Dell enlists 'Iron Man' to subvert iTunes, world yawns

Jonny Evans
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September 30, 2008
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 Dell has a plan to take on iTunes - and it's leading the charge with 'Iron Man'.

Seems Dell and Paramount Pictures are offering customers who buy a new Dell PC the chance to have new film, Iron Man, pre-installed on their machine. With unavailable elsewhere 'bonus footage' (when will someone come up with bonus footage anyone actually enjoys?)

According to the Hollywood Reporter this strategy to offer a film in software format only at a price probably more expensive than it is on DVD in the shops, "is the first step Dell is taking toward setting up a broader digital content storefront that could create significant competition for Apple's dominant iTunes Store."

Really?

Former Apple bloke Tim Bucher leads Dell's 120-person group that's developing the company's digital strategy...does that include charging consumers $20 for a standard definition version of a film that only exists on a computer's hard drive?

I can imagine that will catch on...

Comments (7)

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | September 30, 2008 - 10:16am

We'll there's a sucker born every minute. Another inspirational move by DELL.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | September 30, 2008 - 10:18am

I want to buy a mac... but look over there... that dell comes preloaded with IRON MAN!!!

really?

Vaganza (not verified) | September 30, 2008 - 10:25am

I'm just going to rent it at Redbox for a dollar. I never watch "bonus footage" on the disks I do have.

brainstroke (not verified) | September 30, 2008 - 10:36am

Nobody's going to buy a PC just because there's a free movie on it or maybe there are 50 or so people who would. They must actually think most consumers have no intelligence. Fortunately for Apple it's competitors keep churning out really bad ideas for competing.

Thanks Dell! This bad idea sounds more along the lines of something Microsoft would do.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | September 30, 2008 - 3:10pm

Most consumers don't have intelligence. That's part of the reason we're in the financial mess today. There's an old saying, "That person has more dollars than sense." I think that if a person had more sense, they'd have more dollars. :)

Paul (not verified) | September 30, 2008 - 2:11pm

Its just a sign of desperation. Dell can't do anything to excite anyone over Vista or XP, so they have to do something to drum up noise.

Best to just ignore them.

Sean (not verified) | September 30, 2008 - 3:11pm

I can pay more for the digital download than it would cost me to just buy the DVD? Thanks Dell.