A free zune for Microsoft's mistake?..a lesson for Apple's Touch

[dmonk]

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080208-microsoft-says-sorry-with-free-valentines-zune-80-players.html

"Today we've heard from readers who say that Microsoft is mending broken hearts with some TLZ: tender loving Zunage. Microsoft is e-mailing customers who are on the cusp of not receiving their special Zune orders on time, saying that while they are trying their best to get orders out in time, they might not make it. Maybe your Valentine won't mind, however, because Microsoft says that they are refunding customer's money, too. If you're one of the unlucky people to be sitting on the cusp of a February 14 delivery date, then all of the sudden you're not so unlucky, since you're getting a free Zune out of the deal. "

Jesus Christ.
Apple strategy:

1) we've already discussed this. I can summarize it for you-crap.

Microsoft strategy:
Microsoft doesn't get an entire hardware unit on time
and essentially hands it out for free.

Somehow, someone will find a way to argue against free.

[touchy]

I agree that in public perception, Microsoft is trouncing Apple and the way it does things differently in the MP3 player market. No charge to existing customers for the firmware upgrade that came along with the new Zune in November, and i doubt Microsoft will introduce a 160GB version in two months. (like Apple's iPod touch doubling just five months in, causing so panic in touch forums)

The original Zune was mediocre at best. However the Zune 80 is a solid player and many reviews rated it superior to the iPod Classic. It's selling quite well and i hope makes enough of a dent in marketshare so that Apple changes its "Too effin bad" mantra it has developed.

[danta8293]

i gotta say..the new zune 80gb is def better than the ipod classic..plus its a lot cooler

[Touchmyipod]

Ehhh, it's free, but it's a Zune, bricks are fun to carry in your pocket right?? ;)

[daihard]

Ehhh, it's free, but it's a Zune, bricks are fun to carry in your pocket right?? ;)
And it's not even heavy enough for a doorstop. Jeez. :shake:

[dannyfanny90]

but wait...i thought we ALL had bricks in our pockets! no?
oh thats JUST the zune owners...gotcha...Thank God for iPod nano!

[daihard]

but wait...i thought we ALL had bricks in our pockets! no?
oh thats JUST the zune owners...gotcha...Thank God for iPod nano!
Zunes are worse... they aren't even stiff enough to replace real bricks! :D

[Ricardo Dawkins]

My beautiful brick surviving all the scratches, drops and falls while using it w/o a case....
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2198/2250795341_ff2eb226ae.jpg

[Dumb Monkey]

It doesn't look like it survived that ugly tattoo it fell on, though.

[Derek McNelly]

It doesn't look like it survived that ugly tattoo it fell on, though.

Ouch. That's a zinger.

[kornchild2002]

It doesn't look like it survived that ugly tattoo it fell on, though.

I know it is wrong but that made by laugh.

Honestly though, Zunes aren't all that bad. The Zune PC software still needs a bit of work as it consumes more resources than iTunes and its GUI is not as clean but the Zune as a hardware player has come a long way. The 30GB Zune didn't bring much to the market but the new flash memory based Zunes do and so does the 80GB Zune. I also liked the fact that I updated my 30GB Zune to the new firmware for free and it included a new GUI along with a couple of new features. This is something that Apple needs to take a lesson from.

Don't get me wrong, I still prefer my 16GB iPod touch over every player that I have but I actually like my 30GB Zune a bit more than my 5G 60GB iPod simply because the larger display makes album art really look good.

[Dumb Monkey]

Truth be told, I don't mind the Zunes at all, just trying to be funny. Yes, MS has a ways to go with the desktop software but I do hope for Zune success because we all know competition benefits the consumer in the end. If the roles were reversed here, the actions of Apple and MS would be as well. The one thing we should all agree on is that more successful products on the market will make our choices tougher, but better as well.

[Ricardo Dawkins]

It doesn't look like it survived that ugly tattoo it fell on, though.
LOL...jaja
No problem, I still love the ugly tattoo made by some real artist.... :D

[kornchild2002]

The one thing we should all agree on is that more successful products on the market will make our choices tougher, but better as well.

I agree. I actually want Microsoft to take away some of the market from Apple that way they can get a kick in the butt. I don't like the decisions that Apple has made in the past year such as the releasing of the buggy iPod classic, using bad screens on initial iPod touch models, many users experiencing problem with iTunes, Apple charging for updates, them releasing a higher capacity model in 5 months, and their decision to lock out many 3rd party accessories with video capabilities, and so on. Granted Microsoft has made mistakes too but it seems as if all their mistakes were with the initial Zune and with the Zune PC software. So I hope that Microsoft takes away some of that market share from Apple. That way Apple can wake up and realize that they actually have consumers.

[touchy]

I installed the Zune 2.0 software last night just to see what the what. Not only is it far superior to Media Player 11, i find it better than even iTunes. It took about half an hour to scan my music and photos and i can't belive just how well it makes finding everything. Artists names on the left, album art in the middle and track listings on the right. It's clean and i found myself sampling tracks i haven't heard for years as they get buried in iTunes. I purposely unchecked all for default file settings so it doesn't muck with iTunes and WMP, but it'll be the default software i use to listen to my library of music on my computer from now on.

http://www.zune.net/en-US/products/zunesoftware/default.htm

[Prozak]

I don't think you can really compare the Zune to an Ipod Touch because they are very different devices.

Apple's "done it again" with the Ipod touch. When the SDK is released and programming takes off the Ipod touch is going to be transformed into a totally new device and in a few months, people are going to start wondering why mp3 players only play music and videos. I think Apple is going to slowly transform their lineup to be more ipod touch like and I think they are going to add a gaming device in the future.

I think in the next year or two people are going to start coming out with mp3 players that play music and videos first, but that also do more than just that and everyone is going to play catch up again.

[touchy]

True, the Zune 80 and the iPod touch have just two things in common- a glass screen and WiFi, and even then they use that for completely different reasons...

But the comparison between the Zune 80 and the iPod Classic? The Zune is simply better, and they managed that in just twelve months and two models.

I really like my touch. I'm no Microsoft or Apple fanboy, but i'm really looking forward to when MS inevitably releases their flash-based touch screen media player down the road. I'd seriously consider buying it.

[Dim]

But the comparison between the Zune 80 and the iPod Classic? The Zune is simply better, and they managed that in just twelve months and two modelsAnd watching other companies' models come and go over the last decade.

[Prozak]

True, the Zune 80 and the iPod touch have just two things in common- a glass screen and WiFi, and even then they use that for completely different reasons...

But the comparison between the Zune 80 and the iPod Classic? The Zune is simply better, and they managed that in just twelve months and two models.

I really like my touch. I'm no Microsoft or Apple fanboy, but i'm really looking forward to when MS inevitably releases their flash-based touch screen media player down the road. I'd seriously consider buying it.

You mean windows mobile? :D