Someone sold an old 4th-generation iPod for $90,000

After Apple announced that it would be discontinuing the production of the iPod Classic, the MP3 player’s value sky-rocketed, jumping from the retail price of $249, to $479 on Amazon.com, and $460 on eBay. One owner of a first-generation iPod sold his unit for $20,000 on eBay, meanwhile another person sold their factory-sealed special-edition U2 iPod for a whopping $90,000. Another first-gen iPod, this one factory-sealed, is currently listed on eBay for $180,000  by a different enterprising soul.

The U2 iPod was originally sold in 2004 and featured the engraved autographs of U2’s four members on the device’s back side. Since the exorbitant purchase, other “new” special-edition 4th generation U2 iPods have sprouted up on Amazon for $4,000 (there are currently four on sale). The devices feature 20GB of storage space and are rated for up to 12 hours of battery, assuming the batteries haven’t atrophied. Nevertheless, the $90,000 value is extremely ironic considering the recent outrage that sparked when Apple uploaded U2’s latest album on to people’s iPhones without their permission, an action intended as a gift.

Apple CEO Tim Cook stated this past October that the decision to discontinue the iPods stemmed from being unable to “get the parts anymore, not anywhere on Earth.” He adds, “the engineering work was massive, and the number of people who wanted it very small; I felt there were reasonable alternatives.” In an era when nearly every single mobile device can play music, in addition to the fifty or so other features, there isn’t much justification in having a separate gadget dedicated to music; unless you’re U2 fanatic or happen to need new batteries.

Source: CNBC/Mashable