Thursday, September 22, 2005

Shoot the marketing department

Dell recently launched its latest MP3 product the Dell DJ Ditty. It is designed by Dell to compete with the iPod Shuffle.

First of all the name, what kind of marketer would labour their 'cool' new product with the name ditty. You'd only go and ask for one at the counter if you wanted to win a bet against one of your mates or were very drunk. Now imagine that even if you where happy with the product how you would recommend it to one of your friends.

Then there is the 'inspired' product design. You've been had, its a rip-off of a cheap Ronson lighter from the Argos catalogue. Its not cool, its not ironic and it may sound better than a Linn hi-fi system, but it still says BAD TASTE.

I am sure Apple are already wondering how they are going to handle their haemorrhaging market share when this bad boy hits the market and turns the Apple Store on Regents Street into an empty shell.