IBM almost made the first iPod

http://news.com.com/2061-1041-5278622.html
from WinCustomize Forums

IBM, never shy about blowing an opportunity to take over the market, was working on an iPod type product with the company that later went on to supply the hardware to Apple long before Apple showed up.

Among the interesting nuggets is the fact that PortalPlayer was working with a number of companies, including IBM, before concentrating its efforts on Apple. According to Knauss, IBM's plan was to create a small player built around its Microdrive (IBM later sold its drive business, including the Microdrive to Hitachi, which now sells it to Apple for use in the iPod Mini.) IBM also planned to use Bluetooth headphones--something that a few folks here have been wanting for some time.

I always wondered where the IBM executives who were in charge of OS/2 went to. Now I guess we know...

4,070 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
But how much profit did IBM make selling the MicroDrive business to Hitachi? And did the retain the patents allowing them to earn money on each iPod sold, without having to worry about making them?
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Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Yea, some people are just plain stupid. The best thing to hit music in 10 years, and IBM missed by a long shot. But this sort of thing happens all the time.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I don't understand this.

It's not like the iPod is the 1st ever hard drive based mp3 player. I have a 6GB Nomad that predates the iPod by some time.
IBM wouldn't be making an 'iPod' They would have been be entering the market.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
IBM is particularly skilled at the bail out just before you succeed tactic.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Let us not forget the Palo Alto Research Center and all the wonderful things they've "created" only to use them to collect dust.

Big companies sometimes miss the details when looking at the bigger picture.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Actually TheD2JBug is right, IBM would have just entered the market and failed like most other companies... methinks Frogboy was just after Apple again, but I'm not complaining, to each his own.

Frogboy, I thought frogs ate flies, not Apples