I want to try a bit of marketing exercise here. We all know that Apple's market share in their iPod/iTunes venture is slowly declining. I can foresee with the eventual proliferation of their iPhone 3G in over 70 countries, who would want to buy an iPod?

I for most have bought an iPod only 2 years ago, which was the 4th generation. It held most of my music then. Ever since I've stopped taking public transport as a student, I didn't require a DAP anymore, so I gave it to my brother who does use public transportation. Although the iPod is still functioning, he rarely uses it as the battery only lasts a couple of hours and the need of constant recharging is a hassle for him.

I bought a refurbished 1st generation Nano, and my reasoning was to have a mini DAP that I can take when I travel overseas. I've barely used it ever since connecting AirTunes to my iPod Hi-Fi and run everything through my MBA.

Now I have the iPhone, there is NO way I would spend anymore money on an iPod. Is the same with iPhone users? Will Apple eventually lose their market dominance with the iPod line of their business as their iPhone line take up market dominance in both the mobile phone industry and DAP industry as one?

DAPs will die once mobile phones of every type have fully capable music storage and easy playback.

It's just interesting that Apple saw that first, and blew everyone away.

I have a nano which I haven't used since I bought my iPod touch.
Now that I have an iPhone, I will still keep my iPod touch.

Initially I was thinking of selling it... but as I travel a lot, it is handy to be able to use my iPod touch on flights to watch movies, TV shows, and listen to music, so that when I arrive my iPhone battery is still charged and good to go!

I forsee the iPhone eventually replacing iPods in general, although there may still linger a version much like the iPod touch for those who don't need or *can't* have a cellular radio on them.
My answer is therefore no - my iPhone will be replaced by another iPhone, and so it shall pass until the end of time...

I agree, but then what would happen of Apple's line of iPods in the future? They obviously think it's strong enough to be 1/4 of their products:

1. Macs
2. iPod/iTunes
3. AppleTV
4. iPhone


I can see their iPhone line overtaking their iPod line, dominance and market share. I can see that also in the future, AppleTV and their associated products will be a strong dominance in the every Joe's living room (like how the iPod has ruled), and Macs steadily picking up more of Microsoft's market share as their woes deepen.

Yeah, i've seen that iPhone is really going to be competition to iPod. However, as long as Apple produce iPod, it will hold market share. Remember, Apple sell 300 mill of these a year, .. the drop to 87% market share is nothing. 87%!!! thats a clear majority handsdown, .. anyways, .. it's the complete product that sells, not just the ipod, and nobody has anything to come close to it.

ohh, ... the original question, no, i'm unlikely to purchase an ipod, .. iphone or nothing

Nano exclusively for music which fits in your pocket and the phone for everything else.

When I do buy an iPhone I'd like to save the battery for calls so I think having an iPod Nano for music would be best.

If anyone is going to cannibalise the iPod we want it to be us...

Voted "Other"
The iPhone will need a better battery and larger storage before I surrender my iPod.

I just traded away my iPod Nano, lol - my iPhone works just as well.

One of the big reasons I purchase the iPhone was to have an all-in-one device to replace my phone + iPod Touch. So no, I don't see myself purchasing another iPod in the future. But people have different needs. There's plenty of people who still carry around an iPod even though they have an iPhone. For some, the iPhone isn't nearly big enough for their music collection.

I don't foresee iPods dying completely, even when storage space is considerably larger. As others have said, Apple's iPod still has a huuuge market share, and likely will for a long time to come. Some folks just don't need an iPhone, or can't afford an iPhone, or are too young to have an iPhone. Until a time comes when everyone needs internet capabilities on their phones and data plans are MUCH cheaper worldwide, the iPod (and DAPs in general) will still sell like hotcakes.

I always thought the idea of a phone together with a music player sucked because they were not as good as the iPod, so I use an iPod and whatever Nokia phone was cool at the time.

iPhone changed all that and will probably never buy an iPod again (though, I am eying off an iPod class for $229 right now on the Apple refurb store - so cheap not to buy!). I will be buying every iPhone as soon as they come out though

+1

iPods will continue to do well, just not as well.

I saw a 16 old with the stereotypical white headphones playing with his new phatty Nano, and I so just wanted to whip out my iPhone next to him and show off! Yes, I have to agree with you on this point. The reason why iPods have and continue to do "well" has been the fact the young have embraced it. Although most have their own phones, I don't think mummy or daddy will let them have an iPhone! Sucks to be them!

However, the uptake of the iPhone is phenomenal. The growth, compared to when the first generation iPod was released, is 1000 fold (well, not quite accurate - anyone care to share the actual figures?)




Me too!!