KingSparta: At this time, there won't be any $100 or less Ipod. Steve Jobs in his keynote address today stated basically that he didn't want to compete with other companies for the sock drawer, he was more interested in the "high-end" flash market.
The "big" decision (assuming you've already made the decision to go with Ipod) is whether you want to pay $250 for 4GB storage, or an extra $49 for 11GB more. It is amazing how quickly (not literally) you can fill up a 4GB Ipod and it isn't like a computer where you can snap in a couple more RAM chips, you've got to start from scratch or lower your expectations when you hit the limits of your purchase.
Don't know what other needs you have, if all of your pockets are the size of a business card and you can only lift 3.6 oz or less than a mini Ipod is for you, otherwise, seems like the better value is the HD version (though the batter might not last as long)
Jon
Someone asked why Ipod? Here is my 50cents worth:
Interface, interface, design...
Price, not so much, but I'm willing to pay for good work and the interface saves time and aggravation which is worth a lot to me.
Maybe thats why they are sold out.
If the below is true i think that may be better for me than the hard drive based IPOD, And I don't really need 10 gigs.
What to do, What to do.
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - When Apple Computer Inc. chief executive Steve Jobs takes the stage at MacWorld next month, analysts expect him to unveil smaller, cheaper iPods and hope he will detail the company's strategy to move into the digital living room.
The lower-end iPods, which are expected to carry a price tag of about $100 and will hold 400 to 800 songs, are a necessary answer to the bevy of MP3 digital music players now on the market that cost $100 or less, analysts said.
"Odds are it's a flash-memory-based player, something to position Apple against the low-cost offerings from Creative and Rio," said Rob Enderle, principal of market search firm the Enderle Group.
An Apple spokesman declined to comment on its plans for MacWorld, traditionally a forum for the company to unveil its plans for new products.