HP Will Bundle iTunes With New PCs

[Kent Pribbernow]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/36305.html' target='_blank'>http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/36305.html</a><br /><br /></div>A minor flub by HP's web designers reveals the company plans to bundle Apple's iTunes media playback software with new Pavilion and Presario desktop PCs. Earlier this month, Apple began offering a specialized version of iTunes specifically for HP users, which is no different from the standard version except that it tracks HP user downloads separately from other iTunes users. <br /><br />There really isn't much to note of this story, except that it indicates HP will be launching it's cobranded audio device and music service very soon. The biggest question that remains is how much the HPpod will cost? I'm betting HP will undercut Apple in price. What do you think? :?: <br /> <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/hpapple.jpg" />

[Mike Temporale]

I would be surpirsed if Apple allowed that. I would guess that HP's price will be the same as Apples.

[Todd_B]

I have to agree with Mike. I doubt Apple will allow the profit margin to be hurt on the Ipod. I bet they match the price, but bundle some sort of "extras" with it.

Todd

[Russell]

There really isn't much to note of this story, except that it indicates HP will be launching it's cobranded audio device and music service very soon. The biggest question that remains is how much the HPpod will cost? I'm betting HP will undercut Apple in price. What do you think? :?:

This is very strange to me that Apple would let these guys have an HP-branded iPod. Will it raise awareness of the iPod brand? Probably. Will it also water down the power of the iPod brand itself. Probably.

I am willing to bet that HP won't undercut Apple in price because Apple is very tight when it comes to price control. Look around the Internet, the price of an iPod is pretty standard. It fluctuates by maybe $5 to $10 max.

[marlof]

Man. Look at those logo's. Having the Apple alone justifies a $5 difference in price. And having to explain that you have a hPod in stead of an iPod is worth another $5. So the HP will go for $10 less than the Apple one. As you can see, that's scientifically determined. ;)

[Tim Williamson]

HPpod sounds kinda odd...why don't they just name it the HPod?

[David Prahl]

I just switched to iTunes - not going back! 8)

[Gary Sheynkman]

Man. Look at those logo's. Having the Apple alone justifies a $5 difference in price. And having to explain that you have a hPod in stead of an iPod is worth another $5. So the HP will go for $10 less than the Apple one. As you can see, that's scientifically determined. ;)

That makes an odd kind of sense :lol:

Does HP really has THAT much exposure in RETAIL stores as compared to apple?

[Suhit Gupta]

Does HP really has THAT much exposure in RETAIL stores as compared to apple?
I definitely think so. HP has been around forever in the PC and the printer market so they already have a big name (plus the hooplah around their merger with Compaq certainly only boosted their name) and we all know that the iPod is ridiculously well known, almost synonymous with MP3 players, so I can see people being attracted to the new device. And all screenshots so far show the Hpod to look very similar to the iPod. I wonder how they will do head to head, saleswise that is.

Suhit