[poulh]

Apple is giving you 30 free songs with the airport express.

Which of the following are probably true?

A) Is this just a way to lower the price since other wireless routers are much cheaper?
B) Are they lowering the price because version 2 of the AE is coming out (with new features) and this is a way to clear out inventory?
C) Has this product been successful outside of the hardcore mac community (read macnn members). Are they lowering the price to generate sales?
D) If a new AE is on the way with more features will the original stay on sale as a cheaper alternative or will it go away?

[ghporter]

I'd go with A, B and C being true, and since D isn't true/false, I'd say "maybe for a while" and then "probably yes."

To my way of thinking, they are indeed trying to ramp up sales, and doing so by trying to generate interest in non-iPod products within the non-Mac community. Free songs gets the attention of the self-described "young and hip" market segment (though the definition of "hip" is always subject to debate).

Generating a run on a product you're about to replace does two things: it reduces inventory and creates demand-which can only be satisfied by the new product.

I don't think that the Express has made much of an inroad in the non-Mac community, but that is only because it's an Apple product and people are used to Apple stuff only working with Macs. Give it time...

[poulh]

my main reason for asking is i already have one ae hooked up to my office stereo/printer. i want to put a 2nd one behind the tv for the surround sound, but this deal makes me wonder if i should wait to see if a remote is in the works.