Side-grading
Apple's just pulled off a neat sort of trick: they've introduced the iPod Nano, and it's replacing the Mini in their product line.
What's the difference? Well, the Mini was larger in terms of physical space but also in data capacity; the 4G Mini cost the same as the 2G Nano costs now. The Nano's also got a few extra features: colour display, some capacity for showing photos and videos, etc.
So there's a trade-off: less actual music, but less massive and more frills. Is it worth it?
Personally, I'd say "no". I know that the tendency in hand-held technology has been convergence to the Universal Device: PDAs become phones, phones become cameras, and so on ad infinitum. This is just of a piece with that; one could already synchronize addressbook and calendar programs on an iPod, and now they've added graphic capability. But I don't really want a single universal hand-held device. I'd much prefer to have several gadgets, each of which does a single task (or set of tasks) well, rather than one device that does numerous things half-assedly. So the extra capabilities don't do all that much for me.
I agree... though I'm sure most would not expect me to. After all, I'm the guy who uses his computer as his TV and Stereo... and who has a PDA/Phone/Camera.
The thing is, I also still own a digital camera as well.
While I'm a huge supporter of convergence, I think your key word there was 'half assedly'. I don't use my cell phone camera because it frankly sucks.
And while I know that a modern TV would be better than my 23 inch LCD computer screen... the point is that, for me, the computer performs reasonably enough as a TV to pass muster. Equally well as a stereo with a far larger storage capacity than an ipod (if also slightly less portable ;) ), but with Altec Lansing speakers.
So... hooray for convergence, but why couldn't they have just kept the 4GB drive and doubled the cost? :) Those of us who like convergence will pay the extra.
Posted 2005/9/7 17:35:56 by
Blue
Oh, there's still a 4G option; it costs what the old 6G used to cost. (There is no longer a 6G option, presumably because they don't want to cut into the market for their "full" iPods. Now that there's the Nano with a video screen, there's no longer much difference between the lines except form factor.)
Posted 2005/9/7 17:51:41 by
Matt
I'm a fan of convergence myself, but I'm also unexcited by it. I've never understood the appeal of the photo features of the iPod - do people really want to carry a small selection of their iPhoto library and show it to other people on a tiny screen? Now, when it can play videos, that will be a different story.
Posted 2005/9/7 23:22:39 by
Nikita
I'm a big Palm freak (as many of you know ;-) and after trying to use my Palm as an MP3 player, I decided it just isn't worth it. Part of the problem is battery life: My palm chews through it's battery from a full charge in about 40 minutes, playing mp3s. I've since picked up a relatively cheap mp3 player, slotted my SD card into it, and I can go for about 20 *hours* on a fully charged AAA battery. Plus, my Palm's not anemic anymore.
Not such a hard decision for me.
Sidenote: It seems
Creative
has been using the "nano" name for quite some time now. I wonder if there's a lawsuit in the works here.
Posted 2005/9/9 12:31:20 by
(Er, the above is by me)
Posted 2005/9/11 08:37:40 by
Kael
The Rules Of Convergence
1. Thou shalt make the total experience provided, better, for having conjoined multiple functions.
2. Thou shalt not make any of the individual primary functions worse, for having put them together.
3. Thou shalt make people want to smack their palms upon their foreheads and ask amongst their friends and associates, Why hasn't someone done this already?
Follow these and you can't go wrong.
Posted 2005/9/11 16:26:20 by
Blue
Wasn't there something about taking absolute values?
Posted 2005/9/11 23:37:19 by
Matt
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