Apple Launches 1 GB nano, Slashes shuffle 207
minus_273 writes "Apple has has released a new nano and also slashed prices on the iPod shuffle. The lowest end iPod now goes for $69. The 1 GB shuffle is $99 and the 1 GB nano is $149." From the article: "'The price of components have come down more than 70 percent, especially flash memory for the shuffle,' he said. 'And the price of the shuffle hadn't changed, so they were making a ton of profit off the shuffle. So they're passing some of those savings on.'"
Wha?? (Score:2, Insightful)
A good thing, well, sort of... (Score:3, Insightful)
Apple will definitely do well with these, given the current reputation of iPods.
Now, if I had just waited until now to buy the kids their 1GB iPods...
Wrong way! (Score:1, Insightful)
When there's an 8 GB nano, I'll be at my Apple store the next day.
Re:Feh (Score:5, Insightful)
---John Holmes...
Nah, I have an iPod (Score:5, Insightful)
I can easily make a play list or two to for times when the nano is more relevant than the full blown iPod. Any truly physical sport comes to mind. I have had my iPod take unplanned jumps to the ground that made me flinch (and reboot it more than once). I would feel much better knowing there isn't something that might suffer serious damage in a fall in there.
Re:Sounds like a good deal... (Score:3, Insightful)
The shuffle was meant for a whole different user. It's made to take to the gym or go running with. You don't always need a screen and a complicated interface for that type of activity. I know you'll say the ipod's interface isn't that complicated, but it is when you're riding a motorcycle. I just want start, stop, next track, and volume. plus, hanging it around your neck is super-conventient for the types of activites that the shuffle is meant for. not to mention it's a great generic usb flashdrive to boot.
my sister sold her 1st gen 5GB ipod to buy a 512 shuffle. she enjoys it alot more, and ends up actually using it, where her old ipod sat in her purse.
Re:Sounds like a good deal... (Score:4, Insightful)
I went skiing this weekend and forgot my Shuffle, but had my regular iPod. Did I risk exposing it to water and the forces that exist as I tumbled down the mountain? No - that surely would have destroyed it.
They both have their markets. You just may not be the market for the solid state one.
Re:Passing on the savings to us... (Score:3, Insightful)
Everything vs. somethings (Score:3, Insightful)
The point of having/using a small-memory player is not to put your whole collection on there, or to have lots of "if I want" music on there, it's to store those dozen or so albums you are ACTIVELY listening to (or a random mix if you really don't care).
In no way is it meant to hold one's collection; you keep the whole collection on the computer & pick a few things you know you'll want. Small & large storage spaces require very different usage behaviors.
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The biggest loss from terminating the Shuffle is the built-in USB plug - one less cable to drag around. The Nano doesn't even have a USB socket; instead there's another specialized cable to fill up bag/briefcase space with. The "thumbdrive" format was just so very convenient, both for data transfer and recharging.
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Re:If I see one more iPod... (Score:2, Insightful)
My MPIO 20GB unit is 1/4 filled, only because I haven't spent the time yet to drop in another 50-90 albums (Whoops- CD's). Too much music for you ? Try touring 2 weeks on a motorcycle & see if having to listen to the same tunes 20 times doesn't get just a little bit irritating (like almost every commercial radio station out there, playing the same crap over & over, songs you've heard every week for the last 20 years of your life).
Comment removed (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:My problem... (Score:2, Insightful)
I carry a DS and a PSP with me usually (games are more important than music to me), so every little bit of space helps. The Nano is significantly smaller and thinner - I could probably fit one into my pants pockets. And don't even try to tell me that I'd fit a 60GB ipod into a pocket. Girls pants aren't designed like that.
I don't have an ipod yet (since I don't listen to music much), but I've been watching very closely to decide which one I want. If it weren't for the video feature of the new ipods, I would definitely go with the nano.
Re:My problem... (Score:3, Insightful)
Because it fits your needs, elegantly and simply? In a lot of ways your current post is like saying, "Why get a BMW 3-series when you could get a Crown Victoria for less money?" Size, contrary to popular belief, is far from everything.
Re:Feh (Score:3, Insightful)
If you use a flashdisk as a swap partition, and the swap algorithm is not taking care to spread the writing all over the media, with only moderate usage your swap disk can be gone in a few months.
However syncing your ipod no matter how often will not wear out the flash RAM, for sure.
Re:Passing savings on? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Like I said in the last posting on this topic.. (Score:3, Insightful)
>not that I think that iPod gaining marketshare is a good thing...
I have mixed feelings... as a Mac and iPod owner, I want to see Apple do well. OTOH, a near monopoly is never a good thing. Its nice not to be marginalized for a change (something *BSD, linux and Mac users can understand).