Apple Disappoints

I admit that I’ve been somewhat of a Mac booster – I like MacOS X, and I think the iTunes Music Store is great.

So, when I heard that Apple would be creating a smaller, cheaper, and lighter version of the iPod, I was quite thrilled. The iPod is a great gadget, but I can’t justify spending $300 on an MP3 player, no matter how cool it is. So, when I heard that the new iPod would give around 2GB of storage for somewhere between $99-$150 I was quite excited. Finally, an iPod that people can afford!

Instead, we get this.

It’s smaller and lighter than the iPod, but it’s not cheaper. The entry-level iPod has 15GB of storage and costs $299. This "mini" iPod has 4GB of storage and costs $249. In other words, you’re paying $50 less for a device that has less than one-third of the capacity and a slightly smaller case.

Basically, my question is why the hell did Apple bother with this? The Mini iPod is at least $50 too expensive for what it is. $199 would be a fair price point for a player that offers considerably less storage than it’s slightly larger and more expensive kin. $129 would be an excellent price point for an entry-level 2GB iPod that would allow Apple to virtually take over the massive low-cost MP3 market and cement iTunes as the de facto music store for legal music downloads.

Instead, Apple creates a product that is essentially a waste. Why the hell would anyone buy an iPod that offers 4GB of storage when they can buy one that has over three times that much for only a bit more? This Mini iPod is virtually guaranteed to be a major flop for Apple as it combines a ridiculously high price with ridiculously low amounts of storage. A low-cost iPod could have been a way for Apple to dominate the MP3-player market and expand the marketshare for their portable player. Unfortunately, Apple came up with a device that opens no new market and is likely to be another flop for the company.