Can Zune catch iPod? - Webmaster Forums - Webmaster forum for HTML, PHP, ASP, CSS and more

**administrator** · 12-07-2006, 02:06 PM

i dont think the zune has a chance to touch the iPod

Quote:

(AP) -- Microsoft Corp. says it expects to sell 1 million of its new Zune music players through the first half of 2007. That figure would pale in comparison to Apple Computer Inc.'s market-leading iPod, but Microsoft contends it would be a good start.

"We think that's actually pretty awesome," said Bryan Lee, corporate vice president for Microsoft's entertainment group.

The $250 Zune, whose 30 gigabyte hard drive can hold 7,500 songs, debuted in mid-November to mixed reviews.

One unique aspect of the Zune, its ability to let users wirelessly send songs to each other, has been panned for allowing shared music to be played only three times in three days before expiring.

Microsoft executives have played down any suggestions that the Zune is an attempt to quickly steal enormous chunks of market share from Apple, the Silicon Valley-based rival that says it sold 39 million iPods of various sizes in the 12 months ended September 30.

Microsoft has mainly cast the Zune as a first step that would be successful even if it remains a small No. 2 to iPod in the category of higher-end music players.

However, Lee said Wednesday that Microsoft expects to eventually "be the leader" in the category, especially once Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft rolls out more models of Zunes and starts selling them internationally.

For now Zune is available only in the United States. No overseas sales plans have been disclosed.

If initial sales figures are any indication, the Zune is far from being a blockbuster.

Unit sales in the Zune's first two weeks were roughly the same, according to The NPD Group, which tracks the market. It ranked Zune No. 2 among all MP3 portable music players in its first week of availability, but promotions for rival devices -- including much cheaper players -- during the "Black Friday" week of Thanksgiving had Zune slipping to No. 5.

At Amazon.com on Wednesday, the black Zune was the 55th-best selling item in electronics, well behind competing music players from Apple, SanDisk Corp. and Creative Technology Ltd.

But NPD Group analyst Stephen Baker said it is far too early to draw conclusions about Zune's fate.

"From a purely sales performance, I think it's done fine," Baker said. "I didn't expect it to sell zillions of units out of the gate."

whomung · 12-08-2006, 04:50 PM

I dunno.... I found something I think is better than both

Cowon iAudio X5

Very good looking, IMO.... Rugged, stylish, excellent screen
60 gig drive
Easy to navigate
Great software
Supports: MP3; OOG; WMA; ASF; FLAC; WAV; MPEG4(video); has an FM radio you can record as well as a voice recorder, so you can record notes in class
14 hours continuous playback

I bought it because it was the only player that supports this many file formats, and it's the only one I found that doesn't lock you into any one particular vendor format, and the LAST THING IN LIFE I WANT TO DO IS GIVE MICROSOFT MORE MONEY, OR BE TIED TO A VENDOR SPECIFIC ONLINE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM... This is just another attempt for MS to get into the content distribution end..... And I don't want Bill to decide my music selection

Cowon has a 2 gig model, (the T2) very sleek.... My GF got one for Xmas.... She loves it

Finally.... Has anyone ever SEEN a Zune.... It's got to be a at the top of the list for UGLY MP3 players..... Gates will never waste a dime on esthetics... Just look at XP and Vista.

cowon america
anything but iPod

NextWarrenBuffett · 12-09-2006, 11:46 AM

the initial model wont do much but provide a little advertising, but i think later versions will be able to gain market share. as for being an ipod killer i dont think so. i think another company might kill it, for instance sony with their new one coming out, and some companies releasing DRM free songs

whomung · 12-09-2006, 07:51 PM

Added impression

The more I use this Cowon.... The better I like it....

It's simple... It's a folder system, organize it however you want --naturally you can still make sets of playlists
IT supports the widest amount of codec formats
It's not tying you to a specific DRM Vendor for the rest of your use of the specific machine
It looks cooler than snot... not all "shiny", which is always nice in my book.... Those get scuffed fast
has "remote control" available
Sounds great / works great with my bluetooth adapter for my head sets....
AND --IT RUNS ON XP; MAC OS X; AND LINUX

The only drawback is the lack of "specific lifestyle accessories" that go with it... But it's got all I need to gracefully hook it to any speakers of my choice,

---

cowon america
anything but iPod

sleek-wi · 12-15-2006, 12:23 PM

Apple IPod is and will be king of all portable MP3, Video players

Sleek
Photographer | Milwaukee WI