Topic: Japanese Tech
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2004/jan/06ipodmini.htmliPod Mini was released Feb in USA and in April Worldwide
Arrrg, I needed to get a cheap second iPod with recording functionality for Mrs Taro and now they will neither ship to Japan nor sell a jPod-mini here.
Global iPod mini launch delayed
Apple delays the global launch of its popular iPod mini by three months due to US demand.
BBC / 25 March.
...reports of shops being out of stock and a thriving export trade on eBay...Greg Joswiak, Apple's VP of Hardware Product Marketing, told BBC News Online that...the problem lies with the miniature hard disc drive at the heart of the iPod mini: Apple is buying all the stock of drives as fast as Hitachi can manufacture them. "We're actually consuming just about all the 4GB, one-inch drives they make. As they make more, we'll get more," said Mr Joswiak.
Farking Hitachi, go figure.