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digital music/video

05/22/2006, 10:35pm, EDT

Monday, May 22nd

SanDisk: "iDon't" Apple's iPod

Apple's iPod rival SanDisk taking Apple head-on with the launch of a new anti-iPod campaign this past weekend. The No. 2 maker of digital music players in the U.S has launched a new guerilla marketing "iDon't" campaign that promotes SanDisk’s own Sansa e200 music player by calling iPod users "unoriginal" and declaring them to be followers--without actually mentioning the iPod, but alluding to the industry-leading music player by its signature white earbud earphones. The website offers links ("propoganda") to other anti-iPod sites, which it calls "fellow media player freedom fighters" as well as the ability to purchase various "iDon't" t-shirts and free posters and desktop pictures, such as iSheep, iChimp, iFollow, iHerd, iShackle, iDroid, iPuppet, and more. The site touts SanDisk's Sansa e200 as "the alternative," urging users to "think for themselves."

"Calling all free thinkers, contrarians, and malcontents. The time has come to rise up against the iTatorship," the website manifesto reads. "To resist the monotony of white earbuds and reject the oppressive forces of cultural conformity. Now is the time to break-free from restrictive formats and a single source for music. It's time for choice, for freedom, for self-expression--and for all spirits to stand up and say 'iDon't' You don't need to follow. There is now an alternative."

The one--and only--news post ofers some background on the site and calls for others to rebel against Apple's dominance. "This site and the iDon’t campaign are the creation of several of us renegades behind the new Sansa player, from SanDisk. And this is our playful way of saying 'Enough!' Yeah, we’re just fed up with the ever-expanding flock of iSheep swarming through our cities. You’ve seen them. They’re everywhere. Every bus, train and city sidewalk is a mass of white headphones. Blindly they’ve bought into the hype without ever realizing there are other mp3 players out there."


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trite
0
05/22, 10:45pm, EDT
Putting the letter 'i' in front of a word? That is sooo 1998.
Forum Regular
Joined Nov 2001
User is offline
iDon't do Windows either
0
05/22, 10:48pm, EDT
So if they feel this way about the iPod, do they also feel this way about Windows? Should we have a "free thinkers" campaign against the Windows monopoly? How many Windows PCs does SanDisk use to run their business? There is choice in computers. You don't have to run a business on Windows, despite what the other sheep are using...
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Mar 1999
User is offline
Guess you don't need my
0
05/22, 10:50pm, EDT
business, because you just lost it. I say all iPod users simply boycott ALL SanDisk products. We'll see who has the last laugh.
Joined
User is
This campaign will work..
0
05/22, 10:52pm, EDT
Just like Apple's Lemmings commercial did. Insult people and they will run to buy your product.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined May 2003
User is offline
iCopy
0
05/22, 10:53pm, EDT
funny how they just couldn't invent their own alternative to the click wheel.

iWon't be buying this one.
Forum Regular
Joined Oct 2003
User is offline
Cf
followers
0
05/22, 10:55pm, EDT
Hey, a good product is a good product. They bought an iPod because it's actually good, not because they *had to* unlike the grip MS has on the OS market. I'm perfectly fine keeping the iPod all to ourselves. Take away the Windows functionality in the iPod and let them have these other players. Oh, one more thing. SanDisk plays MP3, WMA, and WMA DRM. WMA? Can you say moo? Or maybe baaahhh?
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Jan 2002
User is offline
Lexar looking good
0
05/22, 11:19pm, EDT
I guess I'll be buying Lexar memory for my camera from now on.
Professional Poster
Joined Sep 1999
User is offline
Let's place a bet
0
05/22, 11:26pm, EDT
That in a few months time, this failure of a company files for bankruptcy. Clearly a successful company can't possibly run such an idiotic marketing campaign. Wonder who they have for marketing. Could it be the 'innovative' Steve Ballmer of Microsoft, or the even more innovative, Bill Gates?
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Apr 2005
User is offline
Maybe the hired Glasser
0
05/22, 11:30pm, EDT
He seems to know how to insult potential customers by calling iPod owners thieves.
Senior User
Joined Jul 2004
User is offline
Yuck
0
05/22, 11:38pm, EDT
I don't use the products I buy to express my INDIVIDUALITY. I use the ones that, IMO, work the best. Buying a SanDisk product makes you a rebel!!!
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined May 2005
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