“Microsoft this week can exult in the fact that the hard drive-based version of its new Zune portable media players, the Zune 80, is sold out online and in retail stores around the country. But this apparent success is muted by a simple fact: The Zune 80 was never manufactured in volume, and many retailers never got a single unit to begin with,” Paul Thurrott writes for WinInfo.
“While there are rumors of manufacturing delays, the truth is quite a bit more pragmatic: Looking at the market, Microsoft decided to prioritize the manufacturing of the flash RAM-based Zune 4 and Zune 8. These devices, which offer 4 GB and 8 GB of RAM, respectively, compete in the most lucrative part of the MP3 player market,” Thurrott writes. “That market, incidentally, is currently dominated by the Apple iPod nano, which also comes in 4 GB and 8 GB variants and costs the same as the respective Zune models.”
“The lackluster original brown Zune, now dubbed the Zune 30, is currently the best selling MP3 player on Amazon.com. Why has last year’s most amusing joke turned into a best seller, you wonder? The price has dropped to less than $90,” Thurrott writes.
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Douglas” for the heads up.]
Even Thurrott seems to have no patience for fake “Zune is suddenly popular” twaddle. Not a good sign for Microsoft’s Zune (in keeping with its entire history).
What light through yonder window breaks?
Tis Zune Tang, and MS is the _______ (fill in your favorite).
$90 for a brown Zune……
I might get one, if Microsoft gives me a $200 rebate!
otherwise, forget it…..
The iPod touch hasn’t left the Amazon mp3 player Top 10 since it was announced. In this day where all anybody seems to think about are capacities, it’s strange to see something with the memory of a nano sell for more than a hard drive player. Looks like Apple successfully did enough to make people see that the sacrifice in not having a gazillion gigabytes is worth it and I wouldn’t be surprised if the iPod touch itself outsold the entire Zune lineup this holiday season.
wow, it’s like IE vs. Netscape all over again. M$ wants to corner the MP3 player market by (practically) giving away their product.
if i spend $350 on a shiny new iPod, can i get a Zune for free? i can clear out the insides and use it to store some spare smokes.
What’s wrong with Edsels?
LOL when the Oxford English Dictionary admits the word Zune – with the meaning sh!t..
@ http://www.apple.com/mx:
The fact that Apple had finally opened online
store, is a great step towards bringing Apple
products to Latin america. I am Latin American
and I can attest to the fact that latinos is a
marketing emerging with tremendous buying
power!!
There were only 120,000 untits manufactured.
Ok – so WOW… they are all sold out.
Poor me – I guess I can always
ask Santa to have his elves make me one.
Stephen Jenkins
That Redmond must almost literally give away Zunes to compete with MAP pricing iPods. That is a losing strategy in the beginning, middle and end. Nice on Bill’s, your shareholders should just love you right off the board and out the company!… If they were smart.
I want that Zune 8 unlocked and WORKING on any OS I wish…
plus remove all WMA and WMV (DRM) and sell it for under 40 bucks.
I have the court order ready in hand.
Dougless
Well put Shinobi !!!!!
I’m in on that!
Whatever you people think, apparently other people are buying them.
Do you speak Latin?
MS is doing what they always do. Sell low at a loss until they run everybody out and then jack the price.
But they’ll have a hard time running Apple out this time.
Apple is hep to that game
Wow…someone want to organize a search party for Zune Tang…I’m getting a little worried…
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />
I heard somewhere that the Apple Lisa is sold out too.
“Zune 80 ‘sold out’ – so are Edsels”
Well, at least the Edsels are still worth something….
And DL, I have never heard that about the Edsel. It was always about marketing, timing and looks. Imports caught on big time 10-20 years later.
– Wundabar radio, it was self seeking for stations.
As I was doing “sets of measure zero” in class today, I felt compelled to write with the brown marker on the board.
One big difference here is that a person can take much greater pride in owning an Edsel.
@www.Apple.com.mx
Thanks for the heads up about Apple Mexico online store opening. Before, on Apple’s Latin America’s site, you would just be given the nearest Apple Authorized Reseller and prices were always quoted in US Dollars. [ I just bought my 24″ Aluminum iMac a few weeks ago here on the Riviera Maya but after waiting for 1-1/2 months on backorder and having to drive 2 hours away to Cancun. ] Today, you can order all Apple products online and have them shipped in Mexico and prices are quoted in pesos.
Starbucks started popping up here in the Riviera Maya for the first time this past year, and MacBooks and MacBook Pros now seem to be 50% of the laptops you see there now. The one Apple authorized repair center in Cancun is now busy when I visit ( I don’t know if that’s good news or bad ;-D ). But you might be right, Apple may be gearing up for an iPhone introduction in Mexico next year.
miss quoting the MDN Magic Word
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”hmmm” style=”border:0;” />
If you only build a few units then selling out is no great feat.
How many Edsels did Ford sell compared to total Zune 80s sold?
“In the first year, 63,110 Edsels were sold in the U.S. with another 4,935 sold in Canada. Though this was below expectations, it was still the second largest car launch for any brand to date, second only to the Plymouth introduction in 1928.
For the 1959 model year, there were only two Edsels: the Ranger and the Corsair, which was really a relabeled Pacer. The two larger cars were not produced. The new Corsair came in two-door and four-door hardtops, four-door sedan, and two-door convertible. The Ranger came in two-door and four-door hardtops, two-door and four-door sedans, and the Villager station wagon. In the 1959 model year, 44,891 cars were sold in the U.S., with an additional 2,505 sales in Canada.
For the 1960 model year, Edsel’s last, only the Ranger and Villager were produced. The 1960 Edsel, in its final model year, emerged as a Ford. Its grill, hood, and four taillights, along with its side sweep spears, were the only real differences separating the Edsel from the Ford.
Ford announced the end of the Edsel program on Thursday, November 19, 1959. However, cars continued being produced until late in November, with the final tally at 2,846 1960 models.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edsel#End_of_the_Edsel
“The lackluster original brown Zune, now dubbed the Zune 30…”
Isn’t that the Zune Turdy?
MW: Indeed
Wrong! We can’t make these things fast enough for the makket!