Appleinsider are reprting that sales of the shuffle arent great. I can see why right now... why buy a 1gb shuffle, when for £39 more you can get 4GB mini which has a screen and TONNES more features. I think they will drop the 512mb £69 shuffle and move the 1Gb to that price point.
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iPod Will Apple drop the 512 Shuffle?
- Thread starter MacSA
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MacSA said:
Well, that's possible but from what I've heard the stores just can't get enough 512MB iPod shuffles. And those buying the 1GB could be more likely to want a bigger USB memory stick than an iPod.
I got a 1GB iPod shuffle and a 10GB iPod. iPod shuffle = memory stick + lightweight iPod to use at home, 10GB iPod = car jukebox.
Yes, you can use the iPod as an external USB/FireWire HD. But you need to always carry the cable for that. The built-in USB connector of the iPod shuffle means you always have portable storage with you (as long as you carry it around, which isn't a hassle given its size).
What we could possibly see happen is either lower prices and/or new capacities. How about 1GB and 2GB iPod shuffles? With the "perpendicular" technology from Toshiba (up to 10 times more capacity), the next iPod minis could very well be 40-60GB. That would also mean 200GB to 600GB for the next iPod/iPod Photo.
Well, I just bought 2 (count 'em) 512 MB shuffles (for me and my wife). I didn't have an iPod before, and the only time I expect to be using mine is as a memory stick and maybe for working in the yard, for 2 hours at a time max. So I really don't need more than 512 MB. I probably wouldn't have bought any sort of iPod if the cheapest one was $150.
Shuffle Predictions
I agree that they will probably drop the 512mb shuffle soon. 1GB is a sweet spot (approx 200-250 songs, 16hours of battery), plus plenty of room for data if you don't mind carrying a few less songs.
I bought one of each (for me and my wife), and we love them. A lot less bulky and fragile than the mini and regular ipod, and just perfect for walking around town and working out.
I think the 512 will be discontinued, the 1gb will drop to $99, and we'll see colors in the shuffle line. I wouldn't be surprised if a 2GB flash shuffle / mini hybrid type device comes out at the $150 price point.
Just warrentless speculation...
-alywa
I agree that they will probably drop the 512mb shuffle soon. 1GB is a sweet spot (approx 200-250 songs, 16hours of battery), plus plenty of room for data if you don't mind carrying a few less songs.
I bought one of each (for me and my wife), and we love them. A lot less bulky and fragile than the mini and regular ipod, and just perfect for walking around town and working out.
I think the 512 will be discontinued, the 1gb will drop to $99, and we'll see colors in the shuffle line. I wouldn't be surprised if a 2GB flash shuffle / mini hybrid type device comes out at the $150 price point.
Just warrentless speculation...
-alywa
I think Apples iPod line and pricing is very smart. Someone wants to get
a good 100 buck flash player so they look at the 512. But look, for only
$50 more they can get twice as much storage. So they convince
themselves that $150 is affordable. But then, look for only
$50 more they can get a screen and 4 times as much storage. Etc. Etc.
The 512 gets them interested and they end up up-selling themselves
to a better model.
Even if the 512 was selling (relatively) poorly I suspect they would keep
it because it gets people looking at the iPod line.
Just my opinions - Greg
a good 100 buck flash player so they look at the 512. But look, for only
$50 more they can get twice as much storage. So they convince
themselves that $150 is affordable. But then, look for only
$50 more they can get a screen and 4 times as much storage. Etc. Etc.
The 512 gets them interested and they end up up-selling themselves
to a better model.
Even if the 512 was selling (relatively) poorly I suspect they would keep
it because it gets people looking at the iPod line.
Just my opinions - Greg
alywa said:
Good point. I think the only way the 512 will be dropped is if the 1GB comes down to the $99 price point. I doubt anyone would buy the 512 for, say $79 if they could get a 1GB for $99.
Snap. We got 'em for the gym, it's working out well!wordmunger said:
Snap... ish
Really loving it for what it is. On the way to my exam today, a recorded lecture... on the way back, a bit of Chopin to cool the nerves. Marvellous!
well considering that apple just started with the flash based players and is already making a LOT of headway into that market i dont think they are selling all that bad
if they drop the 512 then the one gig has to go for $100 because thats the base that apple has to start with, but i wouldn't expect to see any changes for a few more months at the earliest
if they drop the 512 then the one gig has to go for $100 because thats the base that apple has to start with, but i wouldn't expect to see any changes for a few more months at the earliest
I have around 15 GBs of music and I don't even need to fill up my shuffle. I carry perhaps 10 of my best songs for a run or workout or perhaps 1 audio book. The shuffle 512 is fine for the hour I need to workout. I do use part of the shuffle for storage so of course I can always use more of that.
greg555 said:
Oh My God... That is the logic I applied and worked myself all the way up to a 60GB photo.
Long story short I really wanted a 1GB shuffle... I could never find one... I figured this was just another brilliant marketing ploy... So I decided I would go ahead and get a full pod. I was going to get the 40GB 4G ipod locally but could not find one. They then discontinued those and came out with the 30- 60 GB photo. really caught my eye.. I decided that for $100 more I could double the size and it was a good deal.. Keep in mind I have jumped from $150 to $450. I ordered my 60GB photo on Friday... Walked into Target (Dept Store) on Sunday and they had the shuffles in stock.. Needless to say I now have a 512MB shuffle and a 60GB photo...
in my opinion the shuffles are just another iPod accessory, i have a mini and a shuffle
the shuffle gets used for workouts and short trips
the mini for longer car rides or when i know i will be out longer
but i dont NEED to have the shuffle, but it compliments my mini very well
the shuffle gets used for workouts and short trips
the mini for longer car rides or when i know i will be out longer
but i dont NEED to have the shuffle, but it compliments my mini very well
greg555 said:
I agree completely. That was apparent to me as soon as they reduced the prices on the new iPod Minis. I think what ends up happening is that you fall into a mentality which becomes "which iPod will I buy, and how far can I stretch my budget" over "do I actually want an iPod Shuffle". It's a brilliantly simple pricing strategy and I know that it had the desires effect on me when I started to look at the new range. Thank God I already have an iPod and therefore wasn't sucked in!
watcher2001 said:
Yup. Thanks to their product line and price spacing I can talk
myself all the way from a 512 to a 6GB mini. And I don't (yet)
have a computer that will run iTunes!
It's a win/win/win situation for Apple. If you truely can only afford
a $99 player they make a $99 sale. If you can afford more, they likely
will sell you a more expensive player (1, 2 or more steps more
expensive than you originally intended to buy).
Greg
dotdotdot said:
I like that logic. Get a 1GB Shuffle for $99. Then get double the space for $50 more. Then get double that space for another $50 more. If they did follow that logic, maybe they could price the 512MB Shuffle for $49 and still have the, '$50 more gets you double the space'.
Lacero said:
They do anyway, it costs maybe $15 for 1 iPod shuffle.
Also, the iPod shuffle has THE worst gigabyte to price ratio:
20 GB iPod - $299. One gig is $14.95
1 GB iPod Shuffle - $149. One gig is $149.00
Just to continue:
512 MB iPod Shuffle is $198 per gig.
4 GB iPod Mini is $49.75 per gig.
6 GB iPod Mini is $41.50 per gig.
The U2 20 GB iPod is $17.45 per gig
The 30 GB iPod Photo is $11.63 per gig.
The 60 Gb iPod Photo is $7.48 per gig.
Lacero said:
Well technically that is pretty much the same thing, just different numbers. But I think people would see the '$50 more = twice storage' easier than using those numbers. I'm not sure how much the Shuffle's cost to make and thus how much Apple must sell them in order to make a profit.
Right now that strategy is used, but stops at the transition to the 1GB Shuffle and 4GB iPod mini. So it technically only applies to the Shuffle's. But if they priced the 1GB Shuffle at $99 and a 2GB Shuffle at $149, then that strategy could be carried over to the iPod mini line:
512MB Shuffle: $49
1GB Shuffle: $99
2GB Shuffle: $149
4GB iPod mini: $199
Then that would stop at the 4GB iPod mini. I'm not sure how they would make profit, but I do like the idea of that. Course on the 512MB --> 1GB Shuffle, you could also say, 'double the space for double the money' instead of, 'double the space for $50 more'.
Ok I think I just made a mess of this
We'll just have to see what Apple does 
greg555 said:
The scary thing is that is like exactly how my brain works. Haha.
Oh look at these gorgeous 50 dollar sunglasses.
But for only 95 they can be polarized...
Oh and the designer brand is only 130...
In the color I like for 175!
So I just went from the 50 dollar thing to the 175 dollar thing and justified it mentally.
At first I thought the Shuffle was kinda stupid. But then I bought one, and now I love it. I wanted another mini (sold mine because I wasn't using it, and at the time needed the money more), but they still don't support voice recording and I really want a color screen. So eventually I'll buy an iPod photo (next rev. maybe), but in the mean time I bought a 512MB Shuffle to tide me over when I have to walk between buildings at work or take the tram. I thought about the 1GB model, but didn't really need more than a few songs at a time, so it was overkill.
The only way they'll drop the 512 model is if the GB one goes to $99, and I don't see that happening quite yet. I still see USB memory sticks for more than that.
The only way they'll drop the 512 model is if the GB one goes to $99, and I don't see that happening quite yet. I still see USB memory sticks for more than that.
I just bought a 512 MB iPod shuffle tonight (listening to it for the first time as I type this). I already had a 40 GB 4G iPod which was the biggest available when I bought it. I didn't get the 1 GB iPod partly because I'm a less than rich college student, but mostly because I figure I have my regular iPod for when I want my entire library with me. I can put some of my current favorites on my shuffle and let iTunes autofill the rest, and I'll have plenty of music to listen to for an hour or two when taking a walk or something.
I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Apple drop the 1 GB to $99, but I don't think that necessarily means they'll discontinue the 512 MB model. They can just drop it's price to $59 or something. With 512 MB USB drives going for not much less than that, it's a really nice price point for them, assuming they can pull it off and still make a profit (in the future). Eventually shuffles will probably be 2 and 4 GB, minis will be 8 and 12 or something, and iPod photos will go all the way up to 100 GB or more, and maybe even play video.
I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Apple drop the 1 GB to $99, but I don't think that necessarily means they'll discontinue the 512 MB model. They can just drop it's price to $59 or something. With 512 MB USB drives going for not much less than that, it's a really nice price point for them, assuming they can pull it off and still make a profit (in the future). Eventually shuffles will probably be 2 and 4 GB, minis will be 8 and 12 or something, and iPod photos will go all the way up to 100 GB or more, and maybe even play video.