Settle down dude, relax, take a deep breath…Don't be so angry. Life is short. Spend time with your family, enjoy the nice weather. Why are you so angry anyway? Did you get fired from the Apple store or something?

Now about the article, please provide examples of better alternative to the ipod and itunes. I'd love to know about them and try them out. thanks

before Yahoo bought Music Match it was the best mp3 software out there.

As to the other comments about iTunes being better than … well anything, that is stupid. iTunes is bulky, not intuitive and forces you to a company that has problems all around.

I personally delete iTunes whenever I buy a computer from somewhere braindead enough to install it. It may have the "market" fooled that it is any good, but there are tons better out there.

Also it is dumb to approach something like this even as an iPod killer. iPod wasn't the first mp3 player and they ony gained popularity due to the manipulation that apple is famous for. Apple takes already establish products… dumbs them down so the masses likes them, then makes some elitist show of it, and says "haha we rule you guys suck" and all is done.

Feeding arrogance is all that comments like this article is filled with and the writer should be ashamed to have posted them out to the world.

Brainwashed iMoonies of all colours unite!

http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/desktop-studio-hybrid?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&ref=homepg

This time the kid from Texas came up with something sexy, nice and still affordable.

A Portable Music Player of the like could be released pretty soon.

Beware Steve Jobs… Michael Dell might surprise you this time.

When it came time to buy my son, who always used a Mac at home and at school and is now going off to college, a computer he wanted a Dell. Why? Because Dell has become a brand known for caring about the environment and social issues; and my son cares about those things too. He wanted a Product RED XPS 1330 Notebook PC because our purchase will help Aids victims in Africa and that model is beautifully designed and looks especially sleek in red. This kind of product marketing translates into being good for humanity, good for the earth, good for my son who is developing his values, and good for Dell. And all that, I would say makes Dell pretty cool.

a. Tying oneself to an increasing clunky MS offering (very slow and buggy, new found bluescreen avoidance aside) is not wise

b. Mac osX is based on BSD UNIX, i.e. open source

c. Their Aqua GUI is much admired

d. Users have ideals and are not idiots. Ultimately, computing is about automation and when they aren't being used as an entertainment box they should be completely controllable via voice, movement, and writing.

e. Now an obvious path through which Dell, with it's considerable resources, can compete with both Microsoft and Apple.

Fortt is very much right with regards to SW being the key, however I have to point out the HW manfacturers are uniquely positioned to design HW to mean the requirements of the SW and not the reverse. If you understand that, you understand Apple's success and can position yourself to design a competing strategy.

I want everybody and that means everybody, to be able to use computers effectively and productively. That helps everyone maximize their contribution to society their community which is ultimately what gives one a satisfying life.

The answer is slapping everyone in the face, even if it is only by looking 1 year into the future rather than 5 years.

Personally,

a. he should clone the design of the MacBook Air (or whatever it's called)

b. make a few improvements HW wise, such as adding a Tablet PC interface

c. Installing an optimized version of Windows Vista Ultimate

d. try to find enough competent and consciencious developers (their aren't many, even the bad ones are in short supply) to clone the iTouch interface

e. Sell the 64 GB Flash version for $1000 & the 128 GB Flash version for $1500

f. QC control as Dell has forgotten to do (I know, I was burned by them to the tune of over $1000)

There you have it, small margins but massive sales enable hugh profits.

Frankly, as I've been burned by a Dell to the tune of over $1000 the first time I bought a PC rather than build it myself, that is the only thing that will ever have me consider from buying from Dell ever again. Period.

Dell is in bigger trouble than he realizes, he has to do something bold. Not something 5 years ago.

The clutter factor in mass media is hard to overcome. Even if Dell had just as much money to invest in publicity & marketing, Apple would break through the clutter more powerfully than Dell.

On an absolute basis, Dell could have a superior product, but more people may still accept Apple’s competing product. Dell could be successful in making & marketing a product tailor-made for specific people & maybe for specific situations.

The product may be fit for general use, but the marketing could focus on using it in specific situations.

Dell could try to create a less expensive product with fewer features & benefits—scaled down. It may appeal to those who can’t afford more expensive products. Others may not want or need a full-featured product.

Dell could try to create a more expensive product with more features & benefits—full-featured. It may appeal to those who expect more. A niche product could be more popular if it gave people something to brag about. If Dell starts now, the product could be ready by the time the global economy is strong.

Dell could try a full-featured product & a scaled down version. But its resources would be spread between them & may come up too short to break through the media clutter. A more focused—1-product—approach would probably be more efficient & effective.

Dell could create a parity product & try to compete but would probably fail.

Whichever route it’d take, it’d still compete with Apple to some extent.

Besides the marketing & publicity message clutter, there’s product clutter. Trying to market multiple products would add to & compete with the multitude of other products.

There’s limited shelf/display space. There’s limited “memory space”. Even a well-capitalized company would probably be better off trying to get people to remember 1 product & its benefits instead of presenting 2 or more products (choices) & each of their benefits.

A competitive solution could be: Find a different niche.

Here are some issues to consider:

Determine which people would want something different than what Apple offers.

At what age level do people want the product AND can afford it?

What are the best methods, times & places to reach these people?

Example- Let’s assume 12-years-old is earliest age when people have enough money & interest to buy the product. 1- They probably don’t own a competing product. 2- They may want something different than what teenagers own.

They probably aspire to be like teenagers, but they may not want to be exactly like current teens—carbon copies. If they believe Dell’s product is superior, it may help them feel more sophisticated, cooler & wiser than teenagers & adults.

Radio advertising probably wouldn’t reach them while they're in school, so the message should be timed for earlier &/or later. Later may be a better option since they may be able to go to a store after school.

They may want a bigger—more visible—product. If visibility is a benefit, they may want multiple colored faceplates to match what they wear & differentiate from what others have. If they’re concerned about the environment, they may want a smaller product without “wasteful” options.

It’s vital to determine who wants a similar product & who wants something a little or totally different.

Find out what they can afford & when—do they earn enough money or would they use gift cards to purchase products.

The Chicken & Egg Issue- What else do they need to make the product useful? Do they have these already or will they buy these later? Can the main product & accessory options be economically & practically packaged together? With music, it’d be hard to establish a definitive package for millions of people, but gift cards or subscriptions could be included so people can build their play lists.

If I recall accurately, millions of CDs were purchased in Japan before CD players were available. Consumers had enough confidence to think they’d like the players & the players would be available soon enough.

I’m sure Dell can effectively compete with Apple. But should it? Would its resources be better invested in other products? How much money & time would Dell need to achieve success? Can Dell afford it? Can Dell afford not to do it?