Is the iPod Classic a goner this Wednesday?

macworld ^ | 9/7/09 | Harry McCracken

[martin_fierro]

Is the iPod Classic a goner this Wednesday?

by Harry McCracken, PC World

Tumblr developer/blogger Marco Arment has posted his best guesses about what Apple will announce-iPodwise, at least-at its music event Wednesday (Technologizer will be there to liveblog the news). Arment’s predictions seem logical enough-which doesn’t guarantee their accuracy, of course-and the most interesting thing about them is that he thinks that Apple will discontinue the iPod Classic, the high-capacity, small-screen, no-touch, no-apps model that’s the direct descendent of the original 2001 iPod.

In the era in which the iPod Touch is unquestionably the most exciting iPod and the Nano is the dominant “traditional” iPod, are there any reasons why Apple wouldn’t kill the Classic?

Hmmm, let’s see. -- SNIP --

[martin_fierro]

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[Tamar1973]

I <3 my 80G Classic iPod!

[Mr. Blonde]

Even if I won’t listen to most of my music on any trip, I do like having all of my music with me in my pocket. Only the Classic lets me do that. I hate having to pick the music I want with me.

[Chewbacca]

I can’t wait for the Zune HD to be released 15 Sept.

[lmr]

I have the 160GB Ipod ‘classic’

There is no MP3 model currently in production that has that much capacity.

I do use it too. I guess it depends on what your needs are. The simple fact is most people don’t need that much room on their Ipods. Hence, the Nano becomes the best value for the money since space isn’t as much of a consideration and the Ipod touch and Iphone become the high end.

The Ipod shuffle is a joke to me, not because of space limitations which I am sure it fits some people just fine, but because it has no display to speak of. A very poor entry-level product.

[Terpfen]

Don’t bother forming a line outside the store, you’re one of the few who want one.

[Terpfen]

The Ipod shuffle is a joke to me, not because of space limitations which I am sure it fits some people just fine, but because it has no display to speak of. A very poor entry-level product.

The iPod Shuffle exists because Apple's market research revealed that a significant portion of people who buy MP3 players were only loading a few songs on their devices, turned shuffle mode on, and never touched it again. So they made a product for that segment. Clearly it's succeeded.

This is doubly noteworthy because this is one of the few times in the Jobs II era that Apple has created a product in response to end usage, rather than Apple internally generating its own product concepts.

[Terpfen]

If the iPod Classic is on its way out, then it should get a funeral the way Mac OS 9 did. What a product. The iPod Classic arguably did more to make Apple relevant again than Mac OS X, which is saying something.

[lmr]

I would rather of spent my money on a less-expensive mp3 player with just as much capacity as an Ipod shuffle and a monochrome display. The display does make a difference for me at least. I would keep my larger Ipod to store my video. I like the classic. The interface is simple and elegant. My Blackberry Touch is a joke in comparison and yes, I can play music on it too.

Smaller size is indeed a consideration when ‘working out’, ‘riding a bike’, etc. I do agree that a ‘shuffle only’ Ipod is great for this market segment, who won’t be spending time thumbing through their mp3’s while doing these activities, but I just see better competing products, that’s all.

Remember when we all thought Cassette Walkman’s were cool? Boy that seems way too clunky these days, doesn’t it? When riding a bike, I could keep 3 cassettes with me. 1 in the Walkman, 2 in my bike pouch. If I did this, I would have to leave my wallet at home! Times have sure changed.

[kingu]

I really do dread the day that the battery goes out on my wife's iPod Classic 120gb, but so far, so good.. Just know that day is coming.

As for Apple dropping the line - The 120 gb models are #3 and #7 for the black and silver editions on Amazon's mp3 player sales. The highest rank nano is #4, then #8 and #9, all of which are the 2nd generation nano’s, which are still being sold at the Apple store. If there was an announcement at Apple about iPods going away, my guess it'd be that Apple will stop selling the 2nd gen nano’s.

[Terpfen]

I would rather of spent my money on a less-expensive mp3 player with just as much capacity as an Ipod shuffle and a monochrome display. The display does make a difference for me at least.

So you're not in the Shuffle's target market. That's perfectly fine. Doesn't mean the Shuffle is a useless product or somehow doesn't warrant continued manufacture. The thing's been around for years: clearly, someone is buying it.

[lmr]

You repeated what I just said and acted like I was trying to prove something.

I wasn’t agreeing or disagreeing with you. I only ever gave an opinion.

Why the confrontational attitude?

I don’t talk to people with Anti-Social issues.

Have a nice day.

[lmr]

I didn’t say that the Ipod shuffle needed to be discontinued, either.

Where are you getting this from?

[lmr]

I get it... You work for Apple, right?

That would be the only thing that explains your strange defensiveness on a non-issue.

[Terpfen]

You questioned why the Shuffle exists. I informed you. Don’t like it, don’t buy it. End of story.

[lmr]

I didn’t question why the shuffle exists. I merely said I didn’t like it.

What is your problem? What are you trying to prove?

LOL. You really have problems getting along with people don’t you?

[lmr]

LOL. You are freaking hilarious, Mr. Ipod Marketing Guru.

[Terpfen]

This from the guy who spams replies.

You described the Shuffle as a joke and detailed why. You were then informed as to why the Shuffle is the way it is. You then acted as if you had been accused of something and began spam-replying.

PEBKAC.

[SamAdams76]

According to terrestrial radio, there are only 3-4 songs worth playing over and over again until death. That "Five For Fighting" song, that "Hey-Ya" song and some rap song that I cannot remember the name of.

So Apple should discontinue all iPods and just come out with a dime-sized device that plays those 3-4 songs in an endless loop.

I was in a Waffle House down South recently and they have one row of the jukebox dedicated to Waffle House songs. So if you want some variety in your music, go to a Waffle House.

Anyway, Apple is harboring a secret. The iPod product line is actually a big flop. They are looking for a reason to dump the entire iPod line in favor of video-based devices that come with a free season of the new sitcom featuring Bob Saget.

You heard it here first. Also, there is another Police Academy movie coming out and I'm going to get in line to see it, so I'm going to have to leave now...