NationStates Jolt Archive

http://news.com.com/Microsofts+Zune+to+rival+Apples+iPod/2100-1041_3-6097196.html?tag=nefd.lede

ok, so after a load of specultion, microsoft made a press release. i hate microsoft zune already. firstly, what a stupid name. come on, microsoft have unrivaled budgets and r&d teams, and that is the best they can come up with.
and secondly, its zune is described as 'a holistic apporoach to music and entertainment.' that is way too pretentious, even for the biggest product launch in years. what does everyone think?

if i am late on this/there is already a post, only 1 person needs to tell me im stupid.

I demand pictures. I don't care (and most consumers don't either) about features. We care about how it looks.

I'd rather use my cellphone, 'cause, you know, it's a phone and a MP3 player and I can get on the internet too along with a bunch of other cool things.

I demand pictures. I don't care (and most consumers don't either) about features. We care about how it looks.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e3/Zune.jpg/180px-Zune.jpg
picture of mp3 player (apparently.) it looks kinda cheap to me.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/67/Microsoft_Zune_Logo.gif
their nice logo. best thing about it so far

http://comingzune.com/
wittily titled teaser site with lame attempt at interesting flash teaser.

http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/04/cringingly-blurry-pics-reveal-microsofts-ipod-killer/
some shaky grabs of a commercial for the zune. looks like it will come in different colours.

The ipod - specifically the Nano model - is the best-designed consumer good in a long time.

The "zune" (a stupid name) will be ugly and gimmicky and won't make much of a splash.

Looks hideous. It'll flop.

Micrsoft trying to be stylish is like the Bush Adminstration trying to be pacifist.

Micrsoft trying to be stylish is like the Bush Adminstration trying to be pacifist.
Have you seen their marketing budget? They could make Amishism a style if they wanted to.

Microsoft will design these to be an entery level model to the industry. They won't sell heavily, but they will make money back on song sales and the fact that iPod's software sucks. Most importantly, they will be in the market, making a name for themselves.

It will be the next MP3 player that Microsoft releases after whatever the first Zune is that will make money on it's own and begin the process of dominating the market.

They do this in every industry they enter. They win too.

iPod prices are going to drop considerably in the next little bit, as Apple is forced to actually contend for control of the market... So the customer wins either way.

Edit: And yeah... Microsoft haters? Please, find a life outside of hating Microsoft. They have so many good things going for them, that the crusade against them is... Absurdist.

Microsoft will design these to be an entery level model to the industry. They won't sell heavily, but they will make money back on song sales and the fact that iPod's software sucks. Most importantly, they will be in the market, making a name for themselves.

It will be the next MP3 player that Microsoft releases after whatever the first Zune is that will make money on it's own and begin the process of dominating the market.

They do this in every industry they enter. They win too.

iPod prices are going to drop considerably in the next little bit, as Apple is forced to actually contend for control of the market... So the customer wins either way.

Edit: And yeah... Microsoft haters? Please, find a life outside of hating Microsoft. They have so many good things going for them, that the crusade against them is... Absurdist.


That does seem to be microsofts MO

They have the money to force entry into the market with a meocre product that is alright but not breath taking. They push and push untill they have opened up the market.

Look at what they did with the Xbox and the sheer amount of money they were freely able to pour into it untill they got a foothold

That does seem to be microsofts MO

They have the money to force entry into the market with a meocre product that is alright but not breath taking. They push and push untill they have opened up the market.

Look at what they did with the Xbox and the sheer amount of money they were freely able to pour into it untill they got a foothold

Yup. It is standard MO. They've done it time and time again.

That said... The Xbox was significantly better than either the PS2 or the Gamecube.

Edit: And yeah... Microsoft haters? Please, find a life outside of hating Microsoft. They have so many good things going for them, that the crusade against them is... Absurdist.
Add Apple to that.

I demand pictures. I don't care (and most consumers don't either) about features. We care about how it looks.
Frighteningly true.

Yup. It is standard MO. They've done it time and time again.

That said... The Xbox was significantly better than either the PS2 or the Gamecube.
I dunno. The Gamecube did not stand a chance. But the PS2 was no slouch. I do think is was saved by some good games that are PS only.

A classic nearly on topic linkage...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=36099539665548298

A classic nearly on topic linkage...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=36099539665548298
My Windows XP box doesn't have any 3rd party endorsements on it.

The rest is all there.:)

My Windows XP box doesn't have any 3rd party endorsements on it.

The rest is all there.:)

It's frighteningly accurate. There was speculation that the vid was an in-house MS joke that got leaked out. Not sure if that's true or not.

Personally, I don't think that the new player looks that bad. I think a lot of the reaction is your typical knee-jerk anti-Microsoft stuff.

That said, I don't see me replacing my (scratched) Nano any time soon.

It's frighteningly accurate. There was speculation that the vid was an in-house MS joke that got leaked out. Not sure if that's true or not.

Personally, I don't think that the new player looks that bad. I think a lot of the reaction is your typical knee-jerk anti-Microsoft stuff.

That said, I don't see me replacing my (scratched) Nano any time soon.
I won't replace mine as long as GTKPod keeps working.