Thursday, March 31, 2005

The first computer with a built-in spot for an iPod is on its way--and it's not a Mac.

Hewlett-Packard is planning to add a prime spot for Apple Computer's music player in its latest Media Center m7000 desktop PC. The computer doesn't have a dock itself, but rather features a molded piece of plastic that fits around Apple's own dock to allow the device to gracefully dock atop the PC.

The move signals that HP has not lost interest in the iPod.

HP released 20GB and 40GB iPods last year, but has not updated its line since then, even as Apple has added color models and dropped prices. In January, then-CEO Carly Fiorina said that HP would offer a version of the iPod Photo. However, since then, HP's board has ousted Fiorina and the company has not introduced any new iPods.

But new HP-branded iPods are on the way and should be announced in the coming weeks.

About 40 percent of people who buy an HP iPod also buy the company's "tattoos," which let consumers print their own cover for the music player.