16gb iPhone still overshadowed by the 32gb Touch
A few months ago, I wrote about the lack of a 16gb iPhone to match the (at that time) new iPod Touch. Today, Apple buckled to pressure from my tens of rabid fans and decided to capitulate by announcing the addition of a 16gb model, priced at $499 USD to join the 8gb $399 model.
Of note, however, is the simultaneous introduction of a 32gb version of the iPod Touch ($499), which is accompanied by the smaller 16gb model ($399) and an 8gb version ($299).
This bring to mind a question which hearkens back to the initial announcement of the iPhone. Some folks in the Mac world were convinced that the iPhone was going to cannibalize the iPod market space somewhat. Now, almost a year later, that is true but only to a small extent. iPod sales are down, but that is more than likely attributable to saturation than any inroads made by the iPhone (which has made it's own way by selling over 1.5 million units so far).
So the question stands: why is Apple giving the Touch all of the disk space? Obviously it isn't a hardware component issue, since the Touch is thinner (meaning smaller drives) than the iPhone. So it is more of an incentive to iPod buyers? By offering them a premium (more capacity), Apple is appeasing those customers who want the form factor and the glitz but don't need or want a new cell phone.
At the same time, Apple is giving iPhone users the perceived added value of more features and that mystical force known as elitism. It also provides Apple another possible revenue stream, which is filled by iPhone users who still want a higher capacity iPod and that proceed to buy a Classic.
Theoretically, all three sides of this equation are happy with their choices but it still makes me yearn a little for an iPhone that has the same capacity as the top model Touch. I just can't be sated, I guess.
PS: For those of you looking for a nearly new iPhone or Touch but are a little cheap (Hi Andy!), be sure to keep an eye on the refurb store. Apples return policy is 15 days, so you can rest assured that anyone who purchased an 8gb iPhone or 16gb Touch will be returning them to get the latest and greatest, which means the stock of the refurb section will be replenished very soon.
So watch out for it, particularly this deal: Refurbished iPhone, 8GB: only $349!
Technorati Tags: apple, hardware, iphone, ipod, touch
Post Data
- Posted: Feb 5, 2008 by Scott McDaniel
- Tags: apple, iphone, ipod
- Short URL: http://bit.ly/4wIWD9
