Microsoft launches the Zune, world keeps on turnin'

We speculated, we rumored, we announced, we complained, we poked... and now it's your turn. Microsoft just busted out the Zune, so now it's time for y'all to do your thing and buy this hunk like gangbusters or just point and laugh at the color selection and software foibles. Your $250, your call.

[freak1c @ Nov 14th 2006 1:33PM]

Bwhahahaha!!! That's amazing. Best. Reference. Ever. Good on ya mate.

[RobCon @ Nov 14th 2006 5:08PM]

well said..

This thing seems like too much of a gadget, something those dorks at MS love making. I just want something that functions, and preferably looks decent. That happens to be my phone. Before that it was my ipod. Both happen to be gorgeous devices. I apologise to the nerds here for that.

And the social crap is lame. I have a mouth. I have eyes. I have a penis. I have a few other senses and body parts that aid me regularly in making friends. I don't need a shit toned mp3 player to help me out.

"Oh hey, I see you bought a Zune"
"No shush, don't say anything. Let me send you a song. Don't say...no..shut up...don't talk...wait till it's tranferred.."

[mespinosam @ Nov 14th 2006 1:05PM]

Holy Crap !

[josephm @ Nov 14th 2006 1:07PM]

Wii vs Zune..... hmmmmmm

Wii. Next?

[Max @ Nov 14th 2006 1:10PM]

Hear that sound??? It's the sound of the Zune falling on its face and nobody giving a shit...

[blackout @ Nov 14th 2006 1:11PM]

I, for one, welcome our DRM'ed overlords.

[travis @ Nov 14th 2006 1:13PM]

wow. even the box is ugly.

[kevan @ Nov 14th 2006 1:13PM]

I'll take point and laugh for 300 please.

A box full of everything I hate about modern gadgets...why would I buy it? *Snicker stupid microsoft Snicker*

[Pete @ Nov 14th 2006 1:15PM]

Yawn.... it's getting tired already.

[morty salt @ Nov 14th 2006 1:16PM]

This is the greatest Zune recomendation ever!!!!! one of these links should work. The end comments is the best.

javascript:cnnVideo('play','/video/business/2006/11/14/sorkin.minding.your.business.cnn','2006/11/21');


Video

[Daniel @ Nov 14th 2006 1:18PM]

Before people come in here and start screaming "Welcome to the social? The social WHAT?":

Social is also a noun. Microsoft's marketing team may not have the brightest people, but they got this one right (at least... grammatically)
http://www.answers.com/social
The noun social has one meaning:
Meaning #1: a party of people assembled to promote sociability and communal activity

Seems appropriate.

[Rob @ Nov 14th 2006 1:34PM]

I agree, a social is a party and can be used as a noun. But I think there are some people who will think social was the party in freshman and sophmore year you went to because you couldn't go to the prom.

but i think for me, the zune is too thick. it looks like it is the same thickness as my first gen iPod.

[Releaux @ Nov 14th 2006 2:24PM]

Absolutely correct, Daniel. It doesn't stop the tag line from being a questionable move on Microsoft's part, though... while it is correct usage, it's dangerously close to being antiquated or obsolete. Heck, the only reason I knew what they meant was from watching really old movies and TV shows that talked about "ice cream socials" when I was a kid. And that was... well... it was a long time ago.

For a company trying to out-hip Apple with a consumer gadget, you'd think they'd avoid a campaign that only emphasizes how out of touch they appear to be with the mainstream and youth culture.

Microsoft's biggest challenge is that they don't have the luxury Apple did with the introduction of the iPod. With every new incremental feature (alarm clock, contacts, calendars) the iPod raised the bar that Zune has failed to meet.

The wireless thing is intriguing if Microsoft will lay off the nerf bat a little, and the 360 tie-in has some promise. With Apple convincing airlines and most auto manufacturers to integrate iPod connectors, however, Microsoft is going to have to do something more than a couple of half-baked features, a confusing purchase points system, "it works with 1/3 of the new generation of video game consoles!" and a highly tangential marketing campaign (media saturation aside) to come up with a true iPod killer.

I can't help but wonder, however, if the major label kick-backs aren't a giant contractual sledgehammer waiting to fall. It wouldn't be the first time Microsoft resorted to strong-arm tactics to penetrate a market they couldn't secure with a better product...

[Bakk @ Nov 14th 2006 1:19PM]

Wii or Zune. What a great joke, Thanks Microsoft for allowing everyone to laugh at you for releasing another crappy copycat product and thinking its going to sell.

[Samurai P @ Nov 14th 2006 1:19PM]

My EB Games got a few in, we didn't sell a single one. We have stands and booklets describing it, but most people's response is "Oh, it's like an iPod?" And, well, theyre mostly correct.

Im not entirely sure where Microsoft thought they had any more of a chance than any other iPod competitors to make significant market share, but from my POV in retail it doesnt look like its going to happen.

[dtrenz @ Nov 14th 2006 2:30PM]

LOL! i think it's probably because NO ONE BUYS MP3 PLAYERS AT A VIDEO GAME STORE.

do you sell iPods? no? oh, what a shock.

[Kyle @ Nov 14th 2006 6:26PM]

No one ever said that the Zune is going to make people drop their Ipods and buy it. It's for people who want to upgrade when, say, their Ipod busts out of warranty, or the battery runs out of charges. I wouldn't be considering a Zune if my Ipod didnt break. Hence why Microsoft says it will work in the LONGterm.

[Jason @ Nov 14th 2006 1:19PM]

I like it. I welcome anything that can get rid of the shitty white brick I have called the ipod

[Tech Diva XXX @ Nov 14th 2006 2:02PM]

Jason, you could have gotten the black iPod. Plus the Zune comes in a white brick too. :D

[james @ Nov 14th 2006 1:19PM]

No thanks i will stick w/ my archos. I can record tv, set times to record handle any type of file longer battery etc...

[Truz @ Nov 14th 2006 1:43PM]

I like the Zune and think the color choices are very nice, the brown is cool and different. I am primarily a mac/pc user, but mainly work on the mac as I am an advertising art and graphic design major...but I really want the Zune. I am just so sick of the iPod, I need something different. I still keep my Nano for when I go to the gym, but the Zune has me very intrigued.

[xavier42 @ Nov 14th 2006 1:20PM]

I am headed to Best Buy right now to buy one!

[wwwdeveloper @ Nov 14th 2006 1:20PM]

Bought mine this morning. Black/Blue. Very nice. So far so good. I really enjoy the "feel" of it. Nice addition to my MP3 collection (iPod(video) & nano). Folks in my office had a fit over it. They will be looking to buy one on their way home from work today. I will be reaching for this over my ipods for now.

[Tech Diva XXX @ Nov 14th 2006 2:36PM]

I have to agree with Dhard. This sounds contrived. "Folks in my office had a fit over it. They will be looking to buy one on their way home from work today."

[Sy @ Nov 14th 2006 5:07PM]

wwwdeveloper is probably one of 60,000+ Microsoft employees doing his part in their viral campaign ...contrived indeed.

[wwwdeveloper @ Nov 14th 2006 7:45PM]

Nope I don't work for microsoft! Why is it hard to believe that the zune is actually a decent product? Folks in my office did get a kick out of it. I bought one on my way to work this morning and didn't really even tell anyone about it. One of the guys came in during in lunch and immediately seen it and got excited...before long I had a crowd in there wanting to try it out because they seen it on the news this morning.

This whole negative zune stuff reminds me of the early xbox days. I went out and picked one of those up as soon as they came out and everyone thought I was stupid and were saying that the xbox would be just like the dreamcast and fail.

Have any of you even actually used a zune or are you just basing your opinions on biased articles? I just like gadgets in general. I have been a huge ipod fan and right now I am really digging the zune.

[morty salt @ Nov 14th 2006 1:21PM]

This video link works just a bit better

http://www.cnn.com/video/partners/clickability/index.html?url=/video/business/2006/11/14/sorkin.minding.your.business.cnn

I have a bad feeling Zune...

Great I just got 5!!! emails from Microsoft... wow and 10% off accessories... shouldn't have given my email to comingzune.com oh, well.

[cubbiechris @ Nov 14th 2006 1:23PM]

Didn't we all laugh when MS took on Netscape? Or when MS took on Palm? Or when MS took on Nintendo and Sony? Don't count out MS...

[sdsdv10 @ Nov 14th 2006 2:11PM]

"Didn't we all laugh when MS took on Netscape? Or when MS took on Palm? Or when MS took on Nintendo and Sony? Don't count out MS..."

Ah let's see:
1) Netscape: MS incorporated IE into the OS so it went out with ever Windows computer sold, but they didn't and wouldn't include Netscape. In my book, that's not really competition but elimination of a rival.

2) Palm: Poor Palm, started out so far ahead, ended up so far behind. This was more a measure of Palm's failure than MS success.

3) Nintendo and Sony: Well, I guess if gaining market share at the expense of losing >$4Billion and growing is success, I would hate to have seen a failure. Also, as noted in financial news Nintendo, while losing market share at least continued to make a profit. The PS2 is still out selling the Xbox 360 and making money for Sony. As for the PS3, well Sony screwed themselves on that one.

Finally, I will add one that I like, it's called PlaysForSure. Generate a DRM scheme, sells licenses to hardware and software partners, open a market and sell songs to customers, then dump it all for your own new proprietary system. Hooray MS.

So no, I won't count MS out, but I also wouldn't really call them a winner either.

[Jason @ Nov 14th 2006 1:23PM]

Finally Someone with some commom sense

[airpolgas @ Nov 14th 2006 1:24PM]

at least they did not overwhelm their box with those "words, reviews, pictures, sponsors" crap like they do on their software boxes.

[SubGenius @ Nov 14th 2006 1:25PM]

I've heard that poop is the new black.
Does the Wii come in poop brown?

[Zeuz @ Nov 14th 2006 1:27PM]

the "ipod killer" finally has arrived!! *sigh*

[Alric Lopez @ Nov 14th 2006 1:34PM]

I love the CNN review. The iPod shuffle shows up and steals the show! Always said it. The best selling iPod is the nano, for which the Zune is no competition.

[Alex Padilla @ Nov 14th 2006 1:31PM]

I hope the Zune does well, I really do. It will push Apple to the limit with the iPod.

[John Miller @ Nov 14th 2006 1:31PM]

After selling my ipod to get a Gigabeat (a very smart choice), I don't think I'll do the same with the Zune. The big screen looks great and the interface is the best on the market, but I hate the fact they chose a closed Zune+Zune system. Besides, I love my 60GB Gigabeat and the Urge music service, so what would be the point?

[JoeBiltRules @ Nov 14th 2006 1:33PM]

I had nothing but the same bad stuff to say when the original Xbox came out, but now I am a VERY happy owner of a 360. I'll be keeping my eye on the Zune, iPod is getting played out.

[steve wright jr @ Nov 14th 2006 1:35PM]

Well everyone I just got my Z

[Steve Wright Jr @ Nov 14th 2006 1:35PM]

OOPS!!! well Like I was saying I just got my Zune this morning from Gamestop (black/blue Zune)and its great all of my songs,podcasts, pics from itunes is in my Zune and it works GREAT! now i just have to get my PS3 and Wii this week I just love Nov.

[ejay @ Nov 15th 2006 4:09PM]

hey you moved all your stuff over from your iPod? was it bought through iTunes or off the market? also I thought i couldnt transfer all my video and tv shows from my iPod because of the DRM, because thats all I really use it for is video, mp3 players arent my thing. If this is true ill be switching to a Zune.

People with Zunes please let me know, I want to give the Zune a chance but I dont want to waste all the money I spent on damn iTunes.

[ejay @ Nov 15th 2006 4:14PM]

hey you moved all your stuff over from your iPod? was it
bought through iTunes or off the market? also I thought i couldnt transfer
all my video and tv shows from my iPod because of the DRM, because
thats all I really use it for is video, mp3 players arent my thing.
If this is true ill be switching to a Zune.

People with Zunes please let me know, I want to give the Zune a chance but I dont want to
waste all the money I spent on damn iTunes.

[TVGenius @ Nov 14th 2006 1:40PM]

It may not be a hit, but I'd be willing to bet it's gonna sell more in the first week than K-Fed's crappy CD (6,000).

[Dan @ Nov 14th 2006 1:52PM]

You know, these negative comments sound familiar. Hmmm....I know, they're the same as when the Xbox came out.

[Wardell Latham @ Nov 14th 2006 1:54PM]

Seems pretty cool, glad to see a big time player with a feature not already implemented by Apple. MOV and ACC support was a smart move to try and woo Ipod users. Just one question though why no AVI support?

Personally though I don't see any reason to run out and buy it I'm still happy with my ZV:M and it support for the majority of the most common codecs. Not a lot of need for conversion.

[jp @ Nov 14th 2006 1:55PM]

i want to be a pilot and there are no zune-ready planes

[DTS @ Nov 14th 2006 2:00PM]

I just got done playing with a Zune at the local Office Depot on my lunch break and, even though I'm an 5G iPod owner, I can proudly say its the real deal.

First off folks, the Zune is not big at all. Bigger then a iPod...yes. But don't believe the "brick" comparisons that get thrown around here. Get out and pick one up for yourselves. It can easily slide into a pocket.

Now the screen, well that's big. Its amazing what a difference an extra half-inch/inch or whatever it is can make when viewing videos and photos. Videos and pictures were crisp and clear, not "fuzzy" or "stretched" like some people were claiming they might be.

I don't think there's any argument that the UI is hands down better then the iPod's. (Again, let me remind everyone that I own an iPod and I think its great).

I didn't think I was going to care for the Zune's jog wheel, but navigating was a cinch. For me, this is where the Zune has a clear advantage over the iPod. I work and live in Chicago where from November to let's say April its colder then a polar bear's ass...gloves are a necessity. The iPod's touch wheel requires that I remove my glove and expose it to the cold every time I want to raise the volume, navigate to another playlist, etc. Kind of annoying.

Anyway, those are my thoughts. I like both the iPod and the Zune (yes, it is possible). I'll definitely give both a try out when its time to upgrade the ol' mp3 player (unless Sirius comes out with something that totally blows my mind).

[Rohit @ Nov 14th 2006 2:02PM]

I got mine!!!!
Went to the store to check out which color I like the best and bought a Brown one. Yes you read it right. I liked the brown one. I have opened it and taken a look at it. I was a bit scared that it would be really big but no. It�s a good size. I think everyone on the net made such a big deal about its size that it got hyped.

It feels Gooooood to touch.

Now no way it�s going to beat iPod right now. I mean all the review which compares it to iPod is really stupid and all iPod fans who try to prove that Zune is not as good don�t need to. We all can agree that even though it has some extra features over all, iPod is the market leader.

Zune is a good start. It might or might not give iPod a run for its money 2 years from now but I really do not care. All I care is that I have a very good alternative to iPod. I would have gone with iPod if they had subscription music but without that there is no way I am going to spend money on iPod. So in about a year and half when I am ready to buy a new PMP I will reevaluate the situation. Check out which one offers the best solution for me. Till them I am happy in the Zune land.

Rohit

[Kevin Laird @ Nov 14th 2006 2:03PM]

I bought one yesterday at walmart. I convinced the Manager to sale it early. I took it home and installed the software, with no issues. Hooke it up and my entire library of MP#'s synced right up. I enjoyed listening to it all night. The video looks great, and the unit feels solid and well built. I liked it so much, I bought a second one today for my wife at best buy.

I also bought a XBOX 360 last year and it's worked flawlessly. I'm excited to see what features MS adds to the zune over the next year, just like they have done with the xbox 360.

PS. And although the pics don't do the box justice, it's one of the coolest product boxes, i've ever seen. lots of individual compartments all over it.

[Kelvin @ Nov 14th 2006 2:04PM]

"I like it. I welcome anything that can get rid of the shitty white brick I have called the ipod"

And replace it with a shitty brown one?
Well at least the two adjectives would match.

Seriously, though, besides the colour, I wouldn't count this out. Underestimate Redmond at one's own peril.

[Pancake @ Nov 14th 2006 2:10PM]

I am pointing and laughing at everthing about it. Its horrible DRM, it's clunky design, its bound to fail song sharing... this is what happens when big companies that have no vision try to do something.

Even though many people do not like apple and Steve Jobs, atleast Steve has the vision and say so to make his products look and function great.