Quote:
Originally Posted by Elgin Clock
http://machinist.salon.com/blog/2007/09/05/zune/
I still got mine for cheaper than that. 30GB for $155.
Zune vz iPod. Who will come out on top in the end? Zune had Wi-Fi even before iPod thought of putting it on a media player fyi... & to top it all off ,the source code for the current Zune shows capabilities yet to be even used with the current hardware/software combos.
Looks like Apple has some serious competition, and with the next generation of Zune out soon MS vs Apple will take on a whole new twist.
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I believe that this is a common misconception of many people in the technology sector. More features doesn't necessarily means a better product. The features has to be something that is simple, reliable and something the consumer will use. I believe that a better UI and easy to use product is the more essential focus. This is why Apple employs a minimalist and easy to use form factor. This what makes consumers choose iPods instead of competing products. For example, the Zune's wi-fi capabilities. What can it do? The only function it could do is to transfer songs from another Zune. What is the chance of that happening in the wild. As Steve Jobs said "Its quicker and easier for someone to share their earbuds with a friend." The new iPod touch wi-fi capabilities include a web-browser, youtube, etc. This is something that a consumer will use. Also the Zune has an FM tuner, which the iPod has been blasted in the past for not having this feature. Well in order to get good reception you have to have a decent antenna sticking out. Also who listens to radio any more? The radio stations these days are usually 75% advertisements. This is an example of what consumers don't want these days.
Besides features, another downside to the Zune is the Zune marketplace. Microsoft, who is well known for over-complicating its products have done it once again. They make their consumers buy bulk points (to save $ paying the CC companies for every transaction), which many consumers hate (especially first time consumers). They also try to make it appear that there songs are cheaper by only charging 79 points. But in reality they are the same price of ITMS, $0.99. Music companies, especially Universal, like these types of tactics in order to squeeze the most money out of consumers. For years they wanted complicated things like subscriptions, variable pricing, forced bulk purchases, stricter DRM, etc. Apple, being the leader in digital music downloads, have been able to keep the music companies under control. For example they have had consistent singles prices, flexable drm, and easy to figure out pricing. Apple has been able to find that sweet spot between the business wants, and the consumers wants.
My point is that Apple's music success comes from the fact that they have built a massive infrastructure that all work relatively easy. This includes the iPods, iTMS, accessories, etc. Most consumers want to spend there money on products they enjoy using, and apple (so far) has been providing that.
Microsoft on the other hand, has its user base of Wintel PCs. They could integrate the Zune in their OS, which could make it an attractive buy
Who knows