Can anybody explain to me the Business reasoning behind the "HP iPod"??????

[Pennstate]

Ok, I am really confused. What does HP gain from selling iPods? First of all as a consumer, I would definitely buy an Apple iPod rather than a HP rebadged iPod; especially when they are the SAME PRICE!!! HP must be fooling themselves if this think the HP brand is more valuable than the Apple brand. Apple is hip, HP is not. Now the argument of distribution channels. For online distribution, HP is not going to "out-sell" apple. HP in its press release said it will begin selling the HP iPod in retail channels such as Circuit City, CompUSA, Bestbuy. Radioshack, etc etc. Now first of all, iPods are already being sold at the major electronics stores. What the hell is HP thinking???? I can't believe people are being paid to come up with such a stupid marketing idea. Maybe I am not seeing the silver lining here. Now a smarter idea is to bundle the iPOd with ALL HP computer systems and integrate it as an external data backup. Or maybe a built-in dock in a HP compouter case etc. Ok, I need a nap.

 

[joecool]

i'd like to know too ... this just seems wierd to me!

 

[Anubis]

HP ipod?
link

 

[ElFenix]

 

[ugopk]

I guess some people still not sure about apple product with their PC.

 

[Turkish]

http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2004/jan/08hp.html

 

[imported_Strang]

Here's one article about it. It's not going to be branded as an iPod, but Apple's going to be making them. Sounds like Apple probably cut HP a deal on it in return for iTunes to be put on HP computers, while HP doesn't have to spend money designing and making their own mp3 player.

 

[Ryan]

HP's website is advertising the iPod, calling it the iPod.......

 

[Insomnium]

Originally posted by: Anubis
HP ipod?
link

HP IPod

 

[Pennstate]

http://h10049.www1.hp.com/music/us/en/specs_flash.html


Nope, it's identical. And the same prices.


I guess I can see a possible reason. Apple is trying to reach out to more customers who are not "gadget-knowlegeable" and thus less likely to pluck down $300 on "just a MP3 player". This is also HP's customer base...yes only computer illiterates will buy HP computers. These are the people who can't distinguish between a flash mp3 player versus a HD-base mp3 player.

 

[Insomnium]

Well HP will be selling these things called "HP Tattoos", which are just skins for the IPod. I don't know if Apple sells them, but you can use them on Apple IPods anyway because they are the same thing as HP IPods. Yea I don't get it either.

 

[imported_Strang]

Hm, looks like the article I linked is wrong about a lot of stuff.

This is why it pays to check more than one source.

 

[Czar]

what I have read all ipods come mac formatted and for pc users buying one they must format it for the pc, that can cause some troubles (at least that big ipod fan site ran into those problems), the hp players will probably come pc formatted and save people the trouble, thats all

 

[RbSX]

Originally posted by: Pennstate
Ok, I am really confused. What does HP gain from selling iPods? First of all as a consumer, I would definitely buy an Apple iPod rather than a HP rebadged iPod; especially when they are the SAME PRICE!!! HP must be fooling themselves if this think the HP brand is more valuable than the Apple brand. Apple is hip, HP is not. Now the argument of distribution channels. For online distribution, HP is not going to "out-sell" apple. HP in its press release said it will begin selling the HP iPod in retail channels such as Circuit City, CompUSA, Bestbuy. Radioshack, etc etc. Now first of all, iPods are already being sold at the major electronics stores. What the hell is HP thinking???? I can't believe people are being paid to come up with such a stupid marketing idea. Maybe I am not seeing the silver lining here. Now a smarter idea is to bundle the iPOd with ALL HP computer systems and integrate it as an external data backup. Or maybe a built-in dock in a HP compouter case etc. Ok, I need a nap.

Availability. Ipod is hard to find, so people will by the HP one if it's available? I don't know.

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: Czar
what I have read all ipods come mac formatted and for pc users buying one they must format it for the pc, that can cause some troubles (at least that big ipod fan site ran into those problems), the hp players will probably come pc formatted and save people the trouble, thats all

both my 3rd gen ipod and ipod mini had no need for "formatting."

 

[Phoenix86]

What's the problem here? Have you people never heard of OEM?

Products get rebranded all the time, Dell printers are lexmark (I think this is changing, or has recently changed). Someone else makes their flat panel monitors too... How is this any different?

 

[Childs]

It gets HP into the game, using the best player and service to date. Its also something they can sell to their PC customers through bundle deals. It keeps HPs customers inhouse. If your customer is going to buy an MP3 player anyways, why not have them buy it from you? HP also sells cameras and other accessories, and this follows the same thought process. They don't have to spend R&D money on developing their own, and they get to use the iPod name.

An HP iPod isnt really sexy, but any iPod is sexier than any other MP3 player.

 

[Insomnium]

Originally posted by: Phoenix86


What's the problem here? Have you people never heard of OEM?

Products get rebranded all the time, Dell printers are lexmark (I think this is changing, or has recently changed). Someone else makes their flat panel monitors too... How is this any different?

This isn't rebranded 100%. The thing is still called an iPod, has the same exact software, color, interface etc.

AFAIK, Dell stuff is at least colored differently and prominently features a Dell logo.

 

[iamme]

i'm by no means a marketing guru, but here are my thoughts: HP is establishing itself as a multimedia/entertainment brand. to me, when they sell HP iPods, they are selling their brand before thinking about making profits. now, HP sells the coolest mp3 player along with their Media center PC's, digital cameras, printers, etc.

instead of a Dell PC and an Apple iPod, HP is hoping customers will pair their HP desktop with an HP iPod. thus, HP becomes a cooler and more trendy brand name. i'm thinking that HP hopes their brand will become synonymous with multimedia.

what's their other option? spend millions to develop an MP3 player that will most likely be second fiddle to the iPod, no matter how hard they try?

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: Czar
what I have read all ipods come mac formatted and for pc users buying one they must format it for the pc, that can cause some troubles (at least that big ipod fan site ran into those problems), the hp players will probably come pc formatted and save people the trouble, thats all

No offense, but this is completely false. PC iPods have a FAT32- formatted HD and are native Windows devices. I imagine they outsell the Mac variants by a considerable amount. If it were true, you'd have a point, however!

I think what you're referring to is that you CAN reflash and reformat a Mac iPod for PC and vice versa - my 2-year-old, first-gen 10GB iPod shipped as a Mac model, but I reformatted it.