Preorder the Apple iPod from HP

[James Fee]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://tinyurl.com/6a5el' target='_blank'>http://tinyurl.com/6a5el</a><br /><br /></div><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/hpod.jpg" /><br /><br />Well here it is and boy what a letdown. Its not even a different color. For those who where hoping for WMA support, you can see that there is none in the player (I guess we can assume it uses iTumes to convert them to AAC). <br /><br />No use posting the specs because they are <a href="http://hpshopping.speedera.net/www.shopping.hp.com/shopping/pdf/pe435a.pdf">exactly the same</a> as the 4g iPod. Anyone care to explain the point of this?<br /><br /><b>Update:</b> The forum software is choking on the URL so i've changed it. :?

[Filip Norrgard]

Disappointment is the word for this HP version of the iPod. :( I was seriously considering buying this iPod if it would have had WMA support -- but noooo... :x

HP seems to be full of empty promises now adays with their iPaq line and now the iPod. :roll:

[Kent Pribbernow]

I'm completely baffled by HP's strategy. Basically, they are simply reselling the iPod? Does it even wear the HP logo on back? What the hell is the point? 8O

And at the same price as Apple's product, what magical qualities would even compel me to choose HP's model?

[Mojo Jojo]

Oh this is a hoot! :)

Pre-order a product that is currently available from Apple. Not HP blue, no new functions, no price cut...

Wait till September 15th or walk into an Apple store (or order for next day delivery), hrm tough call. Maybe there are reasons for that no drinking at work policies some companies have.

[James Fee]

Well I guess it has better (longer) telephone support....

Ok, I'm grasping here.... :lol:

[Kent Pribbernow]

Well HP should offer a discount since its iPod doesn't come with the most important feature of all...a cult-like following.

[Felix Torres]

The product's name is Apple iPOD from HP.
(Be still my beating heart! *Two* premium name brands in one!)

Wall Street reacted to the news by raising Apple stock by 5% and HP stock by 0.5%. Which it'll give back the next time Fiorina sneezes.

And the point obviously is that the new and improved HP thinks it is better to be a distributor for Apple tech than to, ahem, invent their own.
Its a way to pretend they're a player without having to *be* a player.
Or admit they are *not* in the game.
&lt;shrug>
At least when DELL went to Creative for a jukebox they knew enough to end up with a product that was different from the Nomad...

[Kent Pribbernow]

And the point obviously is that the new and improved HP thinks it is better to be a distributor for Apple tech than to, ahem, invent their own.

Time to change their logo...

http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/hp%20logo.gif

[Felix Torres]

And the point obviously is that the new and improved HP thinks it is better to be a distributor for Apple tech than to, ahem, invent their own.

Time to change their logo...

http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/hp%20logo.gif

Did they even go that far?
Cloning actually requires you to do *some* work.
From the reports the most they did what print out new stickers for the back of the pod...
This was basically "sticker engineering".
Even Radio Shack does more with their house brand than this.

[Kent Pribbernow]

Does it even come in a HP made box? Maybe they slapped stickers on the box as well?

[Felix Torres]

Does it even come in a HP made box? Maybe they slapped stickers on the box as well?

&lt;sigh>
You are probably right.
All I can say is I never intend to get within 5 miles of Job's reality distortion field; I'd like to keep my two remaining brain cells working...
:roll:

[ShinyPlastic]

You can get little "Hp Tattoo" stickers to change the color. One example is on my site:

http://www.shinyplastic.com/archives/08-27-04-music-ipodhp.php

The story is still a big :sleeping:

[James Fee]

At least when DELL went to Creative for a jukebox they knew enough to end up with a product that was different from the Nomad...
Maybe this way they can at least get noticed. But I agree, its not like they don't "outsource" the Pocket PCs, why not just let the Taiwanese run with the MP3 player too?

[Felix Torres]

You can get little "Hp Tattoo" stickers to change the color. One example is on my site:

http://www.shinyplastic.com/archives/08-27-04-music-ipodhp.php

The story is still a big :sleeping:

Specifically, from PCWorld:

"HP is betting that IPod owners will want to customize the look of their digital music players, so the company is also offering HP Printable Tattoos. Available at select CompUSA and Circuit City retail stores, as well as HP's e-store, the tattoos are stickers embossed with artwork from popular commercial music artists.

"The stickers wrap around the IPod while still providing access to the Click Wheel and screen--HP says they're easily removable. HP's Music Web site shows the tattoos in action. What's more, HP will offer printable HP Tattoo media that will allow IPod users to create and print their own personalized artwork and photos."

So its all about printing!
It has nothing to do with music or electronics; just selling more ink.
*Now* it makes more sense.

On the Bizarro world. :roll:

[cmorris]

Wow, I thought you guys were joking about the sticker thing... :lol:

[James Fee]

So its all about printing!
It has nothing to do with music or electronics; just selling more ink.
*Now* it makes more sense.
Yea, they have "invented" a new idea for a music player. Its not about WMA or AAC, its about making your high end MP3 player look like a low end no name brand player. :roll:

[Mojo Jojo]

Yea, they have "invented" a new idea for a music player. Its not about WMA or AAC, its about making your high end MP3 player look like a low end no name brand player. :roll:

Maybe by adding the sticker it will now play WMA files. :wink:

[James Fee]

Maybe by adding the sticker it will now play WMA files. :wink:

Here you go....

http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/playswm.gif

[Kent Pribbernow]

Heh..looks like we are unanimous. The hPod was the event that wasn't. :lol:

[James Fee]

From engadget (http://www.engadget.com/entry/9524311432131632/), the HP iPod back...

http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/hpipodback.jpg

[cmchavez]

Heh..looks like we are unanimous. The hPod was the event that wasn't. :lol:

This so completely sucks. HP had a chance to do something here, by that I mean getting Apple to open up support for wma, but they so dropped the ball! :evil:

I so want to get an iPod, but won't touch one unless there is native wma support, converting file formats is not an option for me. :cry:

[Felix Torres]

Wow, I thought you guys were joking about the sticker thing... :lol:

Joking?
Sir, we do not jest here!
This is a place for meaningful, insightful, and *always* very serious ponderings!
We might on ocassion get a wee bit snarky when a major electronics vendor decides it would rather compete with AVERY and DENNISON instead of SONY and SAMSUNG, but we are always dead serious.

Especially when the fate of civilization is at stake. :wink:

[Crocuta]

Man, this company just goes from bad to worse. Every time I think I've seen the dumbest stunt they can pull, they pull another one out of their hat. If I owned any HP stock, I'd sure be selling it now. Where'd Fiorina do her CEO internship... at Iomega?

[Chris Gohlke]

http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/hpipodback.jpg

Reminds me of the BMW I saw the other day. The person must have bought it used because it had a Kia dealership insignia stuck on it next to the BMW logo.

[Jason Dunn]

Ditto to what's been said - it's a big marketing ploy, pure hype, no jump. Lame, lame, lame. Of course, every media outlet including us is talking about it, so I guess they're getting their coverage. :roll: :lol:

[James Fee]

Ditto to what's been said - it's a big marketing ploy, pure hype, no jump. Lame, lame, lame. Of course, every media outlet including us is talking about it, so I guess they're getting their coverage. :roll: :lol:
Yea, it pays to have "analysts" in your back pocket. After this all calms down, I doubt we'll hear much about it until HP kills the hPod and goes with a WMA compatible player.

[Felix Torres]

Ditto to what's been said - it's a big marketing ploy, pure hype, no jump. Lame, lame, lame. Of course, every media outlet including us is talking about it, so I guess they're getting their coverage. :roll: :lol:
Yea, it pays to have "analysts" in your back pocket. After this all calms down, I doubt we'll hear much about it until HP kills the hPod and goes with a WMA compatible player.

You mean, when they start reselling an iRiver or Philips jukebox with an hp sticker-skin... 8)

[Chris Gohlke]

You mean, when they start reselling an iRiver or Philips jukebox with an hp sticker-skin... 8)

That would have made much more sense. The I river has more features than the ipod at a lower price. Plus, the iriver is not as well known, so fewer people would notice it is just a ripoff.

[Felix Torres]

You mean, when they start reselling an iRiver or Philips jukebox with an hp sticker-skin... 8)

That would have made much more sense. The I river has more features than the ipod at a lower price. Plus, the iriver is not as well known, so fewer people would notice it is just a ripoff.

And they wouldn't have to explain to the buyers of the expensive Media Center PCs that the official HP portable player doesn't get along with the hub of their home entertainment system. Cause last I heard, iTunes doesn't run under the Freestyle interface like Napster or Musicmatch or WMP.

So much for the HP pod being front and center in their CE push.
Of course, it *did* distract from the me-too digital TVS at premium prices, no?

Oh, and BTW, we do have To thank HP for this show of their independence from the MS media camp; MS *was* limiting access to Windows Media Center edition to name manufacturers(like HP), to their own strategic detriment, but now they are free to unleash the "white-box"-ers by providing it under the same OEM channels as XP home and pro. Which means us do-it-yourself-ers will finally get our hands on it.

And since Dell has both a Media Center PC *and* a jukebox that does get along with it, to say nothing of an established line of (cheaper) digital TVs, guess who now has the more compelling Media Center solution?

Hope the free media coverage offsets the positioning loss... :twisted: