Thank you Apple for lowering the prices. We got a $199 iPod mini. We got a huge drop in the iPod photo to $349 for the 30 gig model. I'm most tempted by the 30 gig color (face it - it's a color iPod) which feels like you could stretch a little and consider it in impulse buy range. But then, I start thinking I should just spring for the 60 gig version and then the price is out of my impulse buy range. Oh well...
So, what does it mean that they lowered prices? This is 2 major price drop actions for Apple. Here are some possibilities:
The iPod Photo was outside too many people's comfort zone and needed to be reduced in price to get better sales volume there - after all, it's the iPod's flagship. There were indications that most people were opting for the $299 20 gig model and not signing up for the pricey but sexy photo models. Probability: High.
Apple feels that competition bearing down on them in the portable music-player market and wants to do a preemptive strike before they have to start sweating. Probability: Likely.
Apple is going for it. They've got the money in the bank, incredible stock prices and everything is looking good. They are pulling out the stops to gain marketshare. And this means they will drop Mac prices soon too. Probability: So-So. Naturally, this is the scenario that I'm crossing my fingers for. Drop those Powerbook and PowerMac prices!