Dell Drops DJ

Hooray for alliteration! Boo for the Dell DJ. The world's largest maker of personal computers quietly stopped carrying all of their hard-drive based Digital Jukebox (DJ) mp3 players, in late December/early January, leaving only the flash-based Dell Ditty (more alliteration!)

The DJ players held 2,500 to 15,000 songs and sold for $200 to $300, fabulously less than that of certain mp3 player which will remain nameless by the fruitful company which will also...remain...nameless.

"No vendor other than Apple has really stepped up to the combination of design, marketing and user experience that is required by this segment," said Rob Enderle, president of the Enderle Group, a research firm based in San Jose, Calif.

Oh Rob...thanks for spoiling the surprise. The truth of the matter is that Apple's iPod isn't necessarily the best on the market (this being before they release the video iPod). In fact, Dell's DJ held just as much and cost less. So why then does Apple command a massive 69% of the mp3 player market share? Advertising made it hip, and everybody wants to be hip.

On that note, DJ, rest in peace. You poor, hipless player. I strike again.