[Parky]

Bad news for the rest of the world, it now seems that Apple have put back the launch of the iPodmini outside the US until July.

Let's hope it coincides with the launch of the European iTunes Store.

I suspect thought that we will still be waiting for iTMS in Europe for many more months to come.

Ian

[MickS]

<irony>
Surely that can't be true? I mean who'd want to buy an iPod mini when for an extra $50 they can have a full sized iPod with almost 4 times the capacity?
</irony>

The iPod mini, proof positive that focus groups don't work. The delay is because Apple are having problems making them quick enough to satisfy the US demand and are having to ramp up production to enable a overseas launch.

[sandsl]

hmm..'lets make sure everyone in the US has one before we bother with anyone else.'

[Parky]

It's a pity as I really needed to get one as a gift, I guess they will just have to wait.
I don't want to import one as the extra cost and no warranty are too much of a hit.

Ian

[Parky]

It's always the same with Apple.

They say they are a global company but they always do things in the US first :-

Apple Stores
iPods
iPhoto Prints / Books
iTunes Music Store
etc, etc

I don't know why we are surprised anymore, you think we would be used to it!!

Ian

[Powaqqatsi]

Originally posted by Parky:
It's a pity as I really needed to get one as a gift, I guess they will just have to wait.
I don't want to import one as the extra cost and no warranty are too much of a hit.

Ian

They have a global warranty. Well mine has

[AirforceRed]

Sorry, can someone explain why the US is *so* much more important than the rest of the world?!?

Jesus Apple, how parochial you are. I expected better.

A.

[macnn2]

Originally posted by AirforceRed:
Sorry, can someone explain why the US is *so* much more important than the rest of the world?!?

Jesus Apple, how parochial you are. I expected better.

A.

Probably because they are a US based company. I don't think that they would release something in Europe before the US. Besides Sony is a Japanese company and releases products in Japan 3-4 months before it reaches the US. Calm down. Maybe you should just buy a Dell DJ


ps no charge for the explanation

[Eug Wanker]

US$565 for a pink iPod mini on eB@y.

It was engraved with "I love you", and it looks like it's gonna go to Qatar.

[sandsl]

Originally posted by macnn2:
Probably because they are a US based company. I don't think that they would release something in Europe before the US.

Nobody said we wanted stuff before the US, we just want feature polarity and timely availability of products. This isn't always possible, but Apple could do alot better. Most people in the US that *really* want the ipod mini probably have it by now anyway.

"Global shortage of popular ipod mini" is a better headline than "Apple prioritises US customers, leaving others in the dark for months after original announcement."

[d4nth3m4n]

Originally posted by AirforceRed:
Sorry, can someone explain why the US is *so* much more important than the rest of the world?!?

Jesus Apple, how parochial you are. I expected better.

A.

and apple is an american company. are you really surprised that they keep it in the us first? not to mention that the us is big (300+ mil) and each european country is much smaller than that though each has its own rules and regulations. i just dont think it is worth it to apple to fight over the logistics of getting all of their services to each country.

oh, and which country do you start with?

[Parky]

48% of Apple's business is based outside the US - FACT

Now if they feel that ignoring and upsetting that 48% then they are stupid.

No wonder their market share is falling, you can't treat potential customers like this.

Many people in Europe are looking to other MP3 players and Online Music stores because we simply have no other choice.

Apple are really going to miss the boat in Europe if they don't get iTunes Store sorted out over here fast.

While it might be No. 1 in the US, clearly in Europe they will be starting from the back of the back, behind, Virgin, Coke, Napster, etc....

It is going to be hard for them to make the same impact here.

Ian

[d4nth3m4n]

yeah, but that 48% is spread over a multitude of countries with different laws and regulations and fees to pay.

if you can have access to 52% of your business in one place, and only have to do the law/rule game ONCE wouldnt you?

you really cant blame apple on this one, i think the plans are there, it is more of a question off logistics.

[Krypton]

Originally posted by d4nth3m4n:
yeah, but that 48% is spread over a multitude of countries with different laws and regulations and fees to pay.

if you can have access to 52% of your business in one place, and only have to do the law/rule game ONCE wouldnt you?

you really cant blame apple on this one, i think the plans are there, it is more of a question off logistics.

It does make sense, but when you look at such products as iPhoto printing you can't not expect people to be angry having to wait a further two years on top of the US.

However, it's embarrassing that even European manufacturers cater to the US first in terms of release dates and pricing.

(On a slightly related note, it was quite refreshing to find out recently that Sony refuse to ship some of their better products to the US for no particular reason )

[CatOne]

Originally posted by Parky:
It's always the same with Apple.

They say they are a global company but they always do things in the US first :-

Apple Stores
iPods
iPhoto Prints / Books
iTunes Music Store
etc, etc

I don't know why we are surprised anymore, you think we would be used to it!!

Ian

Maybe they're doing it to get back at those stupid French

[Link]

Apple does it because sony does..

On a related thought, the HDs that the ipod mini use are low in supply. This would explain the delays, NOT apple's fault. Sorry you dumb europeans

[sandsl]

Originally posted by Link:
Sorry you dumb europeans

Its not Apples fault they can't get the components quick enough. However, It is Apples fault that they vastly under-estimated how many people wanted one, and decided to let the USA have them first when instead they could have shared the stock out fairly across their three major markets, to avoid bad press (BBC) and keep customers happy - instead they have angry customers who can't get them because of where they live.

[AppleCello]

So they made a very minor mistake. Even bad news is good news, especially when it publicizes the overwhelming popularity of a product. Now there are more people aware of the product, its not just the people that follow Apple-related news. When it finally does launch here in France and in the rest of Europe, more people will identify it as something really cool.

and yes, With Apple being a US company, there is not even a question about their initial focus for new markets. Its just business. Sit back and relax. The itunes music store issue is really not that important considering that iPods are ALREADY popular in Europe and that the ITMS will be the most compatible solution for the iPod.

Patrick

[talisker]

It is interesting the way Apple operates very much as an American company that also sells things overseas, as distinct from a global company such as Microsoft for example. Quite quaint really. But so what? It works for them, so why should they change?

Annoying if you want an iPod mini I suppose, but it's only an MP3 player for godsake. You don't have to have it now. Or at all really.

[Wiskedjak]

I wouldn't surprise me at all if this was intentional

[Parky]

Who cares!

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally posted by sandsl:
Its not Apples fault they can't get the components quick enough. However, It is Apples fault that they vastly under-estimated how many people wanted one, and decided to let the USA have them first when instead they could have shared the stock out fairly across their three major markets, to avoid bad press (BBC) and keep customers happy - instead they have angry customers who can't get them because of where they live.

I'm sorry, but that is just silly.

It's not available here yet. It's not advertised yet. The WORST thing Apple can do is to advertise a product as "available" and then keep people waiting six weeks for it while they try to meet demand. That drives away customers.

And before you say "but we ARE waiting for months": We here on these forums don't matter at all. We are a tiny minority. The public at large has only seen standard iPod cinema ads and four-storey-tall print ads for the standard iPod. They don't even know the iPod mini exists - because it doesn't.

Every other company on the planet - tech, auto, film, etc. - has been staggering releases internationally for as long as the concept of an international market has even existed.

Get used to it.

-s*

[beanman]

I've had my mini on order since mid-Feb. On or before date has changed twice, and now I am looking at a 4/12/04 ship date. This is what I get for ordering educationally, but I feel the pain that the rest of the world feels. If it's anything like my 17" PB, I'll shut up like a happy little kid once my iPod is here.

"Good things come to those who wait."

[rambo47]

Guys, there's only ONE reason for things like US-only availability: $$$$$$

Apple doesn't care if some folks get pissed off because their research shows it won't have an impact on the bottom line - profit.

France may never get the mini iPod. If they're going to demand a tax from Apple for their rediculous policy on copyable media then the folks at Cupertino will take a long hard look at how profitable that market will be. Once again, follow the money to see what happens.

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally posted by rambo47:
France may never get the mini iPod. If they're going to demand a tax from Apple for their rediculous policy on copyable media then the folks at Cupertino will take a long hard look at how profitable that market will be. Once again, follow the money to see what happens.

Off-topic, but you mean the same "rediculous" policiy on copyable media that the United States has had for DECADES, as well - and just hasn't applied specifically to mp3 players, since the law pre-dates them?

You pay the exact same tax on every device *except* the iPod/iRiver/etc.

Just a heads-up before you go and make yourself look stupid anywhere else...

-s*

[rambo47]

What's rediculous is taxing Apple for sales of the iPod. Typical socialist behavior, but rediculous none the less. You want to add a tax? Fine, that's a government decision. But a tax at the point of sale paid by the consumer is l little more rational. Then it becomes a simple price/value decision by the consumer on whether or not to buy. Conversely, if the goal is to keep new products out of a country, then by all means go right on taxing the parent company (or trying to).

Oh, and thanks for your concern on my image, fvcktard.

[ASIMO]

Rambo, you keep up the good fight against them commie pinkos and shiite-for-brains socialists. I await your next movie. Cuba, this time?

Oh, since the hint failed you, it is "ridiculous."

[rambo47]

Yeah, them commies are everywhere. Since Russia became an ally of the U.S. ya have to look much harder for 'em now, but they're out there. I can smell 'em. Wait!! What's that behind my couch......!!! Oh, never mind. False alarm. Damn, how ridiculous.

[motti]

By the time Apple will be officially selling the ipods mini in Europe, a lot of people will already by satisfied -- by the grey market importers. Those will grow strong by importing the minis and selling them at a reasonable price, not Apple's illusion of a price!
Exactly those importers will remain on the market after the whole ipod mini thing and will probably damage Apple Europe...

[Stogieman]

Originally posted by beanman:
I've had my mini on order since mid-Feb. On or before date has changed twice, and now I am looking at a 4/12/04 ship date. This is what I get for ordering educationally, but I feel the pain that the rest of the world feels. If it's anything like my 17" PB, I'll shut up like a happy little kid once my iPod is here.

"Good things come to those who wait."

Say it ain't so. I ordered my mini at the Apple edu store last weekend and I have a on or before shipping date of 4/12/04 too. Man, I hope they don't push the date back.

[vvedge]

Originally posted by MickS:
The iPod mini, proof positive that focus groups don't work. The delay is because Apple are having problems making them quick enough to satisfy the US demand and are having to ramp up production to enable a overseas launch.

Hyper-hypothetical here, I dont want to justify the naysayers-now-footinmouthers... but what if the overall negative response is what told apple to take production of the mini slower (as to not have an overabundance of stock that wont be sold). Ermm... I dunno enough about business to even try and realize that.

Whatever... back to listening to music on my Gold iPod mini (got mine first day )

[Crusoe]

One MAIN reason while the US gets it first is cause it's cheaper in every aspect of supply chain and doing business in general, to sell stuff in America.

I've lived (and am living) in Europe for over 6 years, restrictively high import tariffs, red tap and higher costs in the SC processes, and forecast difficulty in demand makes it a harder and less attractive market to sell to. I paid 31% income tax and %20 tax on nearly everything I bought here so wallets are bit tighter too. Compared to America where for instance in Seattle I paid maybe 12% income tax and 8.5% sales tax and I surely didn't pay 30% of my income for health care.

If I were running a business, my priority would be satifying the most highly profitably and easiest marketable market, the USA.

I don't think politics/nationalism matters at all. America is a huge market, full of people with deep pockets who have more time and money to partake in a variety of hobbys.

If you're hard up for Apple stuff, get an off season flight (now) to Delaware and buy up.

[The Ginger Rat]

Originally posted by vvedge:

Whatever... back to listening to music on my Gold iPod mini (got mine first day )

Could you please describe the color of the gold mini? I think that is the color I would like but want to be sure it isn't too blingbling.

Thanks!

[nobitacu]

Yea... sucks for people who really want one that doesn't live in the U.S. But I guess they can pick one up for around $300 on ebay. =P

Ming

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally posted by vvedge:
Hyper-hypothetical here, I dont want to justify the naysayers-now-footinmouthers... but what if the overall negative response is what told apple to take production of the mini slower (as to not have an overabundance of stock that wont be sold). Ermm... I dunno enough about business to even try and realize that.

WHAT "overall negative response"?

You mean the handful of slashdotters and the three morons on these boards who predicted the death of Apple at this overpriced miniature monstrosity? (incidentally the same people who *KNEW* that the original iPod was stillborn, a dismal failure of Cubic proportions)

People buying the minis up, RIPPING THEM APART, and selling JUST the hard drive of this "overpriced" item AT PROFIT on eBay...

"Negative response"?

-s*