Dell Cuts Price of Music Player

[Kent Pribbernow]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/nm/20040405/tc_nm/tech_dell_dc' target='_blank'>http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/nm/20040405/tc_nm/tech_dell_dc</a><br /><br /></div><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/dell_dj.jpg" />It seems Dell's DJ Music Jukebox may not be selling all that well. The company recently cut prices on the Dell DJ line, bringing the low end price down to $199 from $249. <br /><br />"No. 2 personal computer maker Dell Inc. on Monday cut the price on its digital music player 20 percent to $199 from $249 as it tries to compete with the industry leading iPod from Apple Computer Inc. <br /><br /> Both versions are less expensive than their equivalent-sized models from Apple, which cost $299 for the 15 gigabtye model and $399 for the 20 gigabyte model."<br /><br />So just having a cheaper product doesn't necessarily bring you more sales and market leadership? Who knew? :roll:

[foldedspace]

The IPod is a fashion statement as much as a music player. I guess when you are spending that much anyway, might as well get the 'neat one' that everyone else has. Not that crazy about mine, and it was a gift. But to be fair, I don't listen to headphones that much anyway.

...I did when I was a kid, but that was tapes on my Walkman...that I made...by copying tunes off my fav radio station. Kind of a Napster before there was a Napster I suppose.

:lol:

[Ed Hansberry]

So just having a cheaper product doesn't necessarily bring you more sales and market leadership? Who knew? :roll:
Bit cynical eh Foo?
"My understanding is that they're selling pretty well they've taken a nice part of the market," said Avi Greengart, senior analyst with Jupiter Research. "This is not a fire sale."
Dell is always cutting prices like this, even with new successful devices. They did it with the Axim X5 within weeks of launch and sold oodles of them.

Could be they have a new larger model or more feature rich models in the pipeline and they are trying to move these faster. Not a big fan of this model myself. My understanding is it requires MusicMatch {spit} to work.

[Zack Mahdavi]

I've played with the Dell at one of those new Dell kiosks in the mall... to tell you the truth, I didn't like it. It feels very bulky, bulkier and heavier than the original iPods..

Also, the build quality feels kind of cheap compared to the iPod.

Hopefully Dell will make a better quality mp3 player in the future. I'd really like to see some tough competition against the iPod.... the prices must lower! :)

[JTWise]

I really like my DJ. It fits my needs and had the right price point (15G for $199 on special vs. $249 for iPod mini). Might not be as glamorous as an Ipod or an Iriver but I like the extra $100 in my pocket more.

Rumours on the Dell boards is that they will be releasing a new 40 gig unit. Besides, Ed is right in that Dell is just "officially" lowering the price to the level at which they have been selling of and on special for the last 3-4 months.

[Felix Torres]

[ My understanding is it requires MusicMatch {spit} to work.

Uh, no...
It works fine with Windows Media Player as a front end.
Just plug it in and use the usual "copy to CD or device" menu picks.
Mind you, I only know this because a friend has one. :-)

Me, I have a Rio RIOT.
Which is bigger and bulkier and way cheaper.
And I *prefer* it that way.
No skiny underfed glamorous fashion statements for me! :twisted:
So there! ;-)