Analyst: iPod shortage spreading
Apple could be running into iPod shortages this holiday season, according to one analyst.
(Credit: Apple)An iPod shortage at Amazon.com appears to have spread to other distribution channels, according to an analyst.
Shaw Wu of Kaufman Bros. reports that after checking in with his retail sources, he believes that Apple is experiencing an iPod shortage as holiday demand proves stronger than the company may have anticipated. Retailers such as Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and Target are now reporting iPod shortages after Amazon.com extended the lead times for its iPods following Black Friday, he wrote in a research note distributed Wednesday.
It had been unclear whether the public was responding to Apple's latest crop of iPods, despite the usual saturation advertising for the iPod Nano and iPod Touch. With the stock market in the tank and people worried about their jobs, it didn't appear that this would be the best holiday season for iPod sales.
Wu believes that consumers are indeed making hard choices about what they buy this holiday season, but thinks that the iPod benefits from "strong consumer understanding of the value it provides" when push comes to shove.
Other Apple analysts had predicted the company would sell just 18 million to 19 million iPods this holiday season, but Wu is a little more optimistic, with a forecast of 21 million units. During last year's holiday season, Apple sold 22 million iPods.
Tom Krazit, a staff writer for CNET News, focuses on all things Apple. He has covered traditional PC companies such as Dell and Hewlett-Packard, chip companies such as Intel and Advanced Micro Devices, and mobile computers ranging from Research In Motion's to Palm's. E-mail Tom.
Do you use winows? Welcome to the sheeple!
No emails about any delays or such.
@Dan: Yep - plus it keeps demand high.
Late last year it was the Apple SEEDED rumor of a cut back in iPhony production, shazam all the OLD Models disappeared just in time for 2.0 to go on sale.
Apple and Stevie Gods are the current P.T. Barnum - "Suckers Born Every Minute" ... and they are Apple gizmo buyers.
I guess, since you didn't know, what everyone else knew, then it must be some kind of conspiracy.
As far as suckers, I guess if I bought a product that works, and I have zero problems with it, then I must be a sucker. I truly can't understand the mentality to berate a company that actually makes products that people love. Strangely childish, and extremely idiotic if you ask me.
Late last year it was the Apple SEEDED rumor of a cut back in iPhony production, shazam all the OLD Models disappeared just in time for 2.0 to go on sale.
Apple and Stevie Gods are the current P.T. Barnum - "Suckers Born Every Minute" ... and they are Apple gizmo buyers.
makes business sense to me
Apple will have a lot of lost sales for this season.
As someone has already mentioned Apple cut back on production a little while ago. Always a tough call to estimate future sales, so perhaps they ever so slightly underestimated on this one? Or got it just right - depends on how you looks at it.
Still, why must there be articles on stock levels on iPods? This sort of thing is only of interest if matched with a rumour of new products. Or which there aren't any.
It's not such a dumb comment.
Now, I've had the satisfaction of owning a Creative Zen for two years. So far it beats out the iPod in overall compatibility. Someone up there said something to the effect of "thinking differently", and that's exactly what I did, and I'm glad that I did.
Now, who wants to bash me for being honest?
The ipod IS the mp3 player of the masses, but they are not immune to hiccups in design either. This year will be a successful year for the ipod once again.
I can see why there would be a shortage, because after all, iPods are popular and everything, and the new 1g and 2g-esque design of the Nano will attract back owners of older models who want an upgrade, and people who've been waiting for an Nano like this: tall, slim, and plays video. It's also the cheapest yet at $153 for 8gb.
I can't see why there would be a shortage, though, because the entire world's economy is dipping, and I'd like to think that if you wanted an mp3, this wouldn't be exactly the best time, and even if you did "need" one pronto, a iPod probably wouldn't be your best choice. Probably something like a Sansa, or a Creative, since they're both cheaper and have more functions.
Especially on a website like this where the majority are tech-savie people. We are all too familiar with OTHER options. I expect this to be major news on my local brainless new channel but on Cnet.. it's but a blip on the screen... oop and there it goes.
On to slashdot
The iPod is a terrific product that is easier to use, more stylish, more intuitive and just better designed and built than its competition. It is not perfect, iTunes software has its issues, but so does everything else out there that comes close in functionality.
Yes, many MP3 players allow you to just drag and drop files into a folder. Those players won't play all of the formats that an iPod will. They don't play video like an iPod does. They don't have the cool little touches (shake to shuffle, genius) that an iPod does.
There is a reason that the iPod has been the king of the hill for so many years. It is a better product.
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by dctech08
December 4, 2008 5:18 PM PST
- i live in Columbus Ohio. can you believe that the Ohio State medical students are all getting brand new ipods loaded with medical software to view... well medical stuff. lol that is the most ridiculous thing i have ever herd.
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by Stufiano
December 5, 2008 6:54 PM PST
- Why is this ridiculous? It makes sense to buy ipods instead of many other mp3 players because of the support the school can demand and it's the de facto standard. It has stability in not suddenly disappearing and having no company to support it and the ipod works on mac and windows making it useful for mac users. Contrary to many's belief, if you want to use SOFTWARE on a mp3 player your going to need more than drag and drop. Most other mp3 players are windows only, using the drivers for windows and leaving mac users to circumvent the situation with mass storage mode. That is not a reliable solution for a medical school.
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by dctech08
December 6, 2008 12:53 PM PST
- i meant they are being issued ipods, they are not going out and buying it themselves.
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by RideMan
December 7, 2008 12:21 PM PST
- Ever hear of iTunes-U?
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by dctech08
December 8, 2008 4:59 PM PST
- like i said, its ridiculous...
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See all 37 Comments >>Schools will pick according how developers for a player and how much software and how popular the player is.[Actually, if we're talking about the touch, what there's not many alternatives to it anyway; please don't bring in cell phones and other devices... it is a totally different discussion]. Do you really think they have the time to deal with those other mp3 players' quirks? Honestly, this is same situation where they get windows computers over mac computers [or linux]. It's simply easier, so they can spend time on actually teaching.
If you're not in Higher Education then I expect probably not. But Apple has set up a distribution channel for academic material that integrates with iTunes and by extension with the iPod. It's a neat way to distribute certain custom content, and making sure that the students have the right tools to be able to access that material is to the University's benefit. Realize, of course, that the cost of the hardware is ultimately covered by the tuition and fees.