It's the first gen Zune, (again) on Woot (read: limited stock), refurb, $5 shipping, your choice of colors, and just a Benjamin. And with that refreshing new firmware we think it's quite the steal. Potential Zune buyers: what, exactly, are you waiting for?
I never installed the CD. I went straight to the website. I am getting the "failed to load error." This is a Vista machine. I've tried a lot of troubleshooting and haven't been able to get it to work. Searching the forums, I see that people have had a hard time fixing this problem. Some say reformat and reinstall. I'm not willing to do a reformat. I'd rather just return the Zune and buy another iPod. I will try installing it on an XP machine before I give up.
great deal. I got on last Woot. Should be here tomorrow. Hopefully the new Zune software (due Nov) is good. I hate the way the current one tries to screw with album art - ugh!
"Dumping," as I understand it, implies that the prices of certain products will be lowered in order to gain market share.
The very fact that most Apple products are still far too expensive for me to purchase makes me wonder how Apple is "dumping," but if you're aware of an example, please inform me.
That's a sweet deal! Here's something I've wondered, though: When MS gets rid of all the old Zune 30 they have in stock currently (say within 6 months or so), then are they gonna make MORE Zune 30s that look like last generation or are they going to make more Zune 30s that look like the new gen?
I'm waiting for Linux to work successfully on it - I almost got one of these refurbished units, though, just to wait for the Zunix folks to finish their project.
Something nobody seems to remember anymore is that Microsoft gives money to Universal (i think it is universal) for every zune sold. They are basically paying a record company when the user of the product may never even use a universal product. I don't think that type of thing should be supported. Please don't buy this product and give the record companies more power. I personally don't want to live in a world when I have to pay a tax to the record companies just for buying a product that plays music.
Please think of the consequenses of participating in such a business structure before buying this product. Wether you like the Zune or not there are other choices out there that don't reward the record companies for doing absolutely nothing!
Yes, but OTOH, if the price drops low enough, hardware + tribute to record companies becomes > the price. At that point, we all buy them to bankrupt Microsoft. Then, we load them all on a C-130 and drop them on Universal. Take care of _two_ evil corporate behemoths at once!
I picked one up from the woot vip deal and I like it more than I did my ipod before someone stole it. I ordered another one today as an xmas gift for someone. I'm not sure why everyone is so concerned about it being a referb. They come with the same warrenty that a new one has. Mine looks brand new aside from the "referbished" branding on the box.
Hey Ryan, I read your original review of the Zune 30, and in a nutshell, you said the following:
"Do we think there's potential for betterment of the platform and especially the player through software updates? Given enough time, absolutely. Would we recommend the product for purchase, like, right now? Not a chance."
Has/will your collective opinions of the original Zune changed with the software and interface updates that are coming soon?
This woot sale is giving Microsoft and the rest of the market a whole bunch of information on price points...and some unfortunate information (for Microsoft) on demand at those price points.
For example, this Zune has been on sale all day at woot.com, and as of 7:25 PM PST it hasn't sold out. That shows how poor the demand for it is - at the $100 price point, you still can't sell them. Has the market been saturated by all the Zune sales? Have these refurb and old model sales cannibalized the Zune market to the point where it's significantly affected the retail sales of the Zune? Probably.
Compare that to the bizarre TJ Maxx iPod sale, where a price cut (albeit on the newer models) caused a major sellout across the TJ Maxx stores...those that had stock, that is. And that's with the Apple store being stocked full of refurb iPods.
This should settle the dollar per gig debate. I have just under 30 gigs of music on my computer. It's ludicrous to think I listen to even half of that, but let's say I listen to all of it, all 30 gigs. Now, a $100 Zune can store 100% of my music, that's one dollar for every one percent of my music that it can store. An 80 gig ipod can also store 100% of my music, at a higher $2.50 per percent. A 160 gig ipod can store 100% of my music at an unfortunate $3.50 per percent. Clearly the Zune is my best bet for the money. In closing, if you've got
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
Download the Zune Software from the website, don't use the CD that came packaged in your box.
I never installed the CD. I went straight to the website. I am getting the "failed to load error." This is a Vista machine. I've tried a lot of troubleshooting and haven't been able to get it to work. Searching the forums, I see that people have had a hard time fixing this problem. Some say reformat and reinstall. I'm not willing to do a reformat. I'd rather just return the Zune and buy another iPod. I will try installing it on an XP machine before I give up.
great deal. I got on last Woot. Should be here tomorrow. Hopefully the new Zune software (due Nov) is good. I hate the way the current one tries to screw with album art - ugh!
Microsoft dumping on a market in order to gain market share?
Say it ain't so.
MS - SANDISK Hair Wars
MS- 1
SanDisk - 0
http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/10/pride-hair-on-the-line-for-2007-zune-holiday-sales/
Yeah, damn dirty of them! Apple would never do such a thing. Oh wait...
"Dumping," as I understand it, implies that the prices of certain products will be lowered in order to gain market share.
The very fact that most Apple products are still far too expensive for me to purchase makes me wonder how Apple is "dumping," but if you're aware of an example, please inform me.
That's a sweet deal! Here's something I've wondered, though:
When MS gets rid of all the old Zune 30 they have in stock currently (say within 6 months or so), then are they gonna make MORE Zune 30s that look like last generation or are they going to make more Zune 30s that look like the new gen?
Buy.com appears to have the brown Zune for $100 with free shipping.
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=203171424&adid=17070&dcaid=17070
It also seems to be new (not a refurb)
why does buy.com say that this brown zune is for preorder? zunes have been out forever, so why are they taking preorders for it?
"Or you could buy a brand new one on buy.com for $100.
http://www.buy.com/prod/microsoft-zune-30gb-digital-multimedia-device-brown-audio-player-video/q/loc/111/203171424.html"
GAH-DAMMIT!
I bought one for like $45 more!
ANGRY!!! I'm such an idiot.
I guess the GOOD thing about this is that i might actually run into people w Zunes so that I may actually be able to share music.
I'm waiting for Linux to work successfully on it - I almost got one of these refurbished units, though, just to wait for the Zunix folks to finish their project.
guys,
http://www.buy.com/prod/microsoft-zune-30gb-digital-multimedia-device-brown-audio-player-video/q/loc/111/203171424.html
buy.com also has it for $99, new, and free shipping
but only available for the brown color.
but anyways, i got one from woot, i like the white one better.
woot!
just read that many have already posted this
T_T
Something nobody seems to remember anymore is that Microsoft gives money to Universal (i think it is universal) for every zune sold. They are basically paying a record company when the user of the product may never even use a universal product. I don't think that type of thing should be supported. Please don't buy this product and give the record companies more power. I personally don't want to live in a world when I have to pay a tax to the record companies just for buying a product that plays music.
Please think of the consequenses of participating in such a business structure before buying this product. Wether you like the Zune or not there are other choices out there that don't reward the record companies for doing absolutely nothing!
Yes, but OTOH, if the price drops low enough, hardware + tribute to record companies becomes > the price.
At that point, we all buy them to bankrupt Microsoft. Then, we load them all on a C-130 and drop them on Universal. Take care of _two_ evil corporate behemoths at once!
Inspiration courtesy of:
http://ars.userfriendly.org/cartoons/?id=19990218&mode=classic
Just bought one...in brown.
Firmware 2.1 should make it better.
I picked one up from the woot vip deal and I like it more than I did my ipod before someone stole it. I ordered another one today as an xmas gift for someone. I'm not sure why everyone is so concerned about it being a referb. They come with the same warrenty that a new one has. Mine looks brand new aside from the "referbished" branding on the box.
got mt refurb from woot in perfect condition
Brownie!!!!!!!!!
Hey Ryan, I read your original review of the Zune 30, and in a nutshell, you said the following:
"Do we think there's potential for betterment of the platform and especially the player through software updates? Given enough time, absolutely. Would we recommend the product for purchase, like, right now? Not a chance."
Has/will your collective opinions of the original Zune changed with the software and interface updates that are coming soon?
This woot sale is giving Microsoft and the rest of the market a whole bunch of information on price points...and some unfortunate information (for Microsoft) on demand at those price points.
For example, this Zune has been on sale all day at woot.com, and as of 7:25 PM PST it hasn't sold out. That shows how poor the demand for it is - at the $100 price point, you still can't sell them. Has the market been saturated by all the Zune sales? Have these refurb and old model sales cannibalized the Zune market to the point where it's significantly affected the retail sales of the Zune? Probably.
Compare that to the bizarre TJ Maxx iPod sale, where a price cut (albeit on the newer models) caused a major sellout across the TJ Maxx stores...those that had stock, that is. And that's with the Apple store being stocked full of refurb iPods.
This should settle the dollar per gig debate. I have just under 30 gigs of music on my computer. It's ludicrous to think I listen to even half of that, but let's say I listen to all of it, all 30 gigs. Now, a $100 Zune can store 100% of my music, that's one dollar for every one percent of my music that it can store. An 80 gig ipod can also store 100% of my music, at a higher $2.50 per percent. A 160 gig ipod can store 100% of my music at an unfortunate $3.50 per percent. Clearly the Zune is my best bet for the money. In closing, if you've got
@weddiddiot
That was an awesome explanation.
I honestly feel that this 100$ Zune is a real "steal of the season". Go for it till the units are on shelfs.
@ joseph
WHAAAAT???
I'll just wait for the free zune to show up in my box of Super Sugar Crisp.