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http://www.macnn.com/articles/01/10/24/smartmoney.says/

SmartMoney says iPod shows industry trend

updated 03:00 am EDT, Wed October 24, 2001

 
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SmartMoney opines that Apple's iPod "might not score high on the significance meter... but does offer a glimpse into the tactics computer makers are beginning to employ as demand for their core products wanes." Author Monica Rivituso adds that Apple is one of the few computer manufacturers willing to identify new markets and create products for them.


by MacNN Staff

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  1. Joined:

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    10/24, 03:27am | report spam | Reply | delete

    what, hype tactics?

    This is a groundbreaking device for 1998. Who the heck is running the show over at Apple? To Steve Jobs, if the marketing department says that $299 is the threshold, no doubt he thinks to himself "eh, what's a hundred dollars more? Sounds cheap to me."

    If you look at the website on the iPod page, it says "featuring these revolutionary features." What a load of pithy c***.

    iPod should really be called iPaid

    Again, why does Apple build up such hype for such mundane stuff? In Japan, advances like this device are a daily thing. Apple surely could have leaked the PORTABLE musical device thing before the event to avoid this severe backlash...

    why couldn't they offer a lower priced option with less storage? Or market it as a firewire drive that plays music? Or have it play video on a tv. You know, something groundbreaking...

  1. unsquared

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2001

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    10/24, 03:42am | report spam | Reply |

    bigger picture

    Perhaps the ground broken is not that of technology but industry. Apple has broken ground toward the direction that they will be heading. This is the first device from them that employs the digital hub concept. Sure it could and certainly will cost less and have more features...just not yet. Only time will tell.

  1. Joined:

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    10/24, 04:34am | report spam | Reply | delete

    iPod

    Apple may have be able to identify new markets, butit also has the ability to produce vastly overpriced products that are obsolete before they're even launched.

    what a disappointment

  1. \0

    Joined:

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    10/24, 06:01am | report spam | Reply | delete

    Or is this the experiment

    Its been said that Apple's brand is strong enough that they could sell anything with it, perhaps this is the first test of that. So, what's next?



    Woggle

  1. Mŕlum

    Mac Elite

    Joined: Mar 2001

    0
    10/24, 06:02am | report spam | Reply |

    re: What hype tactics

    FGS! Whiners, whiners....
    The Hype Apple created; WHen? They only announced they would introduce a new device; that's NOT creating a hype in my country. They used tghe word "Breakthrough" and "Revolutionary"... so you prefer they would say; "next week we'll introduce a boring device"? Or "a device thatěs already in the market"?
    Pleaze!!!!!!
    What Backlash you're talking about?

    I think Apple is clever to introduce itself in this market as it is a logical step for ALL computer makers to do.

    BTW I was in Japan last month and was looking for a good MP3 player; I didn't buy one because NONE of the models that are on the market there, where what I wanted; The iPod does have these functions however.

    What frustrates you is that you want it but cannot afford it, which will be the case for a lot of people.

  1. majinbutz

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    10/24, 06:51am | report spam | Reply | delete

    Hype

    Apple doesn't create this hype. We create it. Perhaps Apple should be a bit more careful with what they say, knowing that so many people hang on every word of every press release that comes out of Cupertino but they really didn't give us any reason to believe that the iPod would be anything more than it is. It is a bit on the expensive side but in case you haven't noticed, everything they sell is.

    Apple doesn't seem to want to dominate any markets. They appear content to provide high quality, stylish products to those of us willing to pay a little extra for them. Would you rather they become super aggressive in their marketing and pricing so that they can utterly destroy all competition and become the new Microsoft? Is that what we really want?

    Look, they're not betting the farm on iPod. If it flops, it's not a big deal to them. But I don't think it will flop. I remember when the Cube launched and everyone was like "That's the coolest computer ever. I can't wait to get one of the dual processor towers though." With the iPod it's a different story. Some people love it some people hate it. The difference is that the people who love it, actually want to buy it. That reminds me a lot more of the launch of the iMac. Many loved it, many hated it. But those that loved it actually bought it.

    I don't expect iPod to be a huge hit but I do expect it to be a solid source of revenue for Apple and I bet that's what they expect too. And those who are saying that it breaks ground for other "digital hub" devices are right. Hopefully we will eventually see the fantastical things like the airport connected stereo components and CD burning set top boxes but all in due time. For the iPod, the demand exists now so it's a good ground breaker for this whole concept. So quit bitching about the price, the price won't cause this product to flop and even if it does, it won't kill Apple or the digital hub revolution.

  1. macdev2001

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Oct 2001

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    10/24, 07:02am | report spam | Reply |

    Market research

    Next time Apple should consider better market research before launching such a new device. For what I've read, many reactions are negative about iPod. I can classify these reactions in two groups:

    1) "I hate it or am disappointed - iPod is not groundbreaking and lacks a few features I want"

    2) "Yes, it's cool enough, and I'd buy it if it wasn't too expensive"

    These two reactions could be avoided if their market research had been better. Apple should ask to its afficionados what they want and how much they are willing to pay for it... This is not the way of doing business.

    Apple, if you're listening... cut the price now or iPod will be iFlop.

  1. \0

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    10/24, 07:52am | report spam | Reply | delete

    call a waah-mbulance

    Shut up and buy one.
    All the music I want now; clean, skip-free and easy.
    No more Zip disks floating around in my backpack.

    It's already not a flop, I bought one.
    Z

  1. dsmithmacnn

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    10/24, 08:54am | report spam | Reply | delete

    uPaid

    Since when are portable MP3 players revolutionary -- a year ago? Or portable firewire drives? Now the tiny cardbus hdds were revolutionary... two years ago. Intel just bailed on the toy sideshow. I don't see Apple suceeding with this product whatsoever.

  1. paulc

    Junior Member

    Joined: Aug 2000

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    10/24, 09:09am | report spam | Reply |

    Well...

    It seems clear to me that this represents what Jobs has transformed apple into.. a maker of overly expensive, yuppie devices. Products that use the "coolness" factor to sell themselves to the affluent members of society. Yuppie toys, as it were.

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