iPod Mini: Failure.

[QUOTE=Michaelp]
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I rest my case.[/QUOTE]
*checks thread title* .. Gucci AF1s?

[QUOTE=Malevolent_Jester]As far as image items go... an image item can only become one if enough people have it. If there is a large enough amount of people with the Minis, constructing it's image, then your argument will work. However, if at first barely anyone buys the Mini, but instead go for something else, it's image will never be made.[/QUOTE]

I don't get that part.. There's no specific amount of people that has to buy an item, before it becomes an "image item" ? .. It's more a matter of who made the product, and what it is.

For example, Apple is popular - so is mp3 players. Apple makes the Ipod, a slick/cool/puurty mp3 player, with loads of hd space, features including easy sync., calender, data storage etc. etc. This makes the Ipod cool. So, the same goes for the mini. The fact that people will buy it because it's in color, or smaller is just general [insert another for "stupidity" here].. It's allready mentioned in above posts. People that don't feel like they need a 20GB HD, buys the smaller one - because its new, smaller and in color. Hurray

And yes.. Of course an Ipod (or any other fancy hardware) is about image .. In this case it's also a bit more (for the people who knows what they're really paying for) .. I've wanted a mp3 player for a loong time, but i always though it was way to expensive to buy the small 256mb/128mb/64mb ones.. But when i came across the Ipod i was thinking "hey, i get WAY more hd space, i can still use it as data-storage (even though i cant just plug it directly in the USB), i get a lot of cool features when i get the right programs, and most importantly - its only double of what i would pay for a "normal" mp3 player".. so know i'm a 20GB Ipod owner, and i "laugh" at the prices on thoose small mp3 players i was SO close to buy..

okay, im rambling .. well, my 2 cents anyway ..

I'm guessing his link was trying to show that the iPod Mini is Apple's top seller right now. Above iLife '04, iTunes Gift Certificates, OSX panther, the original iPods, etc.

things that are different sell. yah, for marketing and advertising!

"badadada, I'm lovin' it"

Something that a lot of people forget when assessing the relative value of consumer items:

Regardless of the coolness factor or pragmatic value, there are many people who will do their research, decide what they want, then go and buy it, simply because they can.

Anybody who scoffs at Macs or mini iPods or Cinema Displays or top of the line automobiles—whatever—and base their derision on finanancial factors often forget: There are many, many, many MANY people for whom the price difference is simply not an issue. They decide what they want based on perceived value, and are willing to spend their money to acquire the benefits of that value.

ANYBODY—users, reviewers, tech experts, financial wizards (they're the worst)—who make recommendations based primarily on actual monetary outlay required to purchase an item (e.g.: "Why buy a Mac when a P.C. is so much cheaper?") is dead-solid clueless when it comes to understanding what drives the the buying decisions of most consumers of this type of item.

Originally posted by Deker
I'm guessing his link was trying to show that the iPod Mini is Apple's top seller right now. Above iLife '04, iTunes Gift Certificates, OSX panther, the original iPods, etc.

Exactly.

[QUOTE=deker]I'm guessing his link was trying to show that the iPod Mini is Apple's top seller right now. Above iLife '04, iTunes Gift Certificates, OSX panther, the original iPods, etc.[/QUOTE]

I wouldn't compare a product, such as the iPod Mini, to a service, such as iLife and the iTunes gift certificates. Yes, the iPod's sales are better, but the products aren't in the same class! If you showed me that the iPod Mini is selling better than the iPod (Pganguly implied it, but never proved it), I'll take that argument. However, you can't compare the Mini's sales to a web-browser... it's like comparing the sales of Trojan condoms to Ford Pintos.

[quote=Utopian23]
There are many, many, many MANY people for whom the price difference is simply not an issue [...] most consumers of this type of item.
[/quote]

Eh... I guess I'll take that. However, for most people even the seemigly miser difference of $50 is still a difference. For $50 one can buy a great set of proffesional headphones to use with the iPod... since if someone wants good quality music anywhere... the earphones from Apple (even though they are of nice quality) won't suffice.

[quote=Utopian23]
actual monetary outlay required to purchase an item
[/quote]

Reviewers (at least the good ones) make their decisions for "Best in class" products on all factors, including VALUE, which is directly related with actual money needed to purchase a product. If this price/what you get ratio is good enough, then they will pick the regular iPod for $50 more.

Originally posted by Malevolent_Jester
If you showed me that the iPod Mini is selling better than the iPod (Pganguly implied it, but never proved it), I'll take that argument.

Here's proof. For the present, the iPod Mini is in fact, outselling the iPod. Not that it hasn't already been mentioned several times, though, in this thread alone.

Furthermore, your statement regarding the fact that you can't compare the sale of a product to a service is irrelevant, given that sales are sales. Also, the two are completely comparable, because they are both products. Both are tangible, and bear monetary value.

For $50 one can buy a great set of proffesional headphones to use with the iPod... since if someone wants good quality music anywhere... the earphones from Apple (even though they are of nice quality) won't suffice.

The above statement makes no sense, at all. At least it makes no sense in regard to Utopian23's very logical statement regarding the sales of the iPod Mini compared to people's actual ability to buy. Your statement above seems to state that the iPod is of poor quality given the type of headphones that it comes with. It furthermore implies that it confounds itself in it's apparent inability to provide "Good Quality Music", and is thus somehow (given your statement) indicates that the $50 price difference between the 15 gb iPod, and the 4 gb iPod Mini, and the apparently mediocre quality of the headphones of both products will result in low sales or something. From what you said above, it appears that you believe the iPod will fail given the quality of it's headphones. Forgive me if I misinterpret the aim of your statement. Frankly, there wasn't much to work with there.

[QUOTE=sidez]*checks thread title* .. Gucci AF1s?[/QUOTE]

classic nike air force 1's, now apparently done by gucci...you younguns have no sense of history ;)

chris

[QUOTE=Pganguly]Here's proof. For the present, the iPod Mini is in fact, outselling the iPod. Not that it hasn't already been mentioned several times, though, in this thread alone.

Furthermore, your statement regarding the fact that you can't compare the sale of a product to a service is irrelevant, given that sales are sales. Also, the two are completely comparable, because they are both products. Both are tangible, and bear monetary value.The above statement makes no sense, at all. At least it makes no sense in regard to Utopian23's very logical statement regarding the sales of the iPod Mini compared to people's actual ability to buy. Your statement above seems to state that the iPod is of poor quality given the type of headphones that it comes with. It furthermore implies that it confounds itself in it's apparent inability to provide "Good Quality Music", and is thus somehow (given your statement) indicates that the $50 price difference between the 15 gb iPod, and the 4 gb iPod Mini, and the apparently mediocre quality of the headphones of both products will result in low sales or something. From what you said above, it appears that you believe the iPod will fail given the quality of it's headphones. Forgive me if I misinterpret the aim of your statement. Frankly, there wasn't much to work with there.[/QUOTE]

Your link provides me to the Apple store, not proof that the Mini is selling better. Yes, it has been mentioned, but not once has it been proved to me. It says so on the website, the manufacturer's website... I don't trust that. If a company tells you that their product is best and makes the most sales and you should buy it... would you believe them? I would not, it's simple marketing. They're saying that the Mini sells more just to make more people buy it, the "chart" are just links to their products with numbers next to them. That's not proper evidence to prove that the Mini's sales are going well.

To prove me wrong, in the fact that the Mini is/will be a failure, give me Apple's predictions for quarterly sales and if they met those. Or at least quarterly sales of the Mini when it lives through it's first 3-5 months.

As far as comparing things goes... tell me this, in your opinion, would it be wise to compare the sale of invidual toilet paper rolls to the sales of the Ferrari 360 Modena? They're both products, and both have sales... Would it be wise, in your opinion, to compare the sales of bottled water (a product) to the number of customers a hooker sleeps with (a service). If your answer is "yes", then well, I really have nothing to say, for simple insults are pointless, especially over the internet.

You were right about my headphones statement, it's lame. Disregard it.