Why Apple was smart NOT to replace the shuffles.

[NawdaKh]

Everyone is complaining that they should have replaced the shuffles with the nano. There are several reasons why they CANNOT.

1st. The shuffle is a market share at the lower end of the mp3 player spectrum. It's meant to rival other mp3 players that are small, uses flash memory, and are very convenient. for jogging, running, etc. (Just like nanos are fit for jogging and running, etc.)

2nd. The nano comes in 2gb and 4gb. People who only want to spend a little bit of money and want to buy a little iPod aren't going to go to Apple to buy it anymore if the shuffles aren't be there to buy. They would have the option of a more expensive iPod that they may not even want or like.

3rd. They were smart to replace the minis because now it makes a bigger difference between the iPod color and the iPod nano. For $50 more you can now buy the iPod color with a 2gb hardrive instead of a 4gb hardrive nano. See what they're doing? They're enticing us to buy the iPod color at the same time. They did the same strategy with the mini when it first came out all the way up until they replaced it.

4th. I have a huge hunch that they are making room for a new mp3 player between the color and the nano. Mark my words. Either they will later on add hihger-capacity/thicker nanos, or they will release a new one between the nano and the color.

And finally...

5th. The nano is amazingly cool looking. And in my opinion; a great replacement for the mini.

[Dirty Angel]

I would have maybe thought the same as you, but my problem is that i ordered my ipod a few days ago and still didnt get it, and now it's replaced and i dont even have the mini yet! Im so mad, cuz now they wont release anything new from mini like upgrades accesories etc...and there wont be lots of support either, and im almost sure the prices will go down too! so im really mad, why couldnt they just leave the ipod mini and release their nano?

[NawdaKh]

They replaced the mini because of a lot of reasons. On the business end it has a lot to do with the available flash drive sizes, the pricing of the new nano, their future plans, and their target market.

On the user end, everyone wanted color screen, more memory, etc. So naturally they can't just release the mini with the color screen like they did the iPod. They have to do something different. That's Apple for you.

Now as to your mini. Why not just send it back and buy the nano?

Unless you bought the 6gb and you were dead set on having a 6gb. It's not like there won't be mini accessoires at all, they'll still be around. ;)

[Dirty Angel]

i dont like the nano, i think its really ugly. its way too thin and long, and the click weel is way too tiny to be used...and the mini is just the right size and is beautiful. it mite not be colorful on the inside but it sure is on the outside, unlike nano white or black...eww:rolleyes: lol and i got over it im still kinda mad at apple for stopping mini but im glad that i got my mini before its too late:D

[NawdaKh]

Eek, well. Opinions: everyone has them.

I would very much give away my mini if I was offered a nano.

[havocidal]

i do agree with dirty angel on that... the ipod mini is no doubt the most well designed ipod of all time... and i would pay even at ipod color price just to get a mini with a color screen... the ipod nano seriously looks like a photoshopped ipod... if someone did have concept of new ipods that looks like the current nano... someone would have yelled YUCKS back then... but now... everyone is praising it to the skies...

[Sukotsu]

Every single nano 'praiser' isnt going to be a fan-boy personal tastes differ they must of done something right.

The mini is getting too old and outdated if they left it it would give the opposition a slight chance so they done something radical to spice up sales for the all important Q4.

The nano and the mini are targeting the same consumer the nano and shuffle arnt the shuffle is for those who just want a cheap player with no gimicks to to hold a handful of songs for a quick run or trip. The nano and mini are for those who want a full mp3 player to hold all thier 'popular' music to use regularly having both on the market would of meant they would be competing which would create huge overheads and the mini would then become an 'old' model which would hurt sales. The mini has been round for years its time to move on.

[NawdaKh]

Originally posted by Sukotsu
Every single nano 'praiser' isnt going to be a fan-boy personal tastes differ they must of done something right.

The mini is getting too old and outdated if they left it it would give the opposition a slight chance so they done something radical to spice up sales for the all important Q4.

The nano and the mini are targeting the same consumer the nano and shuffle arnt the shuffle is for those who just want a cheap player with no gimicks to to hold a handful of songs for a quick run or trip. The nano and mini are for those who want a full mp3 player to hold all thier 'popular' music to use regularly having both on the market would of meant they would be competing which would create huge overheads and the mini would then become an 'old' model which would hurt sales. The mini has been round for years its time to move on.

I couldn't agree more. And who cares if it's a photoshopped iPod?

It's nice. I like it 100x more.

And I'll would praise it to the skies, but that's for Jesus, but otherwise i'll keep praising it. I've already gotten three people I know to go buy it and trash/sell their old iPods. :D

[Vinz]

One of the things I like most about my Nano over my Mini is that I can jog, run or mountain bike with it without worrying that a HDD will fail if I expose it to too much shock.

[Bulldoze10]

So what's the next shuffle gonna be like? Are they at least adding a small screen?

[Audio]

i dont think the shuffle need a small screen or a memory increase. keep it where its at. for the current market its perfect.

[Jump_Blueberry]

The shuffe shouldn't be replaced...
I like standing around in the mp3-player-department and watch people!
Yesterday I heard someone say:
"look they cost 100 Euros and less"

Some people look for and mp3-player that has just the shape that the shuffle has!
Some wouldn't want a nano because they fear it breaks and then they wasted 100 Euros more then when buying a shuffle...
some ppl only have 150 songs they want on an mp3-player...

[yinyang]

imo unless they had designed the nano with a straight up usb connector or maybe adapter, the nano was only ever going to replace the mini and not shuffle.

if i want to use the shuffle as a usb key, then i do not want to carry a cable to facilitate that. even though the shuffle and nano use flash drives instead of disk drives, they are targetted at very different markets. the shuffle is still the cheap and cheerful intro into the world of iPods, whereas the nano requires a bit more thought before parting with your hard earned cash.

[xboxman]

The nano is cool, but a mini with a colour screen would have been soooo much better. Thinking back on it...Apple getting rid of the mini is quite a shock.

[NawdaKh]

Originally posted by xboxman
The nano is cool, but a mini with a colour screen would have been soooo much better. Thinking back on it...Apple getting rid of the mini is quite a shock.

I disagree, because it won't be long until we see a 6gb version of the nano I don't think.

Give it at least 5 or 6 moths. :D

Otherwise, I think the nano was an HUGE improvement. The mini is three times as big, I'm glad it's gone.

[teh-cut]

No kidding, you guys are acting like the nano at 4gb is final and we really needed a mini around just for that extra 2gb.
I'd put some heavy money down that apple will come out w/ a 6gb and maybe even an 8gb one in the same size casing. Flash memory is small and it looked like they had the room in the case.

Though I do think the shuffle is the dumbest thing ever since you can buy 1gb flash players w/ screens for $100-129. But I see why they killed the mini first. It just got replaced in almost every way.

[MikeM]

Originally posted by teh-cut

Though I do think the shuffle is the dumbest thing ever since you can buy 1gb flash players w/ screens for $100-129.

None that auto-sync with my iTunes library though...

[mrdantownsend]

Personally i think they should've made the Mini with a color screen and a little sexier.

And definately should've gotten rid of the plastic top and bottom

On my mini, when i got a dent twords the top it buckled and looked really ugly. Thank the lord for crazy glue!

[mrdantownsend]

Personally i think they should've made the Mini with a color screen and a little sexier.

And definately should've gotten rid of the plastic top and bottom

On my mini, when i got a dent twords the top it buckled and looked really ugly. Thank the lord for crazy glue!

[NawdaKh]

minis had tons of problems I think they tried to avoid with the nano.

And I completely disagree about makign a sleeker mini. The nano is worth the eplacement if you have seen it up close.

Thought I wouldn't mind a sleeker mini in the future for larger models. 'Cause I would buy it.

[adcowie]

"The mini has been round for years its time to move on."

Just to be strictly accurate, the mini has been around for about 18 months - it was announced January 2004 with 4Gb memory for $249 (sound familiar?) but most markets didn't get it until April 2004 so the entire product lifecyle was less than 2 years!