Wow, ten whole bucks. Some sports those Apple folks.
Ah well, it has been a tough year for them.

-MONEY FIGHT!!

speaking of red... the site is now back to the blue and orange.

do you guys like throw darts at a calendar to decide which random 24 hour periods the site will be red and pink or what?

I think the point isn't that you should buy one to help fight AIDs, the idea is if you are going to buy an iPod nano anyway why not buy this one and show some support for the cause. If you tell people "go donate $10" you are going to get a pathetic number of people who actually bother to do it, if you make it easy and obvious (aka red products) and it costs you jack and you were gonna buy the iPod, Shoe, whatever anyway then I think more people will do it.

I don't get the whole 'lining Apple's pockets' thing. Okay, we get it - you don't like Apple. They make money off the iPod - Sheesh. Christ, they make a fraction of what MS does a quarter, but you don't have a hard time 'lining Microsoft's pockets' when you trip all over yourself about the Zune (hype level 1.5 out of 10).

It's almost as predictable as when the 'Giz posts a Bose story, and all the Bose haters come out and copy/paste some dumb paragraph about how crappy they are from the intertubes.

Back on point, $10 of *profit* from an identical machine without a price rise is pretty generous. Do the math on how many they'll sell, then add a zero. Compare that to what other companies are giving - or not giving. Or better yet, how much have you given, strider? I'll bet Apple ends up giving more than you do.

I would like to note that you can buy a reconditioned 4GB Nano from the apple store and donate $30.00 to the cause directly. You can buy a reconditioned iPod Mini 4GB and donate $100.00 directly.

Both will still cost you $199.

I'm not buying any, I'm just sayin'.

Wait...so this is the Slingbox version of the Nano? Can I get TV on my Nano anywhere now?

Hey Jimmy M,

You forgot that if you aren't buying, you can donate $199.

Making an educated guess, based on current sales estimates (which may or may not be an accurate gauge), this will probably generate 10-20 Million a year for the charity. That's a good thing.

Perhaps more significant however; the sales and advertising of this iPod will raise dramatically awareness of the (RED) program and the Global Fund. This may lead to other companies joining the program, as well as independent donations to the fund.

Why doesn't Target sell a model like this? The color scheme is near perfect and fits with their design-heavy marketing and image.

In theory, it's great to suggest that we just contribute a difference of a reconditioned iPod to the cause, but in the world we live in people have to be goaded into giving to charity. If a stylish iPod will garner even a dollar toward a good cause, it's better than nothing. Not many people keep in mind the importance of charities, so it's a good way to get those who rarely contribute to give by proxy. Those who care enough, will definitely be giving more on their own and not having to do it through a product-based sponsorship.

On another note, it's a good way to raise awareness. If someone sees the red iPod Nano and says, "Wow, is that customized?" You can tell them what the red means and maybe raise a bit of awareness about the issue.

Psh,

But... but not buying ANYTHING and just DONATING totally goes against our consumerist sensibilities. What's with all the talk of social justice? What are you, a frickin' commie?

Come to think about it, that nano IS red...

:P

Apple makes a good profit off ipods no doubt. But how much do they spend on advertising, product awareness and maintaining stores in some of the most expensive shopping districts? What is their profit margain then? Donating 10 dollars per iPod seems pretty good to me. Plus they are giving some leverage to the cause buy having a legit product that people actually want. Not like an ugly red gap tshirt.

I was late saying it when ya'll first posted about this, but Bono said the Red Campaign is a for profit thing, its not about the $10 donation.

They are trying to appeal to our Capitalist Nature rather than our Philanthopic Nature. If red stuff sells really well then they hope other companies will realize that there is a market for products with a social conscience and follow suit.

allbusiness hit the nail on the head. People generally aren't charitable. But, this (PRODUCT) Red initiative is trying to appeal to folks, with "Hey, you were going to buy this anyway. Why not buy the one that donates some money to charity while you're at it?"

As to those complaining about the fact it's $10: 1) that's $10 more than the charity may have gotten from the purchaser otherwise, and 2) 5% of the purchase price is what the Red initiative *asks* of the manufacturer. It's the standard charity amount they request, that's all.

This is late, but I just like the red. When the ipod nano first came out I remember many people pleading for a red, so this will sell well. I want one, but I've already got a nano, and I've still got a little over half a year to go according to Steve Jobs till I have to get a new one.

I just hate the idea of it becoming fashionable to have red items now. "Hey everyone look at me! I gave money to help fight AIDS."

This just seems like another yellow braclet to me.

bla bla bla

I wouldnt say not everyone doesnt donate to charity. Im in grade 10 and our school manages to raise about $300,000 a year without buying ipods or mp3's. its not the sales technique its how much people care.

@Kesh: Hey kesh sorry to squash ur bubble but ppl dont just donate money because they buy stuff. every year our school manages to raise $300,000 for a chosen charity. You make the world sound like a cold,heartless place. How about a little recognitio on the good instead of the bad?