An Interesting Take on Zune

re: An Interesting Take on Zune

Headsvett — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 12:09:50 GMT

Well Id buy one if i could, but im in europe, so im basically screwed at this point

cmon microsoft, you seem to be at the top of your game right now, release the zune in europe!

re: An Interesting Take on Zune

John — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 02:58:40 GMT

I love what one commenter wrote that the Zune was "like him". I feel that way. I had bought an iPod Touch for my girlfriend, but decided against buying one for myself. Instead I bought a Zune 80 for myself and haven't looked back. It's a lot of fun. I only hope that apps wise it will quickly catch up to Apple! Otherwise, its been joy, joy joy!

re: An Interesting Take on Zune

Pukwudji — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 22:55:42 GMT

The selling point for me was the Zune Pass.

I can't tell you how much money I have saved by using the Zune Pass to dive through an entire artist's catalog only to find that I only liked one or two of their albums. On the flip side it has allowed me to find some incredible music hinted at from my channels on Pandora with zero entry barrier. Porcupine Tree is an excellent example of both phenomena in a single artist since their style has _drastically_ changed over their releases.

Thank you for making the Zune Pass easy to use. I am looking forward to the channels feature in Zune 3.0. Any chance of a synergy with Pandora?

BTW: Thank you for adding Audible support in 3.0. It is long overdue.

re: An Interesting Take on Zune

Ubermedia — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:08:30 GMT

No, I don't think MS is positioning it as the anti-iPod, but they should. Echoing the sentiments of most of the blogsphere these days, MS needs to use some of its $300M marketing budget that they just turned over to Crispin and go on the offensive. The Zune (and maybe the Sansa devices) are the only portable media systems that are superior to iPods, and they should position themselves that way - if they don't, the Zune may fade into obscurity. (I wrote about all of this on my blog last December: notesfromtherocket.blogspot.com/.../microsoft-zune-conundrum.html

re: An Interesting Take on Zune

mrweatherbee — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:31:50 GMT

I prefer the Zune device squircle, the display, and the general device user interface over the iPod. I do NOT want a touchscreen interface, I like tactile feedback and the ability to operate the player without using two hands and looking at it to do the simplest task. I also think the Zune software beats iTunes hands down, and lament that Zune haters never get to appreciate this feature to see how significant the device+software linkage is.

I honestly don't know how Microsoft is marketing this thing, and that's not for lack of attention on my part. The numerous marketing gaffes (see NBC copyright cop brouhaha, etc.) are just boneheaded and poorly handled after-the-fact. I think the social aspect is interesting, and I played there for a while, but I think I'm a generation beyond that so I can't say whether it might ever take off as a standalone community... it seems tighter integration with an established platform such as Facebook is necessary. Leading with the Social is noble, but it only works when there is a sizeable community to make it work. The fact that I have never met another Zune user with whom I could wirelessly share content speaks volumes to the limited marketability of the Social concept as the lead feature. I go to Best Buy When someone goes to a retailer like Best Buy to shop for a media player, in the odd situation when the sales reps aren't openly turning people away from Zunes, they can't even try one out because the device interface is locked without activation through the Zune software. I can't believe anyone would buy a Zune at a retail outlet when they can actually test-drive every other player BUT a Zune. I think the Zune is a great product with even greater Software but really confused marketing, which is very unfortunate. It seems like there is so much more that could be done to increase market penetration. I long for the day I can actually try the wireless sharing feature without visiting a Microsoft booth at a tradeshow!

re: An Interesting Take on Zune

radio joe — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 22:16:35 GMT

I love my Zune. Although I feel like a total outcast since I am English, imported my Zune and am blocked out of full fuctionality.

I could have had an easy life and chosen a Creative, I hatew iPod's, but the Zune is great and I wanted it. Wish Microsoft would stop putting the hate on us no American/Canadians.

re: An Interesting Take on Zune

EZRyder — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:10:52 GMT

I love my Zune 30....though I live in the UK, so lose out on the social aspect. Also convinced my father-in-law to get one, and loves it. Just need more integration with MCE and the Xbox and I'd be a happy bunny....oh and it being made offical in the UK. In fact I think if it was offical in the UK, the whole social aspect would make it sell in droves..suits the Brits

re: An Interesting Take on Zune

Tha13thDisciple — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 06:04:56 GMT

I bought the Zune because of the awesome big screen and also because I wanted to "Think Different"

re: An Interesting Take on Zune

Shawn Oster — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:05:35 GMT

I don't think Zune is the "anti-iPod" but I did buy mine because it wasn't an iPod. I'm put off by "buy our product because their's sucks" styles ads and Apple really turned me off all their products with the "Hi I am a Mac" spots.

That said I still think the Zune is the better player. Whenever I use someone else's iPod these days I feel like I'm playing an 8-bit Atari game from the 80s.

re: An Interesting Take on Zune

VeloriumSatire — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 23:10:53 GMT

It's all about the software interface. =)

re: An Interesting Take on Zune

Nozuneland — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:20:55 GMT

Well, one living in Europe like me does not have the choice to by Zune. For some reason I still cannot understand, Zune is not sold by Microsoft. It contributes to the idea that MS is not trying hard to compete with the Ipod, it looks like they don't believe into themselves as able to win. Microsoft has also failed to make Zune a "cool" product. That said, I am a MS fan and would love to buy a Zune but have to wait till I travel to the USA.

re: An Interesting Take on Zune

dead-clown — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:37:26 GMT

true, it would be so nice to have steven colbert promote the zune, with whatever jokes he wants to thorough in.

he is done a great job ironically promoting the iphone by saying he still hasn't received one from apple.

re: An Interesting Take on Zune

Eth3l — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:37:28 GMT

I have an original brown Zune and a Red Zune Original.

Its all about core functionality and value; and somewhat of separation between content and hardware (as much as can be expected).

For core functionality, the Zune is a sleek digital music player with obvious features which are included because the software inherently handles it.

for the separation of content and hardware, while the ZMS is necessary to sync, Zune does not market itself as the only way to get music. Its sad that Apple is trying to convince the marketoplace that it is the only way to get to digital media.

re: An Interesting Take on Zune

Jason — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:21:39 GMT

The real test will be is Steven Colbert can ever stop making fun of the Zune.. :) I mean, honestly, the guy can't even get a recent graphic of the Zune on his show.

re: An Interesting Take on Zune

Lauren W — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:20:25 GMT

I don't know if Microsoft is positioning the Zune as an anti-iPod, but I definitely see where the opposite is true. I do believe that there are a few Apple-resistant consumers out there, (me being one of them,) and that they will look at other big mp3 manufacturers instead of directly going with the well-known iPod.