As much as I love Apple's iPod, and can't wait to have one, I have to wonder if its wise to alienate any potential MP3 player buyers who don't have a Mac?<br><br>I think the Firewire is the best part, because not only can I use this as an MP3 player, but it's also a portable hard drive! However, it Apple added a USB port to it, it would be possible to market it to a hell of a lot more people than just Mac users. So while the Mac market is a big size and the MP3 player market is a big size, I have my doubts as to the size of their overlap. <br><br>It's great for us Mac users, but wouldn't it be cool if everyone had to go buy an Apple product if they wanted the best MP3 player??<br><br>Let hear some reactions........<br><br>

I haven't really seen anything about the product yet, but FireWire isn't a Mac-only phenomenon, so I don't think it would be on that basis that Apple would be excluding non-Mac users.<br><br>And that's true too.--Shakespeare, King Lear

I think the iPod is gr8, I can't wait to get one my iBooks batery just does not last long enough. As for letting Peecee users use them why(although ones with firewire may be able to)?<br><br>

i like the idea, though I personally don't have the cashola to dish out on one... nor do I think I'm the target market for one right now. this thing will be great for attracting the older teen, and college age crowd to the Mac market, which they desperately need.<br><br>What apple needs to do is market the [censored] out of this thing for the Christmas season... And I don't mean in Time or Macworld magazine, but everywhere...<br><br>good luck Apple...<br><br>

Smart product, stupid price.<br><br>I think its specs are right-on including the iTunes/Mac bias as a compelling reason to consider a Mac. But it's about $100 US too expensive right now.<br><br>From the "If-I-were-CEO" department, I think I can forgive the steep price tag if Apple offers bundle deals and discounts to existing Mac owners. I've always thought items like the Cube and even the PowerMacs could fare better in the marketplace with bundle discounts for Apple monitors. Well, now instead of monitors, you could make iMacs and iBooks more compelling by offering an iPod bundled with each at a deep discount.<br><br>Without, I am afraid the iPod may miss the mark due to its price and without more aggressive association with Mac "solutions."<br><br>

I don't know many older teens or college age people who have that kind of money. :)<br><br>

This iPod is only $100 less than what you can get an iMac for in NY or Washington!!!<br><br>

no, you're right the kids might not have the money... but I swear to you that every damn annoying teenager out there with parents with money that asks for this thing will get it...<br><br>I mean come on, don't middle-aged parents (apple's traditional market) with enough money to buy a Macintosh over a PC (apple's market) with that sort of out there attitude (apple's market) have $400 to make there kids happy? Come on... $400? that's less than the monthly payment on the Lexus (insert rediculously expensive car here)...<br><br>Apple's traditional market will snap these things up if their kids ask for them...<br><br>Apple needs to market the hell out of this thing in magazines like "Teen", "YM", "Rolling Stone", etc.... Maxim, yadda yadda yadda...<br><br>They've got to sell the whole solution too, so that the rest of the hardware sells... but this is a way to get in the door of those families that are stuck on Windows... their kids just have to ask <br><br>--- disclaimer ---<br><br>My entire argument is based on the Christmas shopping season, and thus might be flawed by the [censored] that Al Queda is doing to the world right now....<br><br><br>

VERY good point JrnyMan!!!<br><br>--John Bailey( [color:red]Bdog</font color=red> )<br><br>Email Me ---> bdog_111@yahoo.com

yep.... great point, and it's at least as portable as the iMac you can buy in NY for $499. and it'll never be underpowered for its owner. I mean, it can't be right? like that cheap ass iMac (which has more power than mine that I paid $1500 for 3 years ago) which'll be underpowered as soon as the owner buys Tropico and tries playing it for longer than 10 minutes.... ah life.... <br><br>