Whats bad with the Zune list

I was considering buying a zune device, but you (ms) has really missed the target this time.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/09/technology/09pogue.html?8dpc

1. You cant use Zune as an external hard drive
2. You cant subscribe or download podcasts at the zune store
3. Stripped down device, no games, alarm clock, stopwatch, world clock, password-protected volume limiter, equalizer, calendar, address book or notes module.
4. Miss out on the 3,000 iPod accessories
5. Over 80 percent of 2007 cars will have an iPod connector option, none have zune
6 . regid copy protection and drm. I dont mind paying for  music, but it has to be flexible. Like half play of a song counts as "one play", not resend a song.
7 . wi-fi mess, Zunes can connect only to each other. Who’d build a Wi-Fi device that can’t connect to a wireless network — to sync with your PC, for example? Nor to an Internet hot spot, to download music directly?
8. the zune store doesn’t sell TV shows, movies or audio books
9. the zune store are much smaller than itunes, 2 mill vs 3-5 mill
10. the Zune store is also missing gift certificates, allowances, user-submitted playlists and so on
11. can’t use Windows Media Player to load the Zune with music ?? ( this must be wrong  )
12. thicker (0.6 inch vs. 0.4), taller (4.4 inches vs. 4.1) and heavier (5.6 ounces vs. 4.8) (zune vs 30 gb ipod)
13. fm radio has week reception and you cant make recordings.

"

Competition is good and all. But what, exactly, is the point of the Zune? It seems like an awful lot of duplication — in a bigger, heavier form with fewer features — just to indulge Microsoft’s “we want some o’ that” envy. Wireless sharing is the one big new idea — and if the public seems to respond, Apple could always add that to the iPod."

So the question is..why should anyone buy a zune player ??

Zune is unlikely to gain anymore marketshare than all other iPod competitors. Although I don't have or endorse expensive music players, I do know that the iPod is fabricated in American and European pop culture. That penetration will prove difficult to break. Besides, Apple could very easily rival any offerings Microsoft might add to Zune and Urge.

I think Apple will do whatever it takes to fend off Microsoft and all other competitors. Afterall, the iPod and iTunes are Apple's biggest source of "bread & butter"; far more significant than their computer and software buisness.


Regards,
Vincent

prog_dotnet wrote:

1. You cant use Zune as an external hard drive
2. You cant subscribe or download podcasts at the zune store
3. Stripped down device, no games, alarm clock, stopwatch, world clock, password-protected volume limiter, equalizer, calendar, address book or notes module.
4. Miss out on the 3,000 iPod accessories
5. Over 80 percent of 2007 cars will have an iPod connector option, none have zune
6 . regid copy protection and drm. I dont mind paying for  music, but it has to be flexible. Like half play of a song counts as "one play", not resend a song.
7 . wi-fi mess, Zunes can connect only to each other. Who’d build a Wi-Fi device that can’t connect to a wireless network — to sync with your PC, for example? Nor to an Internet hot spot, to download music directly?
8. the zune store doesn’t sell TV shows, movies or audio books
9. the zune store are much smaller than itunes, 2 mill vs 3-5 mill
10. the Zune store is also missing gift certificates, allowances, user-submitted playlists and so on
11. can’t use Windows Media Player to load the Zune with music ?? ( this must be wrong  )
12. thicker (0.6 inch vs. 0.4), taller (4.4 inches vs. 4.1) and heavier (5.6 ounces vs. 4.8) (zune vs 30 gb ipod)
13. fm radio has week reception and you cant make recordings.

Points 1, 3, 7, 11 and maybe 13 can be handled via firmware updates from Microsoft, which is my understanding they are planning to do. According to Gizmodo (I'm too lazy to find the specific link) they puposly "front-loaded" the hardware so that as they want to add new features all the have to do is update the software, the hardware is already set to go.

Points 2, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10 are just silly considering it's a version one of a highly upgradeable product, and the iPod faced these same challenges when it came out.

Point 6 is something that can be addressed through software updates if it become an issue that stunts the Zune's growth.

And point 12 is kind of splitting hairs. I use my nano for running, and it's great. Yeah, a Zune is bigger, but I can't imagine it would make a huge difference when I run, let alone something less active.

My big knock agains the Zune, and it may come out in another version of it, is no flash memory. Again, I use my nano for running, so the flash memory is critical to avoid skips.

prog_dotnet wrote:

Competition is good and all. But what, exactly, is the point of the Zune? It seems like an awful lot of duplication — in a bigger, heavier form with fewer features — just to indulge Microsoft’s “we want some o’ that” envy. Wireless sharing is the one big new idea — and if the public seems to respond, Apple could always add that to the iPod."

What is the point of any competing product? To get some market share. And frankly, new competition breathes life into an otherwise stale market. As much as I love my nano, I do find some of the new Zune features attractive, and yeah, Apple can adopt them. But if there were no Zune, would they? Let's face it, pre-Zune there hasn't been much new and exciting in iPod land, save video and new colors. And until I see something offical from Apple, I don't count the iPhone. So, I think this is good for both companies.

prog_dotnet wrote:

So the question is..why should anyone buy a zune player ??

If the features offered by Zune that are not available on an iPod are important to someone, they should buy a Zune. It all comes down to the consumer and where they see value.

And don't take everythign you read in the NYT as gospel, they have their axes to grind just like everyone else...

1. - This really sucks. Hopefully they will change it
2. - True of V1.0, rumor says it will be in early 2007
3. - Except for the equalizer, why would I want those things on my music player? BTW, heard of XBox-live? I expect to see lots of downloads for the Zune over the next year. (When will Apple officially open the iPod to 3rd party developers? NEVER.)
4. - Duh. That is a stupid comment.
5. - I bet there will be a 3rd party adapter befor Xmas
6. - Yea, almost as restrictive as the iPod wich cannot share music AT ALL.
7. - Read their blog, this is just 'at launch'.
8. - Yet. iTMS didn't at launch either
9. - Again, so was iTMS at launch.
10. - Hello, let them get it up and running smoothly before they pile on features.
11. - Yep, seems stupid to me too.
12. - The size does not bother me, it is worth it for the bigger screen, WiFi and FM.
13. - Here is hoping they have FM recording soon! (As for the headphones acting as the antenna, that is normal.) And it is much better at pulling in FM than the iPod

Jorgie

It is David Pogue, after all...

PaoloM wrote:

It is David Pogue, after all...

Hmm - what difference does that make? Are the points he made blatant lies? Or is it just the fact that he is giving it bad press that you object to?

Apple controls too much of the Digital Music player market already.

It's going to be tough for competitors to compete without adding alot of innovation and value-added.

hmmm, maybe the DOJ will harp on apple now, that would be something, wouldn't it.

Not that I agree with it, but hey, what's good for the goose...

 

 

Can't remember if the Zune has Bluetooth or not. Bad thing in my book if it doesn't, then I can't sync the Zune with my Tablet via Bluetooth.

Rossj wrote:



PaoloM wrote: It is David Pogue, after all...

Hmm - what difference does that make? Are the points he made blatant lies? Or is it just the fact that he is giving it bad press that you object to?

Some of his points are valid, but others are just misrepresentations.

For example, "5. Over 80 percent of 2007 cars will have an iPod connector option, none have zune". 80% is a nice round number that, however, has very little evidence to be real. Of all this 80%, how many have an iPod connector option and how many will just have a line in jack? Because the ones with a line connector jack are *gasp* "Zune-enabled"!

That said, I don't like the 3x3 limits on unprotected music transfers. That will have to be fixed ASAP.

Harlequin wrote:

Can't remember if the Zune has Bluetooth or not. Bad thing in my book if it doesn't, then I can't sync the Zune with my Tablet via Bluetooth.

No bluetooth.

Did Microsoft learn from their Xbox 360 failures and hire thermal engineers for the Zune?

PaoloM wrote:

For example, "5. Over 80 percent of 2007 cars will have an iPod connector option, none have zune". 80% is a nice round number that, however, has very little evidence to be real. Of all this 80%, how many have an iPod connector option and how many will just have a line in jack? Because the ones with a line connector jack are *gasp* "Zune-enabled"!

That said, I don't like the 3x3 limits on unprotected music transfers. That will have to be fixed ASAP.

I work 20 feet from a bunch of the Siemens engineers and Harman-Becker engineers. They make the radios/in car entertainment systems/touch screen navigation systems. Their mp3 player holders are designed for the various Ipod form factors. Their mp3 docks are designed for that proprietary connector on the ipod. Their hard drive based car stereos are designed to sync music with an ipod.

Today, I asked them if the Zune would would be compatible with their docks. The answer I got from 100% of those I asked was "What is a Zune?"

Detroit Muscle wrote:

Today, I asked them if the Zune would would be compatible with their docks. The answer I got from 100% of those I asked was "What is a Zune?"

I don't think Microsoft has been spending much of any money on the Zune right now. Haven't seen a TV commercial yet. Has anyone?

The "viral" websites only work if there are ads to them from everywhere. A link from Channel 9 will only do so much for a product

Forbes:  Zune Stinks

http://blogs.forbes.com/digitaldownload/2006/11/zune_stinks.html

true but it is forbes ...  and they arnt saying its not too good - they are saying it stinks!

id be worried if it was my product is the reason i posted the link