HP snaps up iPod Photos

HP has expanded its range of own-brand Apple iPod digital music players with the addition of two iPod Photo models.

Available with 30GB and a 60GB storage capacities, the devices feature a colour screen and mirror Apple's pricing at $349 and $449 respectively.

The HP branded iPod was introduced in August last year. The models accounted for seven per cent of overall iPod sales in the fiscal quarter ending 31 December, according to data from Apple.

Although the vendors sell the same hardware, HP offers a 12-month warranty versus 90 days from Apple. The HP model is also set up for Windows out of the box, whereas the Apple model caters for both Mac and Windows.

Apple has been selling the iPod Photo for nearly six months, and recently lowered the prices for the two models by $150.

Joe Wilcox, a senior analyst with Jupiter Research, told vnunet.com that, although HP waited a long time before unveiling its own iPod Photo, it was a wise decision. The device was previously just too expensive.

"Apple lowered its prices to a mass-market level. If I were HP I would have waited for Apple to lower the price too," he said.

Although the iPod might seem out of place in an HP portfolio dominated by Windows products, the company has developed several devices around the digital media player.

HP's latest Media Center PC has a slot where users can plug in their iPods without having to hook up any cables.

The vendor has also developed special HP tattoos, printable covers that users can stick on their iPod music player. Several artists offer special tattoos available for download from their websites.