Apple optical mouse, 4GB iPod mini on their way out?
AppleInsider StaffTwo products of Apple Computer are showing signs this month that they may soon be labeled "end-of-life" with no future availability.
The $29 mouse also recently disappeared from Apple's online stores, making the new $49 Mighty Mouse the cheapest Apple mouse available for direct order.
It's believed that Apple will continue to ship the single-button optical mouse as part of forthcoming Mac desktop systems for the foreseeable future, allowing customers to upgrade to a Mighty Mouse for an additional charge.
Availability of Apple's $199 4GB iPod mini has also tightened in recent weeks with some resellers now reporting difficulty restocking the product.
Analysts expect Apple to revamp its iPod mini offerings by the third week in September when chief executive Steve Jobs presents at Apple Expo in Paris.
The consensus among analysts and industry sources is that the 4GB iPod mini will be phased out in favor of new 6GB and 8GB models that will likely sport color screens and photo viewing capabilities.
Both Hitachi and Seagate, two suppliers of hard drives for the iPod mini, have recently announced 8GB versions of their 1-inch micro drives.
Update: Readers seeking an original wired optical Apple mouse can still pick one up from Amazon.com, which retains stock of the device for $31 and change.
Malcolm Owen
Amber Neely
Marko Zivkovic
David Schloss
Wesley Hilliard
Mike Wuerthele and Malcolm Owen
15 Comments
I would imagine that the Wired Opitcal Pro Mouse will continue to ship with Apple desktops for some time, but will not be available for purchase otherwise. This would be similar to Apple providing the basic earbuds with all iPods but only individually selling its more expensive upgrade earbuds to consumers outside of those that come with the iPod. The better earbuds didn't replace those that came with the iPod, and I would expect the better mouse won't replace that which comes with the desktops. I guess we'll see for sure.
Over the weekend resellers reported that Apple had canceled individual backorders for its single-buttoned wired optical Apple Mouse, which currently ships standard with Macintosh desktop systems and was also available for purchase separately.
The $29 mouse also recently disappeared from Apple's online stores, making the new $49 Mighty Mouse the cheapest Apple mouse available for direct order.
Worrying.
I think Apple will start packing the Mighty Mouse with higher-end desktops over time, working from the PowerMac downwards. Those are the buyers most likely to demand a multi-button mouse in the box.
Regarding the iPod mini, I wonder why there's no mention of GB iPod mini stock. Is it just that it was already low due to lesser demand, or is the lineup shift going to be split such that there's a 6 GB B&W model versus an 8 GB colour model? That wouldn't make sense to me (it would add to manufacturing costs), but I again wonder why only the 4 GB model is showing supply constraints.
If there's a $199 6 GB colour mini, though, expect Apple to have another record-setting holiday season. There are many people for whom it really would be the perfect music player.
I think a 10gb mini would be the realy sweet spot for Apple, with color screen and ability play back music videos and the like. I have a 30GB photo and with 2100 songs, a dozen podcast subscriptions, and a few hundred photos i'm still barely over the 10gb mark. Granted, about a year ago I could have fit my entire music collection on the original 4gb iPod mini.
I've used the Mighty Mouse since I got it last Friday and have a feeling that it is where Apple is going for all Mac lines over time. It's simply an elegant option to the current mouse and is easier on the wrists than the 21 button specials.