How is the Zune Doing?

Thinking about buying the next generation "touch" 80gb this November. Hows the Zune doing for Microsoft?

 

Good decision I have apple suspicion that is what I am thinking about getting or the new Archos 505, or 605. The Zune is not doing good interms of sales. Don't get me wrong it is a great MP3 player it is just that no one will trust anything other then apple and then there is the violent advertisement.


Zune only has 1 million listeners.

 

Yeah thats for sure. Who's advertising are you talking about? Apple right?

 

Yes Apple's. I am so sick of Apple it is not funny. If they are sooooo much better then how come Microsoft is still the best OS system and is used the most. Iphone sucks and there are alot better phones that can be bought for half the price but just because it is apples it is 100 times better.

 

Apple has what I call an apple tax. They never tell there customers, but it is evident. When you buy a apple product that is equivalent or has less of a value to another product it is usually 10-25% more then the other product this is what I call the Apple Tax. The systems never get better. New Ipod Classic to old one. Except for a new memory size 160Gb. Who uses that much memory. I would lose music or even movies when there is that much space.

 

Haha, we have a lot in common I would never get another Ipod. And if they aren't over priced I don't know what is.

Ipod touch- 8gb $299. The new Zune- 80gb priced at $249

 

I am also getting the Next Zune. There is a video about it on Cnet. I will have the link in a second.

 

Sorry cannot find it!

 

They change the website too much!

 

Apple ipods are for mass media. Its becomes entrenched into society so people are like "i have to buy an ipod or I won't be cool" when there are much better players like the zens.

 

Forerunner you always got the right idea. I mean is the MBP 17" worth $3000. You can get the XPS m1730 sli for $600 dollars less same config just even better.

 

The 17-inch MBP isn't really that good, but the 15.4-inch MBP is great.

And I really don't get you guys sometimes...you say you won't buy iPods because everyone has them, yet you use Windows even though everyone does.

 

Because everyone is dependent on Windows. Because all the companies use Windows. And because everyone got Windows 95 back in 1995 when Apple was almost dead, and now most people would rather not change. And actually, the number of people switching to OS X is actually quite amazing, if you actually look at it.

And most used is not necessarily best. Windows is most used, but its not necessarily the best OS. iPods are most used but they're not necessarily the best either.

The iPhone, whether you think its worth it or not, has really changed the cellphone industry. Its upped the standard a lot, and all the cellphone companies are driven harder to innovate now that Apple's demonstrated the iPhone. Its a win win situation for the consumers.

 

This is a rant I've been wanting to make. Of course, it's a dead rant if they're actually coming out with an ipod touch that has a reasonably large amount of storage on it. Anyways...

There is a case to be made for the new Zunes. Points follow:

1. The Zune isn't going to compete with the iPod Touch. It's going to compete with the iPod Classic, hard drive to hard drive.
2. The Zune screen is nicer than the iPod Classic screen.
3. With the Zune, you can have access to a subscription music service.
4. The Zune will give you FM radio, without buying an extra accessory.
5. The Zune can play AAC, meaning (assuming you were smart enough to not buy DRM-infested tracks) you can use your iTunes songs on it.
6. They added podcast support, and a lossless format (or so said that one website).
7. The Zune comes with some "premium" earbuds that are ostensibly nicer than the iPod ones. Noise isolation?
8. There are a few gimicky things, like wireless syncing, that are kind of cool. Maybe not useful, but cool.

If they add in audible support, I'm going to buy one and sell my old 30 gig iPod to my brother

 

I whole agree with you 110%. I've been using Windows for all my life, and while I think its great and all, there is a better solution for general purpose stuff (Linux )... I've used OSX as well, since everyone at my school has Macbooks, and well I just don't like the feel of it. However, the main reason why I cannot use Linux 100% of the time is because I play way too many games that are based upon Windows... Otherwise, I'd gladly load up Ubuntu again.

Also, I'm looking to replace my aging Toshiba Gigabeat S60 soon, and the news Zunes IMO look very nice for a HD player. I'm also looking at the Clix2, the Samsung P2, and the Zen (Which I hear the memory slot is really hindered).

 

iPod Touch - WiFi that actually works. True, full web browsing on a mobile device. WiFi music purchase. YouTube. Multi-touch functioning. 3.5-inch screen with higher resolution.

Now if you compared the Zune 80 with the iPod Classic, it'd be more fair. The Zune 80 is really some competition to the iPod Classic, that's for sure. But the iPod Touch is a different class, and definitely brings a lot of features that the Zune 80 does not offer.

 

IMO, I could never use an iPod Touch while on the go especially when driving... I like the tactile touch of my current player and I can't imagine using the touch using one hand only... but maybe I'm wrong. Plus I know how to get around with buttons without even looking at the screen...

 

They are switching to Apple because they think it is the best and coolest products out. People get deceived very easy by the power of advertisement and style.

 

Oh and don't forget how shinny and appley they look

 

Apple must use chemicals to keep those worms out of themselves. LOL

 

If Apple offer an iPod Touch with a hard drive, IMO it would spank the Zune. BUT... they haven't done that, and who knows if or when they will. As it is, the 80 gb Zune looks like it stacks up pretty nicely against the iPod Classic, if you're not concerned about Mac OS and Linux compatibility.

As for the flash Zunes... I'd say they're nothing special, unless you know a bunch of people with Zunes and you can make some use of the wireless song-sharing feature. Otherwise, there are plenty of other nice small flash-based mp3 players around.

 

Yeah I would buy a sandisk flash player instead of a Zune one, but I do not buy flash players anyway.

 

I do agree...half the people that buy iPods just buy it because it automatically commands a "cool" factor.

But with that said, other companies wish they could do what Apple's done . The "cool" status of Apple is what so many other companies wish they could have.

 

why am i not suprised to find you here sam

the day that you don't need itunes for an ipod, and they have inbuilt fm radios, is the day that i get an ipod.

 

Hey, I show up in all threads Apple related in any way .

I hope I never gave the feeling that I think the iPod is perfect and Apple is flawless...because they're not, and yes, an FM radio on the iPod would be great. Not that I would use it, as I bought an iPod so I didn't have to listen to radio, but it wouldn't hurt to add it.

As for the iTunes statement, I don't know...iTunes + iPod works really well, as opposed to many other players and their software.

 

whats wrong with drag and drop?

 

You can do that with iTunes + iPod as well...just Manually Manage Music. But if you'd rather not, then you have the option to let iTunes automatically sync with the iPod. You have a choice.

 

Yay, my favorite thread. Of course many of you know that I'm going to chime in with Cowon, which hasn't been mentioned yet(surprisingly). Its obviously the best brand and it pretty much owns everything else, and ipods suck anyways!

Ok, on a more serious note, Yes the ipod is a fasion statement, or something that makes you cool, I'm surprised Paris Hilton doesn't carry around an ipod like she does one of those little dogs. Anyways, With an ipod, you get itunes, lousy sound quality, over priced, and as far as I've seen they aren't that strong. Anyways, I'm a big fan of cowon, And I've tried pretty much all of the mp3 players around, and I've been the most impressed with cowon. I just can't wait for the release of the Q5.

 

I don't really have a problem with iPods or Apple in general, yea their prices are 10-15% more than a similar product but, in my experiences every Apple product I have used has always worked seamlessly, plug and go, nothing complicated. Not to mention the fact that anything apple is damn sexy, imo, not that the zens or zunes look bad, Apple is just at a different level. Because of easy of use and stylish looks is why I think people are willing to pay a premium for Apple products.

 

Thanks for a balanced opinion .

I guess its really different in a forum like here, where everyone is so knowledgeable of technology and such. But for the average consumer, the simplicity and ease of use of iTunes and the iPod really makes a difference. And of course, the brand recognition of Apple now also helps in the average consumer's purchase.

 

I don't know... I don't think the iPod nanos are that great looking, either the new generation or the old one. But most of the other iPods do look really nice though. The 3G iPod (regular iPod) was definitely the ugliest. And I kind of like the 4G the best... it's got kind of a classic, retro look somehow. The new "Classic" looks very nice too, as does the Touch.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPod#Models

 

Yea I know what your saying about the new nano, at first I thought it was pretty bad (for Apple standards) but, I will admit that it is starting to grow on me.

 

While the new Nano's look is starting to grow on me as well, it still isn't that great looking to me...I found this mockup of the iPod Nano looks even better than the real one:



I guess with the new Nano, Apple went feature over design...the design is okay, but they really added a lot of features to the Nano.

 

Hmm, my next audio player is between the Zune 80 and the iPod touch 8GB. Essentially, it comes down to storage space and video codecs vs. web browsing and the touchscreen. Not sure which I will pick, since each has extreme strong points and extreme weak points.

Manually Manage Music is a complete and total pain in the ass.

 

i guess we will see in november if the new zune is any good. i have to admit, the larger screen in the zunes really makes a difference compared to the old 2.5" ones. i would personally go with the zune80 instead of the touch, more space to put all those movies you can watch with the nice screen. honestly i have an iphone and the novelty of the touchscreen quickly fades and all the bad points start creeping in. also in terms of weight, ive noticed the iphone is quite heavy for a phone, as heavy as a zune i think.

 

What are you people talking about that the iPhones so innovative?
It doesnt bring anything new to the phone market besides the touchscreen.
Nokias had wi-fi on phones for years now. Sony Erricson has had great mp3 playing on their walkman phones for even longer. Apple just wraps it up in a neat package.

 

How about Visual Voice Mail?
How about video and wifi (google maps, real internet (not wap), youtube)
How about 3rd party applications like widgets?

 

Out of everything, you only get visual voicemail.
Like I said, wifi's been a feature on most premium phones for a couple years now.
And I've been using 3rd part apps ever since way back when I had a Nokia 3210. Is this really all that new to you? Buy a 5 quid usb cable for any phone and put all the apps on you want.

 

So show me a wifi phone I can go on my personal website. Of course except iPhone.

 

Any of the Nokia N series I believe.

 

I think that's enough offtopic. Nokia N FTW!

 

My chocolate has internet for ****s sake

 

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But it doesn't work well. Not as well as the iPod Touch and iPhone does internet browsing.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a Mac fanboy. But saying that just because your cellphone already has internet makes the iPhone + iPod Touch's internet capabilities not an innovation is very "Apple basher"-like.

 

isn't it on 2G?

 

Its called 2.5G, or more commonly EDGE...yes. And yes, Apple should have done 3G, I agree with you.

But the overall way the browser works, in displaying full webpages and such, is amazing. And of course, both the iPhone and iPod Touch can connect to WiFi so the speeds are better there.

 

Right now the Zune still doesnt impress me much. First of all brown is a bad color choice for a mp3 player. Black and white are standard, and I like the tone of the red, but Microsoft is still new in this market...Zune came out in November 2006 so this is not bad. Some things are intriguing though, like the wireless syncing.

What I would like to see is for Microsoft to come out with a mp3 player to compete with the iPod Touch...that could be very interesting, if they incorporated the multi-touch technology in Surface with some slick styling and design.

 

The one coming out next month is black if that suites you better

 

It's about time Microsoft start implementing the surface technology into stuff.

 

Honestly, I'm kinda turned off by the iPods' look since I've seen it overused and overdone so much nowadays. Plus, I've always liked things in black. I think Nokia should have done a phone edition of the Nokia Internet 770 (? I think that's it?), that would have been awesome.

Anyway, Apple to me isn't great for creating NEW things, but are awesome at INNOVATING, IE combining existing technologies into a sleek, cool form-fitting, easy to use, easy to appeal to everyone sort of technology. That's why they've dominated the Mp3 market, and are gaining footholds in the PC market. However, I still like my Toshiba Gigabeat S60, and my good ole Asus G1s