“Apple, you’ve made us addicts. You’ve spoiled us for all others. So don’t worry about Zune crashing the party and stealing us away from you. It’s not going to happen. Believe us,” Athima Chansanchai reports for The Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
“For most, the advantages of dumping the iPod and taking up with the Zune aren’t enough to offset the potential cost of such a dramatic change of heart,” Chansanchai reports. “You can’t transfer anything you bought from iTunes, including the ever-growing selection of TV shows and movies available at that site. But the Zune has its own twisted code of honor. It won’t even play songs bought through Microsoft’s own partners, such as Napster or MTV’s Urge.”
“The differences start with the scroll wheel. Apple’s patented design makes everything else seem cumbersome. All the commands are built into it. In addition to a back button and a play/pause button, Zune has a navigational tool that at first looks like a scroll wheel, but it’s a four-directional clicker that seems to plod along when you’re trying to find something fast, even though holding it down makes things zoom by efficiently enough,” Chansanchai reports.
“iPod really swept us off our feet with its design. It’s sleek, simple and stylish. Those accustomed to the slimmer iPod may balk at the heft of the Zune, which is comparable to the second- or third-generation iPods. Once you’ve passed that stage, it’s hard to go back,” Chansanchai reports.
“The Zune is chunkier than the video iPod and, while the size of the screen is impressive at first… it’s a good picture — until you put it next to a video iPod. Then, bigger doesn’t equal better, not when the picture on the iPod is so much sharper, the details jumping out in their crispness, the colors infusing the action with life,” Chansanchai reports. “Microsoft ripped off the basic shape and design of iPod’s distinctive buds, only theirs are in black. Way to be original, Zune.”
Chansanchai reports, “So, we hate to send a Dear Zune after such a brief courtship, but at the end of the night there is no doubt who we’re going to go home with.”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “nick” for the heads up.]
As reader “nick” said in his heads up email: No love for Zune even in Redmond’s back yard.
Related articles:
BusinessWeek: ‘By this time next year, Microsoft’s Zune will be considered a dismal failure’ – November 10, 2006
USA Today’s Baig: Microsoft Zune is no Apple iPod – November 09, 2006
Forbes: Microsoft’s Zune stinks; like ‘Microsoft Bob,’ only more embarrassing – November 09, 2006
NY Times’ Pogue: Zune should come in green to match Microsoft’s iPod envy – November 09, 2006
Mossberg: MS Zune has ‘too many compromises, missing features’ vs. ‘thin, sleek, elegant’ Apple iPod – November 09, 2006
Microsoft to pay Universal for every Zune sold – November 09, 2006
Analysts: Microsoft Zune may end up being a flop – November 08, 2006
Are 58% of iPod owners really thinking of a Zune switch? – November 08, 2006
Survey: 58% of iPod owners planning another MP3 player purchase will consider Microsoft’s Zune – November 01, 2006
Zune is from Microsoft, but Microsoft doesn’t want anybody to know about it – November 07, 2006
Microsoft Zune to be US-only, no firm plans to launch anywhere else globally – November 03, 2006
Five Microsoft Zune TV commercials – November 02, 2006
JupiterResearch: Apple’s iPod will dominate for foreseeable future; Microsoft’s Zune insignificant – October 25, 2006
Ellen DeGeneres Show gives away Microsoft Zunes, studio audience goes berserk – October 23, 2006
More Microsoft Zune myths explored – October 20, 2006
Five more Microsoft Zune myths – October 18, 2006
Microsoft Zune intensifies chaos in Apple iPod+iTunes also-ran market – October 16, 2006
Newsweek Q&A: Apple CEO Steve Jobs discusses iPod’s impact, Microsoft’s Zune, and more – October 15, 2006
Microsoft’s Ballmer: Zune device not money loser, wishes Apple’s 30GB iPod was $299 instead of $249 – October 11, 2006
Microsoft’s consumer electronics track record: long string of failures – October 11, 2006
MP3.com founder: ‘Zune will be an expensive failure for Microsoft because consumers aren’t stupid’ – October 06, 2006
Microsoft fails to secure key Zune domains – October 04, 2006
Microsoft rigs Zune with tricky pricing and proprietary money schemes – October 03, 2006
Why Microsoft’s Zune won’t kill Apple’s iPod – October 03, 2006
10 Apple iPod vs. Microsoft Zune myths – October 02, 2006
Analyst: Zune could lead to ‘civil war’ between Microsoft and Windows Media partners – September 29, 2006
Thurrott on Microsoft’s Zune: ‘The makings of a disaster, what the heck are these people thinking?’ – September 29, 2006
Analyst: Microsoft Zune’s as good as dead on arrival – September 28, 2006
Microsoft sets 30GB Zune price at $249.99 – September 28, 2006
How Microsoft’s Zune can kill Apple’s iPod – September 21, 2006
Microsoft’s Zune insanity – September 21, 2006
The Microsoft Zune 1.0 dud – September 20, 2006
Microsoft’s underwhelming Zune a ‘viral DRM’ device – September 18, 2006
SanDisk teams with RealNetworks against new common foe: Microsoft Zune – September 18, 2006
Creative does Apple’s dirty work by immediately attacking Microsoft’s Zune – September 17, 2006
Motley Fool’s Jayson: Microsoft’s ‘just plain ugly’ Zune a meager offering, not an iPod killer – September 15, 2006
What’s in a name? ‘Zune’ a French-Canadian euphemism for penis or vagina – September 15, 2006
Crave at CNET: ‘Microsoft Zune, all the excitement that brown can bring’ – September 15, 2006
Microsoft’s Zune underwhelms – September 15, 2006
Enderle: Microsoft Zune ‘a design mistake’ – September 15, 2006
Microsoft hypocrisy exposed with Zune: What ever happened to ‘choice?’ – September 14, 2006
Analyst: Microsoft Zune with fake scroll wheel ‘hardly an Apple iPod killer’ – September 14, 2006
Analyst: Microsoft Zune won’t spoil Apple’s biggest iPod Christmas ever – September 14, 2006
Microsoft unveils Zune 30GB player, Zune Marketplace; declines to disclose prices – September 14, 2006
Analyst: Microsoft’s Zune an ‘underwhelming’ repackaged Toshiba Gigabeat; no threat to Apple iPod – August 30, 2006
Microsoft confirms brick-like Zune to be made by Toshiba – August 25, 2006
Microsoft Zune is chunky brick made by Toshiba – August 25, 2006
Microsoft to sell single Zune model this fall, rumors of Wi-Fi capability were greatly exaggerated – August 10, 2006
Microsoft to spend hundreds of millions, several years on Zune trying to catch Apple iPod+iTunes – July 27, 2006
Zune: Apple cannot lose. Microsoft cannot win. – July 26, 2006
Man, they are twisting in the wind before the iturd even hits the shelves.
But it’s the fault of Microflop.
WHy would they POSSIBLY ENTERTAIN BROWN as a color?
Even by Microsoft’s standards, the Zune is a huge loser. What a joke.
I think we are getting ready for the “nothing to see here folks, move along…” posts.
This is beyond comical for MS.
Serioiusly were are the positive reviews for Zune?
Wallstreet Journal: leaning negative
NYT: laughably negative
USA Today: laughably negative (from an anti-Apple web site)
BusinessWeek: negative
Forbes: laughably negative
Techweb: negative
(I am sure there are few others around)
Even M$’ own
Seattle Post-Intelligencer: negative
Channel 9: negative (to be fair, not the Zune, but the music service “Plays for Maybe”)
engadget: neutral to positive (is this it?)
Good luck MS, no seriously good luck, and in the immortal words of Doug Adams: “So long and thanks for all the fish…”
zac
brought to you by MDN word, “stay” as in: M$ please stay around so we can enjoy this comedy.
You can tell from Zune MS really doesn’t give rat’s ass about its customers. They are contemptuously treated as prey.
Don’t ever count M$ out – remember, M$ are willing to lose *millions* of dollars to buy market share. They are insidious and pernicious.
There is a reason you can’t get an iPod or case in brown.
You can always count on your closest and most trusted friends to give you the most honest advice.
Fortune/Money was negative about the Zune software.
Opinion: Engadget’s Microsoft Zune lovefest culminates in Zune giveaway:
http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments_opinion/10991/
For a company like this, making so much money already it is mind boggling to me to see how they are trying to be in every market and be so restrictive with their software that they will piss more people off then make happy.
Ouch. The Zune has been dumped. How harsh. I guess Microsoft not only makes bad software but a rather bad date too.
I have a nice brown leather iPod case…but I’m not stuck with that forever and ever…
BTW, there’s an iPod Giveaway at http://www.undercurrentsradio.net
Not a Zune in sight!
Just saw three Zunes first hand in a Wal-Mart display – OH MY MICROSOFT – they have really out done themselves. With the entire iPod line just around the corner for comparrison shoppers (including the super cool Shuffle G2) the Zune looks like a BRICK. It is MUCH THICKER than the iPod – and significantly longer and wider as well. The screen doesn’t really look that much bigger because the whole thing is so big. It just looks proportionate.
PS – and no joke, my MDN Magic Word is “larger”
I just ordered a Zune. Gonna gut it, and use the case to hold my 80 GB iPod, my Nano, and my new Shuufle.
I may spray paint it some lurid color, or leave it the way it is.
I’ll drag it out ceremonioulsy, and then open it to display my “travel case.”
This is going to be fun.
me:
Now you did it, Microsoft will now demand that Zune be segregated to a display case furthest from all iPods.
What the hell is a “zune” anyway? It’s just a stupid, made-up word that rhymes with “tune.” Pathetic that this is the best Microsoft can do to compete with Apple’s iPod + iTunes killer one-two punch.
A few Zune notes…
Anyone notice all of the ads in Sunday’s paper. All of the flyers for Target, Best Buy, etc. that had Zune advertised for $249.99 only had 80gb iPods advertised for $349. Coincidence? I don’t think so.
Also the fine print states that only certain “sample” songs can be shared through Wi-Fi. What does this mean? Welcome to the Social, you can share the songs that we allow you to share?
Is anyon old enought to remember a TV series called Fireball XL5? well they beat M$ to the zune name
“Zoonie”
(voice by David Graham)
A strange looking creature called a Lazoon who is Venus’ pet.
Take a look http://www.nostalgiacentral.com/tv/kids/xl5.htm
D’oh
Confirmation on yet another poor copy of an Apple product.
Crank up the Aerosmith tune in your iPods:
“It’s the same old story, same old song and dance, my friend.”
Fireball XL5–Holy cow Geoff!!
I thought I was the only one who remembered that kids TV show! I loved that show when I was a kid. Nobody I ask EVER remembered it! It was kind of a kid’s Star Trek with puppets.
Hey IT2, wow that makes 2 of us (ROFL)
“A strange looking creature called a Lazoon” hmmmmm im sure i have seen him a M$…….
“Now what is his name…. Balm…….
Geoff–Never wanted to miss XL5.
No wonder it was cancelled, we were the only 2 kids watching it! Quit my Saturday morning Tap Dance and Ballet class so I could stay home and watch that show. My mother was ticked.
Should have been a clue my distant future was IT, even for a girl that age (and era). That interest and Star Trek.
Geoff–Should look for more tech clues to this era in these old SciFi TV shows.
Never wanted to miss XL5.
No wonder it was cancelled, we were the only 2 kids watching it! Quit my Saturday morning Tap Dance and Ballet class so I could stay home and watch that show. My mother was ticked.
Should have been a clue my distant future was IT, even for a girl that age (and era). That interest and Star Trek.
MDN word-“Long” as in LONG time ago!