News - Microsoft plugs Zune with dig at iTunes

[HEXUS]

A new TV ad would have us believe that iTunes costs a lot while the Zune Pass subscription service doesn?t.

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[Singh400]

Wish they would hurry up and release the ZuneHD over here. I really want to see how it compare to the iPod line up, before I buy either one.

Edit* Zune is arriving in June it seems

[Nelviticus]

Why do they even make Zunes in the first place? They're a software company. The only reason they created the Zune is that Apple had the iPod and Microsoft don't like Apple. Why not launch a range of sofas, or trampolines, or shoes? You don't have to create something just because somebody else has.

I wish they'd just give up with their stupid frickin' Zunes and give me one less thing to dislike them about.

[Funkstar]

Why do they even make Zunes in the first place? They're a software company.

Xbox? Mice? Keyboards? webcams?

yes they are primarily a software house, but not exclusively.

I wish they'd just give up with their stupid frickin' Zunes and give me one less thing to dislike them about.

Thats a lot of hate for something you aren't forced to use or buy. I'd save that for something that actually matters

[cheesemp]

Microsoft seem determined to take their eyes off there core market (office and windows) and diversify into everything else they can (Xbox/Zune etc) and then they wonder why people are unhappy with Windows/Office. Isn't standard business practice to ensure you don't compromise your core business growing new products? Zune and the Xbox have just been big resource drains for little profit.

[Funkstar]

But office and Windows are not gorwth products.

On one hand it is important to look after your core products/services, but it is also important to grow your business.

By your argument, Apple should never have released the iPod, after all music wasn't it's core business. Or the iPhone.

The Zune was poorly executed, but I liked the look of them more than an iPod. I don't use either, but if I had been looking for a hard drive MP3 player, I would have considered a Zune. Along with a Creative or any of the others..... but probably not an iPod

[chrestomanci]

A better offer (in the UK) would be to buy a Nokia comes with music phone, where you can keep an unlimited number of the tracks that you download.

Prices start at £82 for a phone that includes a one year subscription, that is about £7 a month. Even if you never use the phone for calls, that is a very good deal.

(I work for Nokia BTW)

[Nelviticus]

Thats a lot of hate for something you aren't forced to use or buy. I'd save that for something that actually matters

Oh, I hate a lot of things. It's part of getting old.

But seriously, it irks me when rather than innovating Microsoft just looks at what somebody else already does and apes it, backed up with vast amounts of money. It irks me even more when they end up crushing a competitor who has a better product, just as it cheers my grumpy soul when their lame efforts falter like the Zune has.

If I was them I'd give up on the Zune, and on search, and focus on something that somebody else isn't already doing extremely well. Look for a gap in the market that's empty, not filled with something great already.

[this_is_gav]

Sandisk aren't exactly renowned for their dominance in the media market, yet their Sansa players are some of the best around.

I'm all for another player in the market so long as it offers me something different or the same for less money. It's how the world works. I was under the impression that when the Zune launched it was rather good (I wasn't interested in an MP3 player back then, so can only go off the opinions of others). It's just a bit old now.

And I seriously doubt it would detract from their core products. It'll be a completely different team, and while some staff will be moved around occasionally, you have to assume it's for the benefit of the company and the products they sell. Let's face it, it's not like Windows suddenly gained a load of bugs after the Zune was launched... the support and frequency of improvements has since the Zune launched has improved immeasurably. They'll be almost completely unrelated, other than in marketing.