RSSHP Unveils Branded iPod, Skins
By Eric Steil | Published August 27, 2004, 3:24 PM
Friday, HP introduced its branded iPod, along with customizable skins for the audio player called HP Printable Tattoos. Originally announced in January, the "Apple iPod from HP," has identical specs and design as the Apple version, unlike the blue-colored prototype shown in January.
The Apple iPod from HP is available in a 20GB model for $299 USD and a 40GB model for $399 USD - mirroring Apple's own pricing. They will be available at major retailers as well as online.
The HP Printable Tattoos, which also fit standard Apple iPods, allow consumers to personalize their iPod with album art as well as print their own skins with an ink jet printer. The skins are easily applied and removed, and help protect the iPod from scratches, according to HP.
More information on both the iPod and the Printable Tattoos can be found at the HP Digital Music Web site.
As most people are asking why?
I'd like an answer myself. For the heck of me, I CANNOT figure out why I'd buy an HP Ipod than just get the 'real thing' - I mean, they both are the real thing but if they are identical, what will make a buyer choose the HP flavor over the Apple flavor....
I don't understand the marketing here at ALL....
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|Look at it this way.
Dumb Windows PC user sees two products side by side - they look exactly the same, one says Apple, the other says HP.
Dumb Windows PC user sees the letters HP and they think to themselves, "I know that name!"
Dumb Windows PC user picks up HP brand iPod because they don't know what Apple is, or they think it will only work with the Mac.
Thats basically how it is.
Ever notice how newbies who don't have a computer or are looking for a new one, and have been subjected to the Dell commercials, will go right for the Dell systems when they see them?
Same type of thing.
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|I suppose that makes sense ---- but I mean, there can't be many of those people around. Unless HP is depending on die hard PC fans who don't want to touch an apple product, I guess I see a possibility there; but at the same time, I don't think there are many of those people around. Not enough to sustain a product line for very long. How I see it, anyone who knows anything about Mp3s knows about the Ipod, and when it comes to music, could care less about the apple/ibm-pc rivalry. But, yeah I guess that's a reason for them to make it....
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|In my eyes, anyone who feels that they must belittle PC users in order to make their argument has missed the entire point of an informed and intelligent discussion. It’s rude and unnecessary. Criticize the PC if you want, but don't call me a moron for using it, and make sure that you actually present a reason for disliking them, instead of spouting off about how stupid we are without any justification.
Anyway, HP’s move makes some sense, but as a consumer I see no reason to by a product created by Apple and repackaged by HP. I’ll just buy the original and stick with a company that has consistently shown to be a reliable source of incredibly intelligent and intuitive products. Apple has never let me down, and I don’t believe that they ever will. What I want to know is, what am I getting with an HP iPod that I’m NOT getting with an Apple iPod??
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|As a Dumb PC user i doubt my opinion holds much credence, but i can see what HP are trying to do, but personally think they are wasting their time. I acctually do own a dell, i bought it before all the adds, but it does not meen i only want to buy a pc branded iPod!! I think Apple saturated the tv ads with enough guff about the iPod for even us dumb pc owners to know what it is and that it works on a pc.
On that thought, funny how they had to bring out a pc version of iTunes. Might be a few more of us dumb pc owners out there than the clever mac owners...mmmm.
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|This is what HP means by "Invent"?
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|Why? Why buy an iPod from HP instead of throught apple? is there any advantage? none that I can see, it's the same product and everything except I can even get the educational pricing through apples online website... so again, why?
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|Okay maybe it's just me but why would a huge PC maker team up with Apple? I don't understand.
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|It's all about the Benjamins. HP gets to get some money from Apple iPod sales, Apple gets another vendor for its iPods.
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|Also, just because apple has only about about 4-7% computer market share doesn't mean they don't make money--in fact, in some ways they help other vendors by allowing two different versions of the same program (versions meaning windows version and apple).
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|Lower cost to HP is a good reason. Apple has already done the R&D on the iPod, and has proven to be a highly regarded product.
So not only does HP not have to reinvent the wheel, it saves on R&D costs, it saves on production costs, it is compatible with the software Apple already developed for both Mac and Windows.
All of this translates to more profits for HP, and Apple gains a larger market share at the same time and makes money off of it as well.
The other side of this, is knocks a blow at Microsoft Windows Media and associated devices.
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|Actually, HP already invested money in a portable media player, but abondonded it because they didn't like the UI or design.
I'm glad that HP decided the iPod was a better player to support.
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|I want a 40 gig one!
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