Are iPod's overpriced?

Syringer

Lifer
Aug 2, 2001
19,333
3
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I've never understood why anyone would buy an iPod when you can get an equivalent sized MP3 player for much cheaper, not worry about warranties, and have a battery that won't die after extended use of it..
 

dartworth

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
15,200
10
81
Me likes iTunes and iPod.

You get what you pay for...

Hasn't this been discussed about 138 times already?
 

Childs

Lifer
Jul 9, 2000
11,313
7
81
Do you think a BMW or Mercedes is overpriced? You're paying for a higer quality product and experience. The value of that is determined by the person.
 

Imdmn04

Platinum Member
Jan 28, 2002
2,566
6
81
Its overpriced, because to me, 300 bucks for a 15gig mp3 player is too much.

However its not overpriced, in terms of economics, i.e.what the market is willing to pay.
Ipods are selling like hotcakes even though it costs twice as much as its competitions. But as long as people are willing to pay for it, then it is not overpriced.
 

beer

Lifer
Jun 27, 2000
11,169
1
0
The iPod minis are selling so well apple had to delay their european launch becasue of lack of parts. Sounds like they aren't overpriced at all. People pay $300+ for a video card that plays one or two specific games slightly better than another, and IMO that's overpriced. I listen to music several hours a day, and therefore I don't think iPods are overpriced in the least bit. I, however, think video cards are.
 

geno

Lifer
Dec 26, 1999
25,074
4
0
Originally posted by: Syringer
If by higher quality product and experience you mean brand name then yes I agree.

experience? How does Apple have experience in the portable MP3 player market as opposed to say, Creative? :confused:
 

MazerRackham

Diamond Member
Apr 4, 2002
6,572
0
0
iPod is a bargain, at least AFAIAC... there's just such a clean and slick interface with iTunes that the overall experience of owning an iPod can't be beat! Again, IMHO.
 

Childs

Lifer
Jul 9, 2000
11,313
7
81
Originally posted by: Syringer
If by higher quality product and experience you mean brand name then yes I agree.


Not necessarily brand, but iPod/ITunes/iTMS integration. The quality of the actual device is supposed to be top notch as well. If the quality is on par with my Powerbook then I have no doubts that its built well. I don't have one myself, cause any MP3 player > $100 is too much for a glorified walkman in my opinion. But, I also don't care that much about music. I would rather buy a $30 discman that plays MP3s.

experience? How does Apple have experience in the portable MP3 player market as opposed to say, Creative?

iPod/iTunes/iTMS integration. With Creative you use MusicMatch or something, then look for a place to buy your music. With the iPod you just plug it in an go. I'm not so sure how that differs from other mp3 players, but I wouldn't think it would be better than Apple's solution, translating into a better user experience, because there's no fuss, just do what you wanted to do and not fuss over the details.
 

Vertimus

Banned
Apr 2, 2004
1,441
0
0
Originally posted by: Childs
Do you think a BMW or Mercedes is overpriced? You're paying for a higer quality product and experience. The value of that is determined by the person.

I would say the profit margin/price ratio of BMW or Mercedes is much lower than an Ipod.
 

geno

Lifer
Dec 26, 1999
25,074
4
0
Originally posted by: Childs
Do you think a BMW or Mercedes is overpriced? You're paying for a higer quality product and experience. The value of that is determined by the person.

A Mercedes does a thousand things better than say, a Chevy Malibu, it's quieter, smoother, more comfortable, more powerful, looks better, feels more solid... I mean the list goes on and on, there's many things that justify a Mercedes' price. What does an iPod do so much better than anything else out there? It's got a slick interface, it looks cool, and is slim.

You can't tell me that Apple doesn't have a history of creating overpriced products and justifying it with smooth looks. Look at any Apple computer in recent years, up until recently, your average PC would be some $1000 cheaper than a comparitive Mac and would still outperform it, is that a higher quality product with experience? No, it's just suckering people in with good looks and persuesive advertising.

I'm not saying that's why people like iPods, but I think Apple's history explains some of the higher pricetags applied to the iPod...
 

Vertimus

Banned
Apr 2, 2004
1,441
0
0
Originally posted by: Syringer
I've never understood why anyone would buy an iPod when you can get an equivalent sized MP3 player for much cheaper, not worry about warranties, and have a battery that won't die after extended use of it..

They are overpriced in terms of profit margin, but not overpriced in terms of what people would pay for them.
 

sparkyclarky

Platinum Member
May 3, 2002
2,389
0
0
The industrial design and interface of the iPod is simply unmatched. You are primarily paying for that, and paying a bit for the Apple name. A few players come close (iRiver in particular is good from what I hear), but the iPod is king for a reason, and that reason is NOT the name. If the Apple name mattered that much, they would have a much higher market share in the computer business. Additionally, the iPod's form factor is also unrivalled (at least for the non-mini versions). I am not sure where you are going with the warranty thing, because last time I checked the iPod had a year warranty, which is pretty standard. As far as batteries go, the shorter runtime is a side effect of the smaller form factor. And, if the battery no longer performs to your expectations after a year or so of very heavy use, you can easily replace it on your own.
 

randomlinh

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,846
2
0
linh.wordpress.com
it's a little pricey, yes. but you pay for the interface and size. and yes, to some, that size difference matters. so does the interface.. i've used the dell and iriver... they can't touch the ipod.

as far as warranties... i believe the ipod has 1yr... nomad... 90 days? batteries.. eh, i won't comment on this.
 

mpitts

Lifer
Jun 9, 2000
14,732
1
81
No shock that most of the people here think that Apple's products are overpriced.

I don't think they are at all.
 

Childs

Lifer
Jul 9, 2000
11,313
7
81
Originally posted by: geno
Originally posted by: Childs
Do you think a BMW or Mercedes is overpriced? You're paying for a higer quality product and experience. The value of that is determined by the person.

A Mercedes does a thousand things better than say, a Chevy Malibu, it's quieter, smoother, more comfortable, more powerful, looks better, feels more solid... I mean the list goes on and on, there's many things that justify a Mercedes' price. What does an iPod do so much better than anything else out there? It's got a slick interface, it looks cool, and is slim.

Comfort, more powerful, looks, solid feeling etc can be equated to size, wieght, interface, design, and integration with the Music store and Player. hahahaha...you need to give me an example of a Mp3 player thats a Chevy Malibu. I was thinking Honda vs Mercedes.

You can't tell me that Apple doesn't have a history of creating overpriced products and justifying it with smooth looks. Look at any Apple computer in recent years, up until recently, your average PC would be some $1000 cheaper than a comparitive Mac and would still outperform it, is that a higher quality product with experience? No, it's just suckering people in with good looks and persuesive advertising.

I don't agree with this at all. I'd put my new Powerbook against any laptop on the market. The big difference is the Applications. Final Cut Pro, DVD Studio Pro, Xcode, and of course Mac OSX. Now go back 5 years and you still have the software (Photoshop, Quark, etc) combined with MacOS on decent laptop. You are paying for a completly different computing environment, because your needs are different. Thats like saying 5 years ago HP's PA-Risc, Suns E series, or IBMs Power series machines were overpriced because a PC is cheaper. Productivity isn't measured in Megahurtz.
 

geno

Lifer
Dec 26, 1999
25,074
4
0
you need to give me an example of a Mp3 player thats a Chevy Malibu
Anything made by Archos ;)

Productivity isn't measured in Megahurtz.
Very true - but a mac is still a home computer (or a laptop) and for the time being will always have a PC-equivilent. And that equivilent that can perform like it can will be cheaper. Unless you really need a Mac OSX environment, I can't see the value in a Mac. You can do anything with a PC that you can do with a Mac for cheaper or faster if you're spending the kind of money you would on a Mac...