Is September 5th the day for the HP iPod?

Nothing official yet (a phrase we weary of constantly repeating), but apparently the HP-branded version of the iPod will be announced at the Apple Expo on Paris and go on sale September 5th. We've heard conflicting reports about what it'll look like, but it's supposed to either be just like the regular iPod just with the HP logo on the back or it'll come in "HP Blue" like the prototype (pictured at right) that Carly Fiorina showed off at the Consumer Electronics Show this past January.

[DC @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

I never understood *why* Apple and HP are partnering to release an HP-branded iPod. Is there some market out there of people who will only buy HP products or will never buy Apple products? I'm gonna take a wild stab in the dark and say "no." Perhaps it has to do with leveraging HP's manufacturing capabilities and distribution channels? Despite some problems with Mini shortages that have for the most part passed, Apple seems to be all set in the U.S. market. Maybe HP has stronger access to international markets? I could go on with my speculation, but if anyone actually knows I'd love to hear the reason.

[Orin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

The only reason I can think of, right now anyway, for the bundling/branding of the IPod with HP is that people like to buy things in bundles. They like things to match, they want to buy everything from one person. I'm not talking about your more internet/computer adept person, but just regular joe/jane. I have plenty of relatives that buy branded computer systems and a good chunk of them (over 50%) have bought bundled/branded items that are offered at the time of purchase. They don't really need these items, but they 'go with' their new computer. Both in terms of looks, and by the fact that - "They offered it to me when I was ordering this machine, I must need it!" - kind of mentality. I'm not sure why that exists, but it does. Take a look at the DELL website, many many many examples of this kind of thinking going on there.

As a sidenote, that Ipod, that's shown in the photograph, colored in "hp blue" has got to be the ugliest thing I've seen in a long long time. Good job marketing dept.

[rob @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

I've been thinking that the device was probably secondary to the real deal for Apple - that HP computers will start being bundled with iTunes instead of MusicMatch/Napster/whatever, which leads people to the iTunes Music Store. That being said, the device is probably great for HP - they get to try and sell comsumers an all-HP bundle of iPod and PC (and printer, digital camera, iPAQ, and whatever), like Dell. Consumers buying a device at a random time (not when buying a PC) get to hit up HP for an iPod if Apple is out of stock or something. Everybody wins.

[Richard Rafaj @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

I switched from iRiver to iPod month ago but I'm really dissapointed. It's all about hype and design factor. The sound quality of iRiver is three levels above not to mentioned a custom EQ.
I when I started to hear a hard drive spinning at the beginning of each track I know I became so disappointed that I'm going to switch back to iRiver.

[David @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

The original iPod didn't work with Windows. The second generation, I believe, worked on either Mac or Windows, but not both (you bought a Mac version or Windows version; identical hardware but different filesystems, accessories and software). The third and fourth generations work with either operating system.

Since getting my 4G iPod, I've had people complain to me that Apple should make one that works with Windows. It seems that original Apple-only iPod cast a pretty strong impression.

By partnering with HP, maybe Apple are trying to show a sizeable chunk of the Windows world that, yes, the iPod will in fact work on your PC.