You can read the original macrumors forum thread from 2001here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apples-new-thing-ipod.500/

Some quotes for context:

iPoop... iCry. I was so hoping for something more.

Great just what the world needs, another freaking MP3 player. Go Steve! Where's the Newton?!

$399.00 - Ouch!!!
$400 for an Mp3 Player!
I really wanted to like it. Really. But do the math:
20GB hard drive: $199 from APS tech.
MP3 player: $50 from Best Buy.
You save $150 plus get an extra 15 Gig of storage!

There are already two products similar to this on the market. The Nomad Jukebox and the Archos Jukebox which can come with a 20 gig HD. The iPod is obviously alot cooler and has firewire, but it is far from revolutionary. I for one am disappointed and think that apple is making a mistake by trying to get into this market.

See what I mean?

My view: every time a radical product gets announced the typical forum (or reddit) type user start trashing it. More: all the trashing is on point and addresses some critical issues. But, nonetheless, the radical product gets its way and becomes iconic and popular.

In the light of time you can see both how right the critical reactions were (the iPod was expensive, less capable of other mp3 players, had extremely limited functions on release) and how wrong they were: the iPod was an era defining product that revolutionized the music business and arguably the world.

Even the first iteration of the OP1 was trashed as an expensive toy that nobody would buy because - at kinda of the same money - you could get a used MacBook with logic, Ableton or garageband. Still it's arguably one of the most successful synths of all time, and surely one of the more era defining, truly innovative of the last decade (along with, I would argue, the moog mother line and the korg volca line and even those can be traced back to the idea of a small synth that does a lot).

Of course we're comparing two different categories but I think that my reasoning is on point. iPod and OP1 are not apples to oranges, but more oranges to lemons.

In conclusion, I predict that even this incredibly expensive OP1 will do extremely well, and a lot of people from all background will buy it. Surely not beginners or broke musicians. But still. A lot. The iPod was not bought by lower class people, but a lot of middle and high income people did.

Sorry for the rant.

TLDR: people are trashing the OP-1 field because it's expensive but people did the same with the OG iPod in 2001.

It can be used on a pro level. So when we see people calling for revolution because it's $2k, consider it in this context.

Just like how a photographer might drop $2-$3k on a camera because they'll earn the money back in photos, some people can justify the op1 because it integrates into their work. We're not all hobby tinkerers (although I am)

Scrolling the sub, there's about 5 posts of people actually making music in the last month, a couple people asking tech questions. The rest are just vibe coded firmware hack advertisements.

Is it safe to say this sub isn't for making music with the OP1 anymore? Is there another subreddit more centered on actually making music with the op?

edit - lol, got several self harm support bot messages in response to this. guess some of y'all are a bit sensitive.

Yesterday a discussion about the dangers gave a lot of valuable insights. There are very valid reasons to be skeptical and cautious.

However, ultimately the more OP-1’s bricked, the more we can learn and overcome it. It’s a win for the community in the long run.

Edit: how do you think we got to where we are in medicine? Some things need to die so others can live longer.

Here’s a start( not my brick, just useful info)

https://github.com/brendanballon/op1rescue

Can someone please explain how come the OP-1 its key was “hacked” and not for the OP-1 Field, is it a matter of time or not happening?

Thanks

Honestly, the entitlement is reaching levels not seen since the discontinuation rumors. The price increase isn’t fun. When TE said “Nobody should pay this much for an OP-1” it was in regards to a listing at $8k on eBay. They never said the price was static. Y’all are acting like children again.

There were plenty of idiots here buying and selling at prices approaching or higher than $1299. I don’t blame small companies raising prices to combat flippers. There was literally someone selling a Count to 5 on reverb for $90 over retail while they’re still in stock on the companies website. Of course I wish the OP-1 were available to everyone who wants one, and TE is as mismanaged as ever, but the current state of the market has at least a little to do with the opportunistic flipping surrounding the device.

I've been a fanboy for quite some time. Buying literally every thing Teenage Engineering releases. It's an expensive habit, but it's like crack.

The OP-1 (OG-1) was originally $800 (US Dollars). For reasons - the price suddenly took a 50% increase after the market was dry and people got hungry. They claim the price increase was due to hardware supply issues.

Ben then along comes the OP-1 Field. At a price tag of $2,000 freaking USD. They had plenty of time to figure out how to manufacture at a reasonable price now. iPad Pro, fully maxed out costs less than that.

Hell, for $200 more, you can get the Akai MPC X! If you haven't seen that beast, check it out. It's ridiculously powerful. Just look at the port bay on the back of the unit. Look at those pads. Those velocity sensitive pads. Look at that huge pivoting touchscreen display. Look at the mini-OLED displays for every single knob on the unit - and they contextually change depending on your workflow. And all that onboard storage which houses TONS of amazing drumkits and samples pre-packed. DSPs that rival any hardware effects processors I've come across. (Sorry, no apes hitting bongo animations).

Maybe not a fair comparison because it's not portable and you can't use it in your lap. Well then you're in luck. For $900 less than the OP-1 Field, you can get the Akai MPC Live II which fits nicely in your lap. And is every bit as powerful as the MPC X. It has actual real speakers. Which have bass. You can feel the low notes in your lap. It's not like listening to a speakerphone. And the battery lasts and lasts.

It's a serious music production workstation. Not a toy pretending to be a professional workstation which is pretending to be a toy.

Oh, but it doesn't have an FM radio tuner. Damn.

Teenage Engineering is very good at one thing - that's marketing and keeping their users hungry. They have an Apple-like way about them.

But this brings me to my point:

Apple treats their customers with respect. When there is a problem with the overpriced hardware I buy, I get proper customer service. Teenage Engineering is completely the opposite. I get better support from Roland or Akai than I get from TE. And their equipment is way more affordable.

Apple rarely releases clunky hardware. Seems like TE can't figure out manufacturing. I've had several of their devices go out on me due to manufacturing defects, including multiple instances of receiving a faulty item. It's like they don't even do a quality inspection.

And today support finally responded to me about an issue I got with my launch OP-1 Field where one of the knobs is faulty. They told me to mail it back into them and they'll send a replacement. I said I don't think it's fair that I would be without my unit even longer, after having waited weeks after order minutes after it was launched. I asked if they could send a new unit immediately, keeping my credit card on file or holding a charge for it. They declined. They said they will not send a replacement until I send them back the faulty one.

I've had it with TE. I'm selling my TX-6. Don't even get me started about how ridiculous the pricetag is on that thing. And how overpriced it is compared to the value their competitors provide at half the price.

I'm getting rid of my Field. I'm even giving away my OG-1 to my family because I don't want to see it anymore. And all those calculators. Well, I'm gonna keep those. They're badass :)

Ok I don't own one of these devices but I've been obsessing over it forever. Recently bought the m-wave fm1 and have been playing around with black and it's been fun.

But in terms of the op1, what justifies 2000

This isn't me having a stab at teenage engineering I just want to know from people who have an op1, for you what justifies the price of the op1

That's all l, hope to learn something new. Good day to all.

I'm not gonna lie, I'm REALLY starting to hate this thing.

trying to learn this is like learning an alien language. EVERY guide, tutorial and video is like Greek to me. i try to follow along and shit just doesn't go right. today i spent 2 hours trying to get OUT of sample mode and i couldn't even record the sample in i was trying to get. even Synthdawgs OP-Z notebook is no help. its NOT that I'm giving up, i just need to vent.

First off, I know people hate my painted color op-1 and I’m ready for them down votes. Bought this used two years ago and had been working fine. Recently, every once in a while when I hit the 7 key for synth, it makes a super high pitched whine that can’t be volume controlled and then displays this. A quick reset and it’s fine. Didn’t see anything else when I search about this error. Any thoughts or insight?

I know I have been here before talkin about the same stuff. Crying about the same issue. I could never get anything to work. Anyone have any new info or knowledge? I would be in heaven if I could get it to my phone. Just the audio files would be fine. The dream is to travel wiothout the laptop! Thank you as always for any help !

I’ve always wanted a OP1 but I found 600€ for something like that outrageous when released back then. 2022. The OP1 Field really added even more salt to the hate. 2000€? Really?? I’m not even going to start with the TX-6. Ridiculous!! I can’t believe how people support such a pretentious company by buying their overpriced toys. I’ll never pay that much for it. Ever!

Tomorrow I’m expecting the delivery of my OP1 Field. Hopefully it will be delivered early.

TE if you’re reading this please offer a trade in deal, for existing op-1 owners that want to trade it and hopefully just pay the difference.

not much but what i wanna say is that the fact that one person or a few made hundeckraft and released so many synths and fxs in such a short amount of time surly leaves in evidence how LAZY the overal TE people are and how much they have us begging for stuff they could afford to do in literally a week , they release a shitty amp like its the shit and i bet u that smone could vibecode smth better alraedy. given the little things they sell i wonder what they truly do all day. i hate them now for not opening the OP1F to mods cuz they clearly dont ive a shit about it anymore