UK supermarket to sell low-cost iPod alternative
updated 08:50 am EST, Thu November 18, 2004
Low-cost iPod alternative
Within the next few weeks, Apple's iPod is expected to , which features 500,000 tracks priced at 79p each.
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Comments
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11/18, 09:43am |
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TESCO mp3 player
Like anyone would want to admit they had a Tesco's mp3 player! I already remember the hard time people got at school when I was a kid when people found out they got their trainers from Tesco's, but at least the name wasn't branded on the product!
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11/18, 10:00am |
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What?
They are missing the point at Tesco and Medion. It's not price. It's ease of use and cool. Who in their right mind wants a Supermarket-branded MP3 player? Are you kidding me?
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11/18, 10:26am |
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Market penetration...
...is much faster now, with the internet - and I agree with the 'cool' factor being important - these are 'personal' devices to be worn, not to sit under a TV at home...
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11/18, 11:01am |
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Don't underestimate...
... Medion!
They are the number one computer vendor - marketshare-wise - in Germany. They mainly sell on price/performance.
Every year around Christmas, they sell what is known as the ALDI-Computer through ALDI, the number one grocery discount over here. This season's offering included a 3,4 GHz Pentium IV CPU, with 512 MB RAM (dual-channel), 250 GB HDD (SATA), Dual-Layer DVD burner, DVD-ROM drive, DVB-T and analog TV tuner, 56K modem, PCI Express GeForce 6610 (some kind of special edition), lots of (MS) software, a broad selection of I/O-ports (SPDIF in/out, USB2, FireWire, DVI, SCART TV-out, a 9-in-1 card reader etc.) for 999 Euros. These sell like sliced bread.
The latest [url=http://www.aldi-essen.de/OFFER_D/OFFER_48/OFF01.HTM]offering[/url] is a 20 GB MP3/WMA player featuring image tank functionality, interchangeable Li-Ion battery, built-in recording capabilities and Senheiser headphones - for a mere 199 EUR.
It offers what a lot of people are missing in the iPod (with the exception of a color screen) and the looks aren't even that awful. Add that ALDI (pushed heavily by a Computer tabloid, ComputerBILD) enjoys a almost cult like following.
Most people (in Germany, at least) don't look for quality any more. They want to have a device that offers matching numbers/features to a quality product for cheap. Cars being the only exception.
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11/18, 11:16am |
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Wider variety of files?
The iPod plays every format except OGG and WMA. We know Tesco's player won't play iTunes AAC. So how can they say their player will play a wider variety of files?
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11/18, 12:01pm |
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ADDENDUM:
"The difference is that Medion's player will be able to download a wider variety of music files AND BE UGLY AND CLUMSY TO USE COMPARED TO THE APPLE IPOD."
I haven't seen it yet, but going off of RolandG's review above, "...and the looks aren't even that awful." I can bet that the only thing it's going to compete against is the other ugly and clumsy iPod knockoffs.
When I hold my iPod, I think, "This thing is a work of art.", not "Well, it's not awful looking."
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11/18, 12:25pm |
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Aldi Player
Right:
The player does not look bad at all.
All silver, no physical buttons.
It is not an iPod and I don't know about built quality, but it is nicer than many, many other big brands are offering, very minimal.
Features:
5.000 Songs
MP3, WMA, WMA-DRM
SD/MMC slots and USB 2.0
Shock dampened
You can transfer pictures from digital cameras directly
8 hrs Li-ion battery, changeable (charges via charger or USB)
Built-in microphone
180g
107.5x65.18mm
3 year warranty
199,-- Euros!
I cannot see how they can go wrong with this one, unless the interface is atrocious and it falls apart...
Aldi is gigantic.
The Albrecht brothers (who own Aldi) are very nearly as rich as Bill Gates, sometimes richer.
I prefer my iPod, though...
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11/18, 12:46pm |
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Files
The iPod plays every format except OGG and WMA. We know Tesco's player won't play iTunes AAC. So how can they say their player will play a wider variety of files?
You're not understanding what they are saying. They said:
The difference is that Medion's player will be able to download a wider variety of music files.
You could interpret this to mean:
- it plays a wider variety of music (you know, the iPod won't play polkas, but this thing will ROCK THE HOUSE DOWN with polkas!)
- it doesn't actually say they'll play a wider variety of files, just that they'll download them. So you can put all your iTMS purchases on it, as well as OGG, WMA, MP3, etc, etc, etc.
And if it just supports WMA but not AAC, doesn't it actually mean the same number of files?
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Mac Enthusiast
Joined: May 1999
We've heard it before...
...so let's wait and see. How about the "cool" factor? Personally, I don't think there's going to be a tremendous amount of concern in Cupertino.