Wal-Mart leaks Zune price -- $284?

Thanks to some vigilant Wal-Mart watching by a friendly tipster, we've got a good idea as to the Zune pricetag, though we're still no closer to a specific launch date. By the time we got to the Zune's product page, the pricing info had been removed, but it can still be spotted in the MP3 player category listing at a lean $284 flat. Of course, Wal-Mart likes to skim as much as they can off the MSRP -- they're charging $147.88 for a 1GB iPod nano instead of Apple's nice round $150 figure -- but a whole $16 shy of the magic $300 number we were expecting Microsoft to hit isn't too shabby. Rumors still abound as to why we still don't have a solid figure from Microsoft on pricing. Some believe it has something to do with the "bombshell" of Apple's recent iPod price drop, so Wal-Mart potentially be off the mark with this $284 of theirs, but we'll give their soon-to-be-fired database lackey the benefit of the doubt.

[Thanks, Bernice A.]

[Lee Gibson @ Sep 18th 2006 6:39PM]

Dude, did you just seriously call somebody a "copycat"? Are you six years old?

[Reg @ Sep 18th 2006 7:02PM]

"the picture in this post is a PHOTOSHOP! there's no zune on walmart"

Um, Yes and No. The photo and images were not faked. And although WalMart did not have this item listed in their regular site, you could still view the Google cache and find a link to the page where it was listed. I saw it and posted the URL above. As of 7 EST, WalMart.com is under maintenance (possibly to update/remove these premature ordering pages).

...However since this is your last visit, I probably am wasting my time sending a reply since you will probably never see it.

[Jeremy Eagan @ Sep 20th 2006 5:23PM]

Yep, Engadget is so slick they even updated the MSN cache and Google cache. In case you can't find them, here are the links..
MSN
http://cc.msnscache.com/cache.aspx?q=4064704359613&lang=en-US&mkt=en-US&FORM=CVRE3
Google
http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:qzzhhfzLBTIJ:downloads.walmart.com/catalog/product_listing.gsp%3Fcat%3D164001%26showAll%3Dtrue+zune+site:walmart.com&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=3

[AJ @ Sep 18th 2006 5:24PM]

I know this might sound hypocritical right now since I did buy an iPod for $300 but at a time where Appe brought the price of the iPod 30 Gig to $250 and for $100 more you can get an 80 gig, is selling the Zune for $284 such a good idea?

AKBlade13

[James @ Sep 18th 2006 5:31PM]

Bigger screen, wifi, subscription service, music sharing, etc. I think it's worth it, but I still would like a PSP-sized screen.

[Master @ Dec 22nd 2006 9:41AM]

You could see this site:
http://www.zunecost.com

[Evan @ Sep 18th 2006 5:36PM]

Ya, a bigger screen would of been nice.

[arthurbarnhouse @ Sep 19th 2006 12:32AM]

How do you suggest powering this bigger screen? A PSP only gets about 4 hours on playback, and a Zen Vision only gets about 6. If you want something that big in your pocket, well just buy a Zen vision. If you want an MP3 player that can occasionally play videos, this is about as good as its going to get.

[disciple83 @ Sep 18th 2006 5:31PM]

its the feature set that makes the $284 worthwhile...the wifi and video capapbilities especially

[dmiller @ Sep 18th 2006 7:18PM]

As far as wifi goes: you do understand how totally useless this feature is?

It is -totally- -useless-.

In exchange for draining your battery, -every- song that you share with another Zune user (if there are any others) becomes wrapped in DRM (whether it's a previously DRM-ed Zune purchase, or a track you ripped yourself from a CD, or a generic MP3 from any source).

It will play 3 times, over a 3 day period; whichever comes first. That is all.

Why would anyone want to consider that wireless is a "feature" if it is so hugely crippled?

This is a feature that they think will encourage music buying; this is basically user-supported advertising for song tracks. If Zune is such a "community" oriented ecosystem, there is certainly not any kind of unlimited wireless sharing going on here. Some community....

[daschupa @ Sep 18th 2006 5:33PM]

If it is $300, then MS might as well make some discount bin signs. Apple has the weight to pull a big pricetag, MS does not. This price was most likely made before MS voided their bowels at the lowered ipod price tag and will drop to at least $250.

[dietfluffy @ Sep 18th 2006 5:38PM]

correction, apple sells it for $149

[bobbybilly @ Sep 18th 2006 5:40PM]

You couldn't go much bigger than this screen without either making the controls too small or the device too big.

[Reg @ Sep 18th 2006 5:48PM]

You can still view the details here:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5223245

It barely makes mention of the WiFi access in the specs! Oh well.

$284.00 seems like a Walmart-like price point so I suspect this to go for $299.99 everywhere else unless MS caps the pricetag (like XBox).

[shirizaki @ Sep 18th 2006 5:50PM]

Keep in mind this is Walmart. When have they been an honest voice in the world?


That being said, I wouldn't think they would price it over $250.

[James Freeland @ Sep 18th 2006 6:03PM]

having worked in mp3 player retail for 2 years, I can tell you that $284 is the "cost", i guarantee you. Microsoft is selling these to retail stores for $284 (maybe 280). Walmart and other stores like it are hoping to lure ppl into the store, buy the Zune at no profit and buy cases/mp3 download cards/headphones for a HUGE profit.

Best Buy makes more money on a DLO case for your ipod than they make on the ipod itself.

[nojok3 @ Sep 18th 2006 7:48PM]

I don't like that it changes as you move the player. I hope you can turn that off. Its technology they are trying to implement from the 360, but when I lay in bed or take a nap, sometimes I have my iPod video at an angle that this would probably straighten up. It looks cool, and you can download music directly on your player, HOLLA.

[Jon Graft @ Sep 18th 2006 6:05PM]

I'm thinking that the Zune (and maybe even the Playstation3) have high price tags right now, but about a week or two before it actually comes out, they are going to drop it by at least $50 so it seems like everyone is getting a really good deal.

[Sam @ Sep 18th 2006 6:54PM]

When the DS came out a few years ago, my friend pre-ordered it for over 200, but on the actual release date, it dropped to 179. So I can see the actual price being different.

[GunForHire @ Sep 18th 2006 6:58PM]

Nice - when converted to �GBP, with the 17.5% VAT, the Zune comes in at �177. Pretty damn impressive, if Amazon and other e-tailers can cut the price as much as Wal-Mart may have. A 30Gb iPod video goes for �189 on Amazon.

[Aidan @ Sep 18th 2006 7:33PM]

---Nice - when converted to �GBP, with the 17.5% VAT, the Zune comes in at �177. Pretty damn impressive, if Amazon and other e-tailers can cut the price as much as Wal-Mart may have. A 30Gb iPod video goes for �189 on Amazon.
----

If only! Has any piece of electronics ever gone sale in the UK with the pounds sterling price equal to the US price?

[Matt @ Sep 18th 2006 7:01PM]

Is it going to cost $200? yes
Is it going to have zunecast capabilities? Maybe
Can it control my tv and coffeemaker? Near future
Will I purchase a Zune this fall? yes

[Michael La Framboise @ Sep 18th 2006 7:15PM]

With such a high price, I cant even imagine why people would get that piece of (excuse my language, but) brown sh*t - I mean for that money you can get a 30gb iPod- with games, movies, awesome ui, and an awesome app (iTunes) - with this you're just getting a ugly, overpriced piece of plastic with barely any content for it available...

[Darth Abe @ Sep 18th 2006 10:08PM]

woah, looks like somebody needs some perspective

iTunes has been tested by millions of people and proven that it is really a wonderful peace of software, though personally, I would prefer a subscription model. However, I would say that this and the battery life (and possibly the ability to play games) are the only advantages the iPod has over the Zune (objectively speaking of course, we all know the iPod's crushing market share will affect the outcome but anyway). Reports of the zune as well as videos of the interface show an intuitive and good looking interface and the zune has a bigger screen for video/movie watching. I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "barely any content for it available..." I hope you're not suggesting that the Zune music store won't sell...music. Plus theres the extra goody of wifi in there, even if it turns out to be (as an above poster states) useless, I would rather have it than not.

My two cents

[the mayor @ Sep 18th 2006 7:25PM]

I actually have a friend who works for walmart.com in consumer electronics, so i may be able to verify the validity of this....

[greenfly360 @ Sep 18th 2006 7:40PM]

Until microsoft say it I will no believe anything.lol

[Nathan M @ Sep 18th 2006 7:43PM]

Price point is a bit steep, but I wasn't going to get one anyway. I don't have *nearly* 30 GBs worth of music. :P

[Dominic @ Sep 18th 2006 7:45PM]

Hmm...thats weird...how come the GoogleCache doesn't show it anymore?

[andrew harrison @ Sep 18th 2006 8:05PM]

It would be great if the Zune was released at $250, and Apple dropped the price of iPod a day later.

[blackout @ Sep 18th 2006 8:14PM]

that's far too much for a zune.

the battery life just isn't enough
and wheres the alwaysforsure playback on that?


whats M$ doing with that?

[Dominic @ Sep 18th 2006 8:51PM]

Think about it...Apple iPod 30gb was $299, when the Zune was still somewhat a "myth" per say....Apple has sold some 1 billion songs on iTunes...the only music store for iPods...you fill in the rest of the blanks, as to why there is only one store for the "Zune" called "Zune Music Store" or "iPod" and "iTunes"...Microsoft was like a few years late with the idea, but we'll have to see...

[Jeff @ Sep 18th 2006 9:11PM]

I'll state the obvious, which *some* (though not all) of you are apparently either overlooking or disbelieving:

You don't beat the top dog in town by selling your product for *more*.

I don't care what the feature set is. You're not going to beat the iPod by telling potential customers "hey! but it has wi-fi! so it's better!" Nuh-uh.

I mean, what kind of world do we live in where Microsoft can't compete with Apple on price? What kind of world do we live in where Apple can sell its products on a) premium quality, b) cachet/cool factor, *and* c) price? You're usually lucky to get one or at most two out of those three. How often do you have the hottest product around *and* you can sell it for less than the competition? Game over.

You can throw everything but the kitchen sink into your product, but if a competitor has 75% market share *and* their products sell for less, you may as well pack up and go home.

The Zune is MS's equivalent to the N-Gage.

[Robert White @ Sep 18th 2006 9:31PM]

There is no 80GB zune released at this holiday season, only 30GB.
30GB's details listed at http://www.dvdtozune.com/
Capacity
* 30GB hard driver;
* Hold up to 7500 songs, 100 hours of video, or 25000 pictures;
* Store data via USB cable connectivity.

Size and Weight
Zune (30GB) has small size especially while serving up that bigger screen.
* Weight: 5.6 ounces;
* Height: 4.4 inches;
* Width: 2.4 inches;
* Depth: 0.58 inches;
* Colors: black, white, and brown.
Display
* 3-inch screen;
* 320 x 240 in resolution.
More: http://www.dvdtozune.com/specifications.html

[MosquitoControl @ Sep 18th 2006 9:38PM]

I'll be honest - I am very unsatisfied with iPod. Well, not very, but it's overrated and iTunes is terrible. There are workarounds, but Apple tries their best to discourage them so I don't know if they genuinely count in product rating.

However, $284 is way too much for Zune. C'mon. I was all set for one of these, but not at this price.

[Michael La Framboise @ Sep 18th 2006 11:26PM]

What I mean about the content is that I highly doubt that they'll manage to add movies to the Zune Marketplace (I think that's what it's called), and without movies, the ability to play video is pretty much useless, I mean what are you gonna watch? music videos and tv shows which they dont sell either? - and since they killed the support for their own PlaysForSure drm, you wont even be able to use it for Amazon's Unbox and other such services which will probably pop up very soon. But w/e - I'll probably still get my hands on it once it comes out just to see what all the buzz is about, I doubt it'll make me switch to anything, but I really want to see how the whole Vista+Media Center+Zune experience will be...

Honestly, I'd like this thing to be atleast somewhat successful, because in the long run it just pushes all other companies towards making better products and lowering the prices.

[Chris @ Sep 18th 2006 10:18PM]

My local news (NBC 5: Dallas/Ft. Worth) just did a newcast over the Zune vs. iPod, and mentioned that the MSRP was $299.

[Kevin Crossman @ Sep 18th 2006 11:54PM]

You gotta really hate the iPod or really love the WiFi features to purchase this for $50 more than an iPod.

[Vimal @ Sep 19th 2006 12:09AM]

this sounds a little high now that apple has annouced their lower priced ipods. But I do like that wifi

[Z @ Sep 19th 2006 1:26AM]

When you get a Zune you get a Toshiba with a fake click wheel and get stuck with the Zune marketplace. Is that worth the extra bucks? You can get one of those cowon or simply an iPod for the same cash, without the crippled-wifi the Zune has.

[stephenbratz @ Sep 19th 2006 2:28AM]

dmiller:

Is Wi-Fi useless? I suggest you go to http://www.engadget.com/2005/02/19/the-ipod-bluetooth/ (as well as a few other sites) and read a few of the comments there to see how pathetic you and your fellow Apple fanboys have become. There were rumors that the new iPods would support Bluetooth. The Apple crowd was so excited with the possibility of Bluetooth that they were creaming their pants. Claims that there needs to be hacks to enable music sharing, and wishes that you could just walk into a room and an automatic sync would occur. One comment even hoped that Wi-Fi would be included in place of Bluetooth for faster syncs.

But the Almighty Jobs decides not to include wireless communication in their newest generation of player, so "M$" have on their hands the worst idea ever, nobody will ever use it and therefore it is useless, will open your player to hacks, etc. etc. etc. Let me guess, after Microsoft releases their player, to be competitive Apple will add wireless and suddenly it will be the best thing since sliced bread, would be better than the cure for cancer, would bring peace to the Middle-East, and save all of humanity.

As for Bluetooth, I think that would have been a good thing to include in the Zune in **addition** to Wi-Fi. Why? Suppose somebody shares a song with me over Wi-Fi (something that is faster than Bluetooth). I listen to the song a few times, I like it so I want to purchase it. Unfortunately, I am on the road, in an airport or something other place where I don't want to pay $20/hr for Wi-Fi accesss - but I do have my cell phone with me, which supports Bluetooth and is paired with my Zune. I would like it to dial out using my phone, accuire a license, and now I can listen to the song over and over again on the plane. But for now, when released the Zune beats Apple's offerings for wireless.

[Thor @ Sep 19th 2006 9:54PM]

stephenbratz,

Before you get all worked up into a lather, you might want to consider the different power requirements of Bluetooth and WiFi. There is nothing inconsistent about being excited about an iPod with Bluetooth and thinking that WiFi on a portable music player is not such a good idea.

Personally, I just can't get all worked up about wireless capabilities at all. It sounds like a gee-whiz feature that is a better marketing tool than it is actually useful. Sure, it might be cool to have a little Zune party and share a few songs, but after the novelty wears off what's left? Being able to mark a song for purchase is just not that exciting or useful in my opinion. My memory is not so poor that I can't just type the name of the band into a search field.

We'll see if the reality matches all the hype.

[Beanie @ Sep 20th 2006 11:36AM]

If you think you are going to be able to pair a bluetooth Zune with your bluetooth phone, I have some ocean front property I'd like to sell you in Arizona.

[Ferny @ Sep 19th 2006 3:31AM]

at $284 I don't think it's a bad deal but not enough to win ifollowers I mean Ipod fans over.

[Peter @ Sep 19th 2006 6:45AM]

I can buy the 30GB Video iPod locally for $239. I currently own a 4GB Black iPod Nano which I'm passing down to my kid sister. I think $284 is way too high for the Zune. If Microsoft wants to get serious market share it should consider pricing it at $199.00. Only then would I consider it. The WiFi feature does nothing for me (probably a battery killer). I like the bigger screen size and the FM Tuner however.

[hchute @ Sep 19th 2006 10:41AM]

Retailers had leaked $299 a few weeks ago, so Wal-Mart's $284 boo-boo seems in line with that.
Wishful thinking, but we're hoping to see lower prices than that, given Apple's unveiling last week of $249 30GB and $349 80GB iPods.

- frabgod
http://www.Zunerama.com

[[Jesse] @ Sep 19th 2006 5:23PM]

LOL

[podarsmarty @ Sep 19th 2006 5:33PM]

haha sweet walmart gotta love em

[Thor @ Sep 19th 2006 10:10PM]

stephenbratz,

Someone more technical than me will have to weigh in on the amount of power consumed per MB sent on WiFi vs Bluetooth.

I am not trying to deflect anything. Wireless seems overhyped to me, regardless of who makes the device.

Your whole point, by the way, rests on faulty logic. You treat all Apple fans as a monolith. Some, of course, think wireless capabilities on an iPod would be great. Others do not. So the fact that some Apple fans got excited about Apple working on bluetooth-enabled iPods does not mean that others can't pan Microsoft for putting WiFi on the Zune.

[stephenbratz @ Sep 19th 2006 6:08PM]

Thor, would Bluetooth be more battery efficient? Possibly. Remember, bluetooth has less bandwith. If you need to transfer a 10MB song it would take much longer over Bluetooth than Wi-Fi, would it take more battery life using Bluettoth than Wi-Fi? But your use of deflection is superb. Rather than address the issues of Apple fans praising wireless, even suggesting Wi-Fi as in the article I linked, you instead say it is a battery issue. Then you say that you do not want wireless, that is fine, but many others wanted it and MS actually delivers, but many of those Apple fans deride it.

[Esquire @ Sep 20th 2006 1:34AM]

$284 is definitely not the price:
http://www.zunester.com/2006/09/zune-price.html