2GB and 4GB models should be going for $100 USD http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3802749/ http://www.thinksecret.com/news/mwsf04apple.html
I expect the price to be going down in atleast 6 months. Why pay 250$ when you can pay 50$ more for an 15 gig iPod.
Check this out http://news.com.com/2100-1027_3-5112066.html iPod's 'dirty secret' wins Web fans By Matthew Broersma Special to CNET News.com Two filmmakers are getting attention around the Net for an "antiadvertising" project aimed at protesting what they call the "dirty secret" of the iPod music player--its battery life. Brothers Casey and Van Neistat, who collaborate on video projects using Mac editing software, said they were told by a technical support representative at Apple Computer that the cost to replace the dead battery in an 18-month-old iPod would be $255--comparable to the cost of a new device. Irked at what seemed to be the early obsolescence of the music player, the brothers trekked around New York City stenciling the words "iPod's unreplaceable battery lasts only 18 months" on all the iPod posters they could find. Now the Neistats claim that the video they created of their exploits is getting 50,000 hits a day on the Web site Ipodsdirtysecret.com. As of Wednesday afternoon, the site's traffic counter indicated it had seen more than 194,000 visitors. As it turns out, it's possible to replace the battery for as little as $49 using third-party kits. Apple itself offers a battery-replacement service for about $106 including mailing, with a 90-day guarantee on materials and workmanship. Apple's program was introduced only in the past two weeks. Other iPod users have reported that the device's battery life diminishes with use, as is common for many rechargeable batteries. Unlike standard disposable batteries, the rechargeable power supplies used in the iPod and other high-tech gadgets do not come in a standard design. Replacing the battery involves a tricky process of dismantling the gadget, but third parties offer this service for around $70. More information on the iPod Battery Replacement Program is available from Apple's technical support Web site.
According to MacWorld, Apple has hinted that it hopes to, later this year, have a version of the iPod mini for $99.
Plays over 600 hours of digital music* Up to 16 hours of battery life Supports MP3, WMA, ASF, WAV and OGG music files Ultra-fast USB 2.0 transfers (up to 40 times faster than USB 1.0) Integrated FM tuner Backlit remote control with 4-line display Built-in voice recorder Intuitive music navigation Real-time MP3 encoding (no PC required) 20GB of internal storage Store or transfer files of any type Extra-large, 8-line, backlit LCD Rechargeable Lithium Polymer battery Optical input and output Upgradeable to future formats and features i have an iPod but would much rather have this iriver thing. Apple databasing on the iPod blows...
I also read somewhere that you don't get your iPod back when you send it in to Apple. You get an iPod with a new battery, but it won't be the one you sent in. If you're iPod is engraved on the back or whatever, they will make sure you get that back, but the electronics inside will still be different from those you sent in. I don't understand that. Is it really that hard to keep track of who owns a particular iPod when replacing the battery?
