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.]

[(Unverified) Posted 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.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 20th 2006 1:34AM]

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

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 20th 2006 2:28AM]

Test?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 20th 2006 12:13PM]

Not to sound like a loser here, or shun myself in the geek world... but this *is* Microsoft. As tainted of a name that might be to some computer enthusiasts, for most people it's the name of the megacorporation that makes their most important computer elements, probably one of the only computer brands they recognize.

To geeks and normal users alike, I think having a Microsoft Zune to use with your Microsoft system might seem more attractive than something from longtime competitor Apple, regardless of the features.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 20th 2006 9:32PM]

Sad to say, we remember the day when Microsoft put out features for end users. Now it appears they have to make sure all their corporate partners needs are met, before those of the actual purchaser and end user of the products.

Again just more of the tail wagging the dog.

mcm

[lulianping Posted Dec 3rd 2009 12:58AM]

its the feature set that makes the $284 worthwhile...the wifi and video capapbilities especially
http://www.laptopbatteryclub.com/

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 4th 2007 1:28AM]

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.
from:
http://www.dvdtozuneconverter.com