New "Mini iPod" to have 4GB for $249.

[Pat Logsdon]

From the MacCentral live keynote page:

Macworld sez Steve Jobs Sez:
iPod updated to 15GB on the low end for $299, starting today. Also offering Apple in-ear headphones for $39, available today.

Jobs claims the high-end flash-based MP3 player market is about the same as the iPod -- about 31 percent.

The second member of the iPod family, to go after the flash market. iPod Mini.

iPod mini: 4GB of memory. 0.5 inches. Sells for $249. The size of a business card. Uses the same user interface as the "big" iPod. Solid state scroll wheel. Buttons have been added right to scroll wheel. FireWire and USB 2.0, either interface charges from the battery, connects via a dock-like connector.
Lots o' pics and details on the official Apple page (http://www.apple.com/ipodmini/).

I like the silver one, but I think the price should be $50 lower...

[Jason Dunn]

Damn. Why can't other companies do what Apple can do? Although I think that Rio "gets it" when it comes to MP3 players - their Nitrus player is sweet...

[Janak Parekh]

Damn. Why can't other companies do what Apple can do? Although I think that Rio "gets it" when it comes to MP3 players - their Nitrus player is sweet...
Few tech companies have design as a critical part of R&D, I think. Apple's near the top -- I've heard Jobs is "fanatical" when it comes to design.

Surgical: I agree on the price, but Apple likes to live on the high-margin, low-volume end of things. That said, if the mini doesn't sell, I bet you'll see a drop to $199 by the summer or fall... ;)

--janak

[Tom W.M.]

Does anyone besides me think that the colored ones are really ugly? The design also seems oddly unrounded to me—it looks like it would be uncomfortable to carry in a pocket.

[Janak Parekh]

Does anyone besides me think that the colored ones are really ugly? The design also seems oddly unrounded to me—it looks like it would be uncomfortable to carry in a pocket.
Some of the colors do indeed look really tacky. I bet, like the iMac, some of the colors will eventually be phased out.

As to the unroundedness, I think that's just a visual effect. This comparison pic (http://www.apple.com/ipod/specs.html) makes it look a lot like a small candybar-sized device.

--janak

[PJE]

Looking at the size comparison, I'd take the new $299 15GB iPod over the Mini.

If the mini were <$200 it would stand comparison better. Steve Jobs compares the Mini to a $200 Flash player, but the actual price you can buy a 256MB Flash player for is usually quite a bit lower (<$175).

My 2c

[Janak Parekh]

Looking at the size comparison, I'd take the new $299 15GB iPod over the Mini.
There's lots of discussion on this. Most people, from what I've seen, think one of the following:

1. You're paying for size and convenience;
2. It's Apple, they're always expensive;
3. Give them time to ramp up production, then they'll cut prices;
4. It's a mental game to make the $300 15GB iPod look cheaper;
5. $50 is enough of a difference.

--janak

[yslee]

Well, it's not that much smaller, it's not that much cheaper, but it has a lot less capacity, and certainly a lot more tacky colours. =P Personally I think Apple could've made it cheaper, but oh well, let's hope the price drops after the first wave of early adopters..

[PJE]

Well, it's not that much smaller, it's not that much cheaper, but it has a lot less capacity, and certainly a lot more tacky colours. =P Personally I think Apple could've made it cheaper, but oh well, let's hope the price drops after the first wave of early adopters..

The size thing is difficult to quantify. Watching the Steve Jobs announcement on CNET the device did look very small, but he didn't hold one of the newer slimline Mk2 iPods next to it as a comparison. At $199 they'll sell like hot cakes, but I think I'd stay with the $299 regular device.

I wonder about the battery life/replacement on this new unit... ;0)