Comments on: Shh! Microsoft makes the Zune? Really?

By: Jimmy Hill

Jimmy Hill — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 15:20:09 +0000

“Frankly, Microsoft has no business doing this entire line anyway. It’s not what their core business is, which is making software.”

Last time I looked, it wasn’t mandatory (or even common sense) to define your core business at the start of your company’s creation, and then refuse to deviate from it in the light of other developments. Being in business is all about constantly evaluating what your core business actually is. Who are you to say what their core business is?

I dislike MS as much as the next guy, but come on, if Gates wakes up in the morning and says “our core business will from now on be providing a low-end window cleaning services” then that’s up to them. EVERY company has EVERY business doing ANY business. If they’re good at it, they may succeed, if they’re bad at it (and market it well) they may STILL succeed.

That’s capitalism. You may have heard of it.

By: Ross

Ross — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 21:32:12 +0000

I have 2 Macs and a 5G 30GB iPod, but that doesnt matter. I use my Mac because its the best and most intuative operating system out there, i use my iPod because there is no better navigation system that lets me sort through 6000 songs in a couple seconds. My point is that the reason i use them isn’t because I’m an apple loyalist, its because they are the best. If the Zune manages to do a better job for a lower price than the iPod then i’ll buy it. Simple as that. But for now all I see is a clunky player with heavy DRM, and no Mac software.

By: Mantiz

Mantiz — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 17:09:53 +0000

“Without Apple and the iPod, you wouldn’t have the Zune, guys, and you know it.”
And without the MPMan F10 you wouldn’t have the ipod.
I don’t see why if someone made it first it automatically makes it better, even if it’s true in this case.
The first ipod was also a bit behind the competition when it first came out, give it some time and a redesign or two.

By: Joe Cabrera

Joe Cabrera — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 18:57:11 +0000

>> It’s not what their core business is, which is making software.

I don’t like MS, but let’s be fair here. You could say the same about Apple and the music biz before the iPod came out. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t explore new areas.

But I do agree that their copying of Apple is pretty blatant this time. How you can do that on one hand, and put them down with the other, is beyond me. Without Apple and the iPod, you wouldn’t have the Zune, guys, and you know it.

By: RD

RD — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 16:06:03 +0000

Actually I think the colour scheme is quite interesting

By: Rick

Rick — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 23:37:38 +0000

trying to create it’s own currency >>
trying to create its own currency

like the first iPod in it’s size >>
like the first iPod in its size

By: alx

alx — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 16:38:35 +0000

I do think the problem is the 1st generation Zune, people would not buy a first generation product so maybe in one year they can buy a better one, and if the Zune or anything wants to be as cool as the iPod, it has to be at least as good looking as the actual iPod.

By: Lime

Lime — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 16:19:13 +0000

Now you have me curious. What does the Zune box look like?
judging from the branding so far i’m going to guess one 3rd will be stock photo people dancing in a green field and the top bit will be a bar in the colour of the zune inside (black/white/brown), zune logo top left.
I think it will be cube shaped like the original iPod packaging

By: links for 2006-11-11 at BrandBrains

links for 2006-11-11 at BrandBrains — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 03:05:46 +0000

[...] Shh! Microsoft makes the Zune? Really? (tags: zune microsoft branding brand) [...]

By: Nick

Nick — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 20:53:30 +0000

The problem with Microsoft is they always do the same with marketing, all hype and then dissapoint. But it doesn’t matter, even bad publicity is better than none and Microsoft is well aware of this as they busy themselves out of being irrelant.

The problem is not the first generation Zune but the third and fourth. The problem are journalists who still pick up on MS parketing time after time when its proven to be no more than bla bla bla…