This is an audio clip from “Buzz Out Loud”, a C|Net podcast. It was so good, I had to post it. Leo talking about the Zune event.
The best line in the whole segment was when Leo said “I wouldn’t trade my first gen iPod for a Zune.”
This sentiment, in my opinion is the type of thing that Microsoft is up against when trying to dethrone the iPod. At first there was significant hype about the Zune
more than the Zune, there are problems.In my completely valuable opinion, which I know will end up breaking the Zune and Microsoft, there are 3 obstacles for Microsoft.
- The iPod has a long head start. There have been some legitimate analogies to the XBox and PS2 situation but I think there’s a big difference in the digital audio player industry. Development cycles are short in the DAP sector. It’s 3-4 years in the game console market.
- Many people have bought songs from the iTunes Store. When making a switch of hardware, they might reasonably expect to be able to play their music on their new players. In contrast when people bought XBoxes, they didn’t expect to be able to play their PS2 or PC games. I believe this is the essential difference between the game console and the DAP markets.
- The iPod is now a fashion accessory. People spend hundreds of additional dollars on accessorizing their iPods. The Zune is just ugly in many people’s eyes. In that CNN clip, one of the anchors said “Why can’t they (MS) hire design people?” The iPod is slim and sexy, the Zune is, umm, different, looking.
I had hoped that the Zune would be more competition for the iPod. I really did. Competition breeds innovation. Maybe Apple will take a cue or 2 from the Zune’s good qualities.
Editor’s note: Much of this post had to be reconstructed from memory because my Nokia E61
Tags: apple ipod zune | digg story
12 comments ↓
[…] November 23, 2006Microsoft PR failure. File this one under "what were they thinking?" [link] -jcr […]
It should be pointed that itunes music tracks are the ONLY digital purchases that can LEGALLY changed to a dRM free format - thanks to Apple but of course, that’s not a catchy slogan - much easier to shout ‘free the music’ - what about DVD’s - illegal to back up your own copies let alone change to another format?
But the bigger question is that for 80% of purchasers it’s a NON ISSUE because music is disposable - have you seen how most people treated their CD’s? Tossed or stacked or attached to a car visor where it’s 150 degrees in the summer or 20 below in winter. Yes, people love music while they are listening to it but don’t really care about where it is - in fact, I defy you to find anyone with any friends who has NEVER lost an CD, DVD or LP? It’s just stuff.
Two meals with a date is $200 that you probably can’t even remember her name in 2 months - that’s an ipod plus a hundred songs - it’s NOT that big of a deal. Oh, sure if you ask people, who’s for DRM but ask people if they are going to lose weight, most people will say yes, they’ll excerise and eat better - do they? No.
No one likes to admit music is disposable (really, how many artists you loved in college would you go out and spend $18 for their CD now?)
The Zune will fail because MS is inept when it comes to consumers but especially worse here because none of the things they usually fall back on like distribution or controlling the software means anything because of the internet and efveryone is already using a free itunes software anyway.
MS knows this - that’s why their name is not even on there.
what link? where?
Author’s note: Sorry dude, I broke the page. It’s there now.
jbelkin forgets the many music stores that never had DRM on their audio files to begin with, but we maybe we can somehow credit Apple for that anyway.
“Can (be) legally changed” is the nice way of saying that’s it a convoluted process that shouldn’t be necessary, but it CAN be done.
Finally, the only reason music is disposable is because if I lose my CD, I can fire up Soulseek and download it for free. Otherwise, I would not be okay with losing my CDs.
jbelkin, you make some interesting points, but if I lose my CDs that’s my own fault. If I can’t play one of my CDs in my new CD player, that CD player’s going back to the store.
I suspect that many people do the same thing I do when I get a new CD: open it up, pop it in my computer, encode it and put the songs on my iPod. The CD goes in the CD rack, never to be seen again. I may lose it, but I can bet you I won’t lose my computer or the hard drive I back up my files to.
[…] This is an audio clip from “Buzzed Out Loud”, a C|Net podcast. It was so good, I had to post it. Leo Laporte is on there talking about the Zune event. No one wanted to trade the iPods for the Zune.read more | digg story […]
“I wouldn’t trade my first gen iPod for a Zune.”
Nor would many people. You know those stories you always hear on Thanksgiving of farm turkeys tragically dropped from airplanes as a stunt, under the mistaken belief they can fly on their own? The Zune is Microsoft’s turkey bomb.
[…] Steve’s Remote Clickr: Trade Your iPod For A Zune? […]
[…] I’ve also been using an aging Timbuk2 case for my MacBook. I originally bought my current case for the Titanium Powerbook I had years ago. Here’s a possible replacement, also 0% off. All the talk about how the Zune rox ([1], [2], [3], [n] oh. I forgot that people don’t really like it that much) and stuff has gotten me thinking that what my iPod really needs is an FM tuner because my music isn’t worth listening to. I promptly found the FM radio tuner my iPod’s been sorely lacking. At, you guessed it, 0% off! I could go on and on. And you know you wish I would, but here’s the entire page for your viewing pleasure. […]
well, people say u can’t use the Zune can’t be used as a portable hard drive, but we all know that couple weeks down the road (if not now), someone will have hacked it. They say zune looks ugly, but isn’t that really because the ipod has established itself as being “trendy”, just like how if someone was to wear something from 2100 (suppose they somehow got ahold of it), we would see weirdness more than stylish. Yes, the Zune’s screen is the same resolution but bigger than the ipod, so “it isn’t an improvement” But really, those of us who own an ipod know, resolution is above what we can actually seeon that dinky screen, and we keep trying to hold it closer when watching videos, which is what the Zune’s 3″ screen improves on. I agree the user interface for the Zune is not as good, but once u’re start a playlist or a video, it doesn’t matter what the interface it uses. And I agree that the battery life is a downer, but as long as it lasts the day (which it should for most users), it doesn’t matter that the ipod has 2 more hours left at the end of the day. I also agree the whole wifi-”social” thing is lame, as it will only work if enough ppl have a Zune/turn it on with the extra 10% drain. Ultimately, for those who want a FM tuner that doesn’t cost an extra 20 bucks, a 5″ screen enlargement, and the possibly utilized wifi, the Zune is a better choice
In all fairness, the Zune can be used as a portable hard drive. It’s a crude hack and a pain, but it can work in a pinch.
You’re right, you don’t see the interface when it’s playing, so that’s why this next point is all the more important.
If you’re going to sacrifice something, at least make it up some where. Interface at the expense of portability - ok. Portability at the expense of interface - ok. Losing both interface and portability - not ok. The Zune is around 30% larger volume-wise than the 30 gig iPod. The Zune needs some work.
[…] This is an audio clip from “Buzzed Out Loud”, a C|Net podcast. It was so good, I had to post it. Leo Laporte is on there talking about the Zune event. No one wanted to trade the iPods for the Zune.read more | digg story All media playerAll media player […]
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