[Art Vandelay]

Originally Posted by Millennium 

What gets me is that the launch version won't work with Vista. Of course, Vista hasn't officially launched yet, but given Microsoft's large developer and beta program, this seems to be quite a slap in the face to the people who have helped it bring that OS to a launchable state. It also leads to uncertainty over whether Microsoft will be able to get the software out the door before Vista actually launches, given that they seem to have had trouble getting it done before the Zune launched.

Especially considering that Vista launches in 15 days.

[allblue]

Still, at least plenty of Zune accessories are already available...

http://hotproducts.alibaba.com/manuf...let_Paper.html

[Eriamjh]

This thread here while actually incorrect, has some great comments at the bottom. My favorite:

Zune that! All those Zuners can go Zune themselve wherever they Zuning want!

[Kerrigan]

What I think is funny is how everyone is making such a big deal about the Zune, when we all know that by the time they get it right (ie, rev 3 or whatever), Apple will have already moved on to phones.

MS is just getting too stagnant to compete with Apple.

[SSharon]

Originally Posted by Oversoul 

CNN Money did a iPod v. Zune comparison. Winner? No surprise for the iPod.

Zune vs. iPod: the battle begins | 1 | FORTUNE

A quality article indeed.
"The display does have the same resolution, 320 by 240 dots."

They must check the refurbished section too.
"Apple, whose iTunes store is the dominant online seller of video, offers 60GB and 80GB iPods to accommodate the large storage requirements of movies and TV shows."

[analogika]

Originally Posted by SSharon 

A quality article indeed.
"The display does have the same resolution, 320 by 240 dots."

That is absolutely correct. Not sure what your point is.

[Oversoul]

I think he's pointing out CNN's usage of "dots" instead of "pixels" or "resolution."

[kick52]

Originally Posted by nonhuman 

Yeah, but how high quality are the audio ports on your Zune and your computer?

yeah.. i suppose.

[Y3a]

I suppose MS has been studying "LOG" ad's from Ren n Stempy to identify features...

[Jawbone54]

Originally Posted by Tiresias 

This guy needs to update his iPod or something.

My iPod displays a large letter of the alphabet when I scroll at speed through my library.

Don't they all?

[Edit] Yeah.

[kmkkid]

Originally Posted by Tiresias 

This guy needs to update his iPod or something.

My iPod displays a large letter of the alphabet when I scroll at speed through my library.

Don't they all?

My 4G doesn't.

[analogika]

All 5G iPods do since the 1.2 update.

[Dakar²]

In your face, 4G!

[SSharon]

Originally Posted by Oversoul 

I think he's pointing out CNN's usage of "dots" instead of "pixels" or "resolution."

whew, tough crowd here.

[Rev-O]

The Zune cracks just don't stop coming. On Talk Soup the host referred to the Zune as "The perfect gift for white guys too dorky to get an iPod" or something along those lines. A bad sign when the fashionable and trendy thing about your new product is to ridicule it!

[selowitch]

It's clear to me that the technology and culture journalists would just love to write about the "Downfall of the iPod" and "Zune, the iPod Killer". Unfortunately for them, it ain't happening, not anytime soon. This is one prophecy that cannot fulfill itself. It may not make for good copy, but the reality is that the Zune is a bust and the iPod is still king of the beasts.

On the other hand, Microsoft has had success releasing inferior products that they keep priming with money until the competitor simply gets worn out. It's a lame strategy, but sometimes it does work.

[Kerrigan]

Looks like Bill Gates isn't too excited about the Zune; he seems to think the iPod is much better.

The iPod is "phenomenal, unbelievable, fantastic"

Gates praises iPod, labels Zune a "modest" competitor - Engadget

[Tiresias]

Originally Posted by analogika 

All 5G iPods do since the 1.2 update.

So the CNN guy was measuring the Zune against an old iPod, and the iPod still came out on top.

[Oversoul]

Originally Posted by Kerrigan 

Looks like Bill Gates isn't too excited about the Zune; he seems to think the iPod is much better.

The iPod is "phenomenal, unbelievable, fantastic"

Gates praises iPod, labels Zune a "modest" competitor - Engadget

I'm not so surprised. The guy's become a lot more likeable in his semi-retirement.

[Tuoder]

Originally Posted by Kerrigan 

Looks like Bill Gates isn't too excited about the PC; he seems to think the Mac is much better.

The Mac is "phenomenal, unbelievable, fantastic"

Gates praises Mac, labels PC a "modest" competitor - Engadget

Fixed.


























History.

[Salty]

Hmmm this is weird, my iPod is a 5G with the 1.2 update and it doesn't do the big letter thing.

[hardcat1970]

i tried the zune today at target where it has a dedicated location, and i am not impressed at all. it is made out of plastic even the button in the middle looks real cheap. if you have an ipod, you tend to scroll that circular thing but of couse it doesn't really moved. You have to flip that thing sidway in order to see videos or photos, which i hope the ipod won't implemented that when it has a larger screen later on their rumored ipod.

However some of the zune UI are really good, like it is easier than the ipod to go back up 1 level or several levels. Also the animated menu and the overall response are actually better than the ipod. I hope apple really address that in their next ipod revisions.

[angaq0k]

Let's hope the failure of the competition will not deter Apple from making more great products.

[Eriamjh]

The Zune is getting bad reviews, but don't forget how many panned the iPod when it came out. (Too expensive for what it is, no FM, blah blah blah.) I said the same myself, but then bought a 40GB model for $500 back in 2003. It's been worth every penny.

The Shuffle saw the same negative press by the industry (OMG, it has no screen!) and it is probably Apple's most popular model by volume. Some articles are comparing the reviews of the Zune to the XBox, which wasn't grealy received initially.

Be certain, M$ is willing to spend a ton of cash, and by spend I mean LOSE a ton of cash for MANY years to try to steal the MP3 player crown from Apple. If they break even in the 3rd or 4th year, they will probably consider it a success. M$ may never make money on the Zune and I think they know it. Don't forget how mindless the public can be about buying a mediocre product (like windows, VHS, McDonald's, etc.). Success is about marketing more than a great product.

[hardcat1970]

Originally Posted by Eriamjh 

The Zune is getting bad reviews, but don't forget how many panned the iPod when it came out. (Too expensive for what it is, no FM, blah blah blah.) I said the same myself, but then bought a 40GB model for $500 back in 2003. It's been worth every penny.

The Shuffle saw the same negative press by the industry (OMG, it has no screen!) and it is probably Apple's most popular model by volume. Some articles are comparing the reviews of the Zune to the XBox, which wasn't grealy received initially.

Be certain, M$ is willing to spend a ton of cash, and by spend I mean LOSE a ton of cash for MANY years to try to steal the MP3 player crown from Apple. If they break even in the 3rd or 4th year, they will probably consider it a success. M$ may never make money on the Zune and I think they know it. Don't forget how mindless the public can be about buying a mediocre product (like windows, VHS, McDonald's, etc.). Success is about marketing more than a great product.

It is not just a bad product, they seem don't know what the market wants neither. Only few people are using the video function. In fact, the full size ipod wasn't even the best seller anymore. And the zune is much more bigger than the ipod. They should come out something smaller and neat. MS totally don't understand the market and they just keep dumping their money into this losing business.

[- - e r i k - -]

And in stark contrast:

Apple - iPod shuffle - Ads

[volcano]

Originally Posted by - - e r i k - - 

And in stark contrast:

Apple - iPod shuffle - Ads

That's an awesome ad, I like it!

[JoshuaZ]

God, I need some of that inflight iPod love on those trans-pacific flights. Last time I did that I watched stuff on my iPod until the battery died, plugged it into my laptop and let it charge while watching a movie on my laptop, and then watched more stuff on my iPod. Got me a good 9 hours of video.

MS may capture a small chunk of the US market, but the iPod is dominating in Asia right now and there are still a lot of markets left for the iPod to dominate. Go Apple.

[Apple Pro Underwear]

Holy crap, look what Leo Laporte says happened at a Redmond Zune pim party!

Funny:

digg - Trade your iPod for a Zune?

[Salty]

That new shuffle add is great.

[- - e r i k - -]

Originally Posted by Apple Pro Underwear 

Holy crap, look what Leo Laporte says happened at a Redmond Zune pim party!

Funny:

digg - Trade your iPod for a Zune?

Hahahahahah! *snort*

[chris v]

Originally Posted by Apple Pro Underwear 

Holy crap, look what Leo Laporte says happened at a Redmond Zune pim party!

Funny:

digg - Trade your iPod for a Zune?

Ouch.

[Atomic Rooster]

Comes in brown as the default color. Baby poop.

It's dead. The name is actually irritating and hurts my ears.