On Tuesday, Apple Computer held its latest press conference to introduce new products. Apple has these little get-togethers every few months, and the Net runs wild with speculation about what Mr. Jobs and company have come up with this time. Speculation was that Apple would unveil a new video iPod with a special touch screen and a new movie download service to serve as a companion to the iTunes music store. While both of these products are still expected sometime this year, they remain under wraps for the time being.
Instead, Apple unleashed the rather tepid iPod Hi-Fi (sort of like a boom box with an iPod dock built in) and a redesigned Mac Mini that’s souped up with the Intel microprocessor that Apple is loading into all new Macs. Both products are flashy (the iPod Hi-Fi has Apple’s standard black & white sleekness, while the Mac Mini is a powerful computer that’s only the size of a book), but they come at a hefty price. The Hi-Fi sells for $349 (iPod not included) and the Mini starts at $599 (which doesn’t include a monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer, speakers, or any other accessories) and quickly increases from there.
While these two products have been grabbing all the headlines, Apple did unveil one other new product that is sure to be a must-have for dweebs, dorks, tools, tbt* writers and others with an overflow of cash and a deficit of brains. Of what do I speak? Why, the new leather iPod case, of course!
According to Apple’s website, each case is “hand crafted from fine Italian leather,†and designed to fit snuggly around the latest model of iPod. How much would you expect to pay for this exceptional workmanship? $40? $60? Nope. With a retail price of only $99 (Shipping included! Woo hoo!), this is Apple’s bargain of the week.
My prediction for Apple’s big second-quarter announcement: New Apple toilet paper made from $100 bills. Rumor has it Steve Jobs has been personally testing this new product for months, and he loves it!
This article appears in Mar 1-7, 2006.