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Scandalous Ion Cannon · Sep 13, 2005, 11:34 AM

"First week sales of Apple's new shockingly thin iPod nano have fallen short of expectations, with most Apple retail stores having sold only one-fourth of their initial inventory of the players, AppleInsider has learned"

http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1270

I wonder why this is? Is it because people like the colours of the Mini?

FulcrumPilot · Sep 13, 2005, 11:39 AM

I don't think a lot of people know about this product yet.

Stradlater · Sep 13, 2005, 11:42 AM

A few girl friends of mine, more likely to have been swayed by the mini's colors, have caught the nano commercials and have commented on how they "kind of want this one instead of the mini". After telling them that the mini isn't even available anymore, they didn't seem bothered. I think the nano will sell well, it just needs some time. A lot of people have iPods already, mini or shuffle, and they'll probably wait till an upgrade seems necessary.

Scandalous Ion Cannon · Sep 13, 2005, 11:44 AM

I dunno, this is the first Apple product in a long time where after the initial announcement the ship times went from 1-3 days to 3-4 weeks.

I just checked and they have even upped the ship time for the 2 gig to SAME DAY.

Even the shuffle flew off the shelves for the first month, now it doesn't sell so well.

Stradlater · Sep 13, 2005, 11:59 AM

I still think it's too soon to tell. They're just starting to get press and commercial airtime.

paul w · Sep 13, 2005, 12:00 PM

I got a black 2 GB in Seattle and the black 4GB ones were sold out. Immediately.

Again - this may be a tad too son after the Shuffle. I could hardly justify buying one, as I really didn't need it.

But I did anyway. It's so hawt. Everyone who has seen it - EVERYONE - has wanted one immediately. But then again they all had iPods already, for the most part.

ThinkInsane · Sep 13, 2005, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by Stradlater

A few girl friends of mine, more likely to have been swayed by the mini's colors, have caught the nano commercials and have commented on how they "kind of want this one instead of the mini". After telling them that the mini isn't even available anymore, they didn't seem bothered. I think the nano will sell well, it just needs some time. A lot of people have iPods already, mini or shuffle, and they'll probably wait till an upgrade seems necessary.

I was at the mall yesterday, and both CompUSA and the Apple Store had plenty of mini's on hand, so I think it's a bit early to tell people they aren't available anymore.

Stradlater · Sep 13, 2005, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by ThinkInsane

I was at the mall yesterday, and both CompUSA and the Apple Store had plenty of mini's on hand, so I think it's a bit early to tell people they aren't available anymore.

I actually said they weren't making them anymore; the earlier post wasn't conversation verbatim. The fact was that they like the nano better despite the lack of colors.

davesimondotcom · Sep 13, 2005, 12:41 PM

Last Friday, I was eating at the Rock Bottom Brewery in Portland, got up to leave, saw a woman holding a thin piece of white plastic with a shiny silver bottom. I knew what it was instantly...

Had to go strike up a conversation with her and her husband. It was his nano, just out of the box. Funny thing was I was on my way to the Apple store...

Something great about Apple products - you see someone with one, you have an instant friend it seems.

mdc · Sep 13, 2005, 12:42 PM

when i bought mine last friday at the local apple store here, they had just gotten them in stock and the minis were still on display.

there were a lot of people in the shop talking about the nano while they were in the shops and a lot of people buying them. one guy walked out with a black and a white one.

i went to the movies on sunday. i was sitting there listening to my ipod before the trailers started, playing the music game. someone next to me leaned over and asked if it was a nano and asked if they could try it. he was shocked with the size.

i think it'll sell well

DeathMan · Sep 13, 2005, 12:50 PM

They're trying to sell a slightly differentiated product on wow factor, to a totally saturated market. The wow factor is there, but its going to take time for people to see these babies, and put up the cash.

I have several other things on my "to buy" list before I can justify a new ipod.

Apple Pro Underwear · Sep 13, 2005, 01:04 PM

i agree with D man

i only bought one because i was rocking an old original

Fred_Cokebottle · Sep 13, 2005, 01:11 PM

The beginning of the end for Apple!

legacyb4 · Sep 13, 2005, 01:13 PM

Ordered online with a personalized message, expecting delivery this week.

analogika · Sep 13, 2005, 01:19 PM

I think also most people aren't expecting them to be available yet.

Europe had to wait SEVEN MONTHS for the mini; people will be completely shocked if we actually have inventory this week...not that it's arrived yet...

Apple Pro Underwear · Sep 13, 2005, 01:36 PM

2 words: chrstimas time

let's talk again at macworld people

Scandalous Ion Cannon · Sep 13, 2005, 01:49 PM

I think they released them too soon. Everyone who wanted small bought a Shuffle (like myself). Everyone who wanted a bit more got a Mini.

I didn't hear anyone complaining about the size of the Mini other than maybe wanting a colour screen. Everyone really seemed to like the idea of colours.

Now Apple cancels it most popular iPod to give us something people never really ask for. The colour screen on the Nano is nice but it doesn't do much. The screen is so small viewing pictures on it is pointless and it cannot output to TV's. Also the missing firewire really leaves many Mac users in the dust.

They should have kept the mini and bumped up the storage size on it, and a colour screen. The nano is more of a replacement for the shuffle.

Fred_Cokebottle · Sep 13, 2005, 01:52 PM

They should sell the whole ipod division to Dell. Dell knows how to sell.

OwlBoy · Sep 13, 2005, 02:20 PM

slow start? all the black ones are sold out!

-Owl

goMac · Sep 13, 2005, 02:25 PM

Originally Posted by Fred_Cokebottle

They should sell the whole ipod division to Dell. Dell knows how to sell.

If anything, the one thing Dell can't sell is MP3 players.

andreas_g4 · Sep 13, 2005, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by davesimondotcom

Something great about Apple products - you see someone with one, you have an instant friend it seems.

Seconded.

Tenacious Dyl · Sep 13, 2005, 02:31 PM

Not the case here... The black ones (2 and 4 gbs) sold out the first day, as well as all of the white 4gbs. Only a FEW 2 gb white ones were even still there by end of the first day of sale. I had hoped to score a black 4gb for a friend, but was too late.

andreas_g4 · Sep 13, 2005, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by Scandalous Ion Cannon

I think they released them too soon. Everyone who wanted small bought a Shuffle (like myself). Everyone who wanted a bit more got a Mini.

I didn't hear anyone complaining about the size of the Mini other than maybe wanting a colour screen. Everyone really seemed to like the idea of colours.

Now Apple cancels it most popular iPod to give us something people never really ask for. The colour screen on the Nano is nice but it doesn't do much. The screen is so small viewing pictures on it is pointless and it cannot output to TV's. Also the missing firewire really leaves many Mac users in the dust.

They should have kept the mini and bumped up the storage size on it, and a colour screen. The nano is more of a replacement for the shuffle.

A very interesting point of view. I've never seen it in that way. But you might takt into consideration that Apple probably only got the Samsung deal by assuring a very high quantity purchase. If they had just added the nano to the iPod line, nano sales would be less than now, since people would buy minis too.

DeathMan · Sep 13, 2005, 02:34 PM

They're re-hitting all the original purchasers. Like APU, all first gen-ers, whose batteries are dying, and are feeling like they have a big huge ipod, are seriously considering getting this one. I have a 3rd gen with battery problems, and I'm tempted. I just got the wife a shuffle, and just picked up the latest ibook, so I think Apple has enough of my money for now, but by Christmas time, if they're available, I'll probably get one.

budster101 · Sep 13, 2005, 02:37 PM

It's been out how long and already someone is posting a negative thread? (Besides the "it scratches so easy"... wah-wah... now the sales are not great...

WTF? You people pretty much suck. Go buy a PC/Windblows POS and use it for a few months... all ya do is complain (some of you).

Scandalous Ion Cannon · Sep 13, 2005, 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by budster101

It's been out how long and already someone is posting a negative thread? (Besides the "it scratches so easy"... wah-wah... now the sales are not great...

Oh shut your Pie hole. I am buying TWO of the damn things. I am not saying it is a bad product I am just linking to a story that says it is not selling why and I am guessing as to why that is.

MacMan4000 · Sep 13, 2005, 02:48 PM

My dad got one on the 8th (the day after the announcement) in the SoHo Apple store in NYC. He got a white 2gig because all the 4gigs and the blacks in both sizes were sold out... I didn't get the impression that they were selling slowly.

Scandalous Ion Cannon · Sep 13, 2005, 03:12 PM

Originally Posted by MacMan4000

My dad got one on the 8th (the day after the announcement) in the SoHo Apple store in NYC. He got a white 2gig because all the 4gigs and the blacks in both sizes were sold out... I didn't get the impression that they were selling slowly.

You cannot tell how something is selling at the release or what you saw at one store.

Personally I call one store and they have 50 of them while anther says they haven't been able to get any for weeks.

Heck even the Cube sold like ****ing hotcakes when it first came out, it was impossible to get a 500MHz model. In the end the cube sold a total of 140,000.

MacMan4000 · Sep 13, 2005, 03:15 PM

Originally Posted by Scandalous Ion Cannon

...they haven't been able to get any for weeks...

Um, it hasn't been out for a week yet

budster101 · Sep 13, 2005, 03:18 PM

It's only been out for 5 DAYS.

How many generations of iPods have there been? It's not brand new, it's a newer model.
They have probably tons of Minis in the stores and college students are still buying computers and getting the free mini right? So, couple that with the fact that the nano doesn't qualify and you have part of your answer.

No store has a ton of the 4gb. I've tried to call quite a few looking for them, and guess what? SOLD OUT.
Only 2gb models as far as I have been told. The 4gb sold like 'hotcakes'.

Of course they just started shipping them a few days ago...

Put a sock in it.

Scandalous Ion Cannon · Sep 13, 2005, 03:22 PM

Originally Posted by MacMan4000

Um, it hasn't been out for a week yet

I mean ANY model of iPod. The Mini's when they first came out were impossible to find for 3 months. The shuffle was also impossible to find for 50 days.

RAILhead · Sep 13, 2005, 03:23 PM

Mine shipped today.

w00t!!1

Salty · Sep 13, 2005, 03:32 PM

Frankly as a mini owner (who just got mine replaced under warranty) I don't really feel a huge need for a nano. My music collection is to big to fit on a nano or mini right now so my next will probably be a big boy iPod

. Though I love the idea of the lanyard head phones. Who knows maybe by the time I buy again they'll have an 8 gig or 10 gig Nano, if that's the case I'll buy that. Otherwise it'll be a white iPod. That said the mini's colours, or rather the aluminum enclosure was huge for me, I love the size of the mini. The normal iPod feels a bit big, where as the mini is the perfect size, I feel like I'd break a nano... and probably will hahaha... oh well.

misc · Sep 13, 2005, 03:59 PM

No way. I have been on hold with Apple for more than an hour over the last few days to get an invoice for an iPod purchased in 2003. All of the lines were swamped due to Nano related inquires and purchases.

Captain Obvious · Sep 13, 2005, 04:45 PM

Originally Posted by Scandalous Ion Cannon

Oh shut your Pie hole. I am buying TWO of the damn things. I am not saying it is a bad product I am just linking to a story that says it is not selling why and I am guessing as to why that is.

Because most people who would be on top of the release of the Nano already have iPods.
Only the really big geeks and those who must have the latest and greatest are snapping them up now.
The bulk of the people who would make up the sales of the units have not seen or heard about them yet.
Apple does not seem to be spending as much on advertising for it as they did on the Shuffle.

hardcat1970 · Sep 13, 2005, 07:40 PM

i heard they have produce larger volumes on the ipod nano than other ipod models when they were introduced. perhaps that is why...

Pendergast · Sep 13, 2005, 07:46 PM

I did my contribution.

Did you?

Salty · Sep 13, 2005, 07:47 PM

Originally Posted by Captain Obvious

Apple does not seem to be spending as much on advertising for it as they did on the Shuffle.

Prolly cause this is a much easier sell than the shuffle.

That said... I hate the nano commercial. Didn't want to say anything until I was sure... but... I hate it. And how come we never really had iPod mini commercials? I want to see dancing people dancing around with nanos! Or maybe we can get get the impossibly thin angle in there and have some scrawny super models in the mix.

FulcrumPilot · Sep 13, 2005, 07:51 PM

May be this product will fail due to a saturated market after all. Apple will then be a victim of its own success!

Apple Pro Underwear · Sep 13, 2005, 07:52 PM

the "article" you are referring to is basically a rumor site.

ummm... let me see a real website report this.

no offense to appleinsider but they are not exactly the Washington Post

Kerrigan · Sep 13, 2005, 08:06 PM

I think that it will take a while for people to pick up on what exactly the Nano is.

The Mini was easy to advertise because people could look at a picture of it alongside the words "mini" and instantly know what the product was about. It was smaller, and more colorful, full stop.

The Nano will be a bit harder to sell, because you have to put it up next to a hand or a pencil for people to understand how small it is. Without this comparative image, people won't think that the Nano is any different from the standard iPod. And showing the Nano in someone's hand is tricky business too because the hand is a pretty subjective measurement of size. They would be better off advertising it next to a credit card or something which has an easily deducible size.

ironknee · Sep 13, 2005, 08:10 PM

a glance at amazon's top 25 electronics, we find 15 of 25 are ipods...the top 5 are ipods with ipod nano 4 gig black at 5

i think apple expected this...they still have ipod minis to unload...and slowly the nano will take over...today while walking around nyc, i saw several ipod nano ads

alligator · Sep 13, 2005, 08:39 PM

It doesn't help when my apple store is full of mini's on display. They only had 2 nanos out for the public to view.

Mastrap · Sep 13, 2005, 10:46 PM

Saw this on the way home from work today, King and Spadina for those who know Toronto. The cam has no zoom and I was in a hurry, thus the wide angle. The poster is huge in real life.

Scandalous Ion Cannon · Sep 13, 2005, 11:29 PM

Originally Posted by Mastrap

Saw this on the way home from work today, King and Spadina for those who know Toronto. The cam has no zoom and I was in a hurry, thus the wide angle. The poster is huge in real life.

I used to work at the building you are standing infront of.

Cipher13 · Sep 14, 2005, 02:22 AM

Three things.

1. Market saturation... a lot of people already have Shuffles, iPods, or Mini's.

2. Lack of advertisement... even I barely knew about it until a few days ago.

3. Percieved unavailability... a mate of mine called me today to say he'd bought one, and I was shocked it was already available. I ordinarily wouldn't have even bothered checking for a month or so.

Personally, I absolutely love the black one. Awesome work, it's about time it came in black

We're about to become a 5-iPod house.

Mastrap · Sep 14, 2005, 06:20 AM

Originally Posted by Scandalous Ion Cannon

I used to work at the building you are standing infront of.

The hostel?

ShotgunEd · Sep 14, 2005, 06:46 AM

Originally Posted by Cipher13

2. Lack of advertisement... even I barely knew about it until a few days ago.

I spoke to a friend who is not interested in technology at all on the day after the anouncement and he knew that the nano was released and was as thick as a pencil.

Plus, we are in the UK.

Diggory Laycock · Sep 14, 2005, 06:55 AM

My 1st Gen iPod has just failed, and I would buy a nano - but for two reasons:

1 - No FireWire -- I have a two-year-old Mac - and it doesn't have USB 2. (AlBook 17" 1GHz)
2 - The most generously specced nano has 1GB less space than my 1st Gen iPod.

Captain Obvious · Sep 14, 2005, 07:03 AM

Originally Posted by Diggory Laycock

My 1st Gen iPod has just failed, and I would buy a nano - but for two reasons:

1 - No FireWire -- I have a two-year-old Mac - and it doesn't have USB 2. (AlBook 17" 1GHz)

You spent 3K on a laptop but are too cheap to buy a $15 USB2 PC card?