UM2's Not-So-Portable Sound: Headroon MicroDAC -> Singlepower PPX3-SLAM -> Grado RS-1's or Beyerdynamic DT-880's Very-Not-Portable-Sound: Squeezebox v3 -> Denon AVR-1507 -> B&W 683's & Sunfire HRS-10

Jan 6, 2004, 08:12 PM	#2
*Veridian3* Administrator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Cloaked Posts: 5,028 Rep Power: 181	Here's all the info you need about them: http://www.apple.com/ipodmini/

Jan 7, 2004, 06:49 AM	#5
mkk Cthulhu/Dagon 2012 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Gefle, Sweden Posts: 4,494 Rep Power: 132 System Specs	I suppose the battery replacement fee for this mini iPod is the same $99 as with the previous models? That is, if you live in a country where such a service exists, or you might find yourself just as likely to simply buy a whole new product instead.