[yuliang]

I'd buy the iPod if it was $299, or better, $199...I mean, I know it's all about economics for Apple but I think Apple should try to saturate the market more by aggressive pricing

[SupahCoolX]

Well, Apple sort of has a "price cut" now with the $100 rebate when you buy an iPod and a new Mac. This rebate just happens to end on June 30, just before MWNY. Hmm....

I figure that new iPods will be released at MWNY in July (either higher capacity, new features, etc), so current models will have a price drop. The new models, of course, will likely keep the current pricing structure, which is usual for Apple.

[Mr Heliums]

Originally posted by SupahCoolX:
<STRONG>Well, Apple sort of has a "price cut" now with the $100 rebate when you buy an iPod and a new Mac. This rebate just happens to end on June 30, just before MWNY. Hmm....

I figure that new iPods will be released at MWNY in July (either higher capacity, new features, etc), so current models will have a price drop. The new models, of course, will likely keep the current pricing structure, which is usual for Apple.</STRONG>

It'll happen in the next few months, but I don't see why MWNY would be an obvious place to announce a simple price drop. I can't see bigger capacities either - Apple doubled the capacity a couple of months ago a 20Gb iPod isn't suddenly going to get a flood of new buyers.

[Northform]

The problem is that the iPod uses much more expensive components than other hard drive based MP3 players. It has 2 ARM processors and a 1.5 inch hard drive. Compare that to the 2.5 inch hard drives (that are the same as notebook computers) and the half baked MP3 decoders and you see why the price is so high. Oh, and don't forget FireWire vs. USB.

There's nothing wrong with the other players and they may not be less quality (I've never used any HD MP3 players). The ARM processors mean that it can be updated to have more features or codecs, the 32MB of RAM allow for skip free playing, the 1.5" HD makes it small, and the FireWire interface transfers songs faster. If you don't really want these features then don't waste your money on the iPod. It's great, but certainlly not one size fits all. By the same token if you are a jogger the Creative Nomad (or others) probably won't cut it.

Apple isn't going to lower the price until the larger units get lower prices or someone challenges them with a unit using a 1.5 in HD. The RioRiot still costs 399 (but has 20GB of storage). It's all what you value in the end. I personally value the feel of an extra couple hundred bucks in my pocket.

Oh, and the rebate ending before MWNY might be to spur computer sales in preperation for the new models not to spur iPod sales.

[G-mac]

I agree with yuliang. If Apple could sell those iPods for $199, I'd buy 2 of them (spending $400 anyway). I'd go buy one right now if they were $299. Unfortunately, I'd have to agree with the previous posts - no price cuts until the drive prices fall or cheaper competition arises. They're selling really well already and they need to maximize profits.

I've been checking eBay for used iPods and sometimes they go for a little over $300. Apple has refurbs for $339 and some colleges sell the 5 BG models to students for $280.

[torifile]

Yeah, I'd buy a dual-gig PowerMac if it cost $1500, too. And an iMac for $900. Or a Ti for $1250. Gimme a break. I want Apple to cut the price of all it's products in half so I can afford them!! Of course they'd sell more at half the price. Between people whining about not being able to afford some things and people complaining about processor speed, the Mac community has the market cornered on cry-babies, it seems.

[Cellery]

A $50 to $100 price cut on the 5GB iPod would be cool, it's been out on the market long enough and component prices have decreased. I bought mine last year at $399 and have loved using it since then, but I want to pick some up as gifts for friends and family. I don't like them quite enough to spend $400, but $300 I can swing.

[swiz]

Somewhat off-topic but I just got a 10g iPod from a Chi-town based Mac store in its sealed retail box for $450 including shipping doing the "buy before the first bid" dealio. Sure its not your $250 or whatever you want it for but it is $50 less than retail before shipping. (I live in Michigan where there is no Apple retail store so I must order and pay for shipping regardless).

[snomac]

I purchased mine with my iMac and got $100 off, but since Apple raised iMac prices $100 it's a wash. I filled up all 5 gigs right when I got it, i'm thinking I should have gone with the 10 gig model to have room left over for file storage.