Dell scraps plans for new MP3 player in a fit of sanity?

The oh so humble, Mr. Person Familiar with the Matter is back with knowledge that Dell has postponed its Zing-based MP3 player... indefinitely. This, according to the Wall Street Journal -- the very source of the original DJ Ditty rebirthing rumor. Dell will shelve the MP3 prototypes it was preparing for a possible fall launch and focus instead on building out its Zing software to organize the music and movies downloaded to Dell PCs. So no DJ Ditty 2, imagine our sense of loss. A spokesman did say that Dell plans to launch another "half-dozen laptops and desktops between now and the end of the calendar year." Would that list include the Studio XPS 13 and 16 by any chance Dell?

[Via Electronista]

[Haikibutsu @ Nov 10th 2008 1:38AM]

America likes pretty looking things. Not to say anything fanboyish, but look at it: The average American (As in the don't care about mac vs PC) thinks Macs and iPods are the 'cool' 'hip' stuff. If dell wants to get in badly, they need to get some flashy advertising, and some better looking players. Especially since they have came back to the party pretty late.

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Nov 10th 2008 1:40AM]

Bad economy to spend money trying to break into a new market.

[1234321 @ Nov 10th 2008 1:47AM]

all they need is the dell dude to beat up the mac guy... and then release the Studio XPS 16
and we'll be sold

[Haikibutsu @ Nov 10th 2008 2:09AM]

Oh, and don't call me a fan boy, I have seriously looked at dells for my next computer. I am too lazy to update my avatar. I am now strongly sold on an HP, but yeah. That, and the only reason I have an iPod classic is because I need the large amount of space, and because the features cater to me. Just because I like it, doesn't mean you like it. I really could care less if you people had iPods or Zunes, Macs or PCs or Linuxes, etc etc.

It doesn't look like Dell is taking the generic-cheap-mp3-player approach, but the hip-cool-zune-or-iPod approach. If so, they need to give this a facelift if they want to sell.

[Kelmon @ Nov 10th 2008 5:35AM]

@Haikibutsu

Here's a tip: don't pander to people's opinions. I find it ridiculous that anyone who says something nice about Product A or Company B seems to feel the need to then say that they also actually like Product X or Company Y because otherwise their opinion is less relevant or some such crap. You'll always annoy someone. I'm sure this comment annoys someone (possibly it's you) and I don't care.

[mercurysunblast @ Nov 10th 2008 6:43AM]

"I really could care less if you people had iPods or Zunes, Macs or PCs or Linuxes, etc etc."

I think you meant, "I really couldn't care less..."

[pika2000 @ Nov 10th 2008 1:43AM]

Dell, instead of yet another MP3 player, why don't you focus on bringing the inspiron mini 12 outside Japan and into the US. Most people already have iPods or Zunes already.

[dBs @ Nov 10th 2008 1:44AM]

So instead dell buyers (my condolences) get to enjoy free, crappy MP3 software bloatware on their computer!

[CJ @ Nov 10th 2008 4:11AM]

... As opposed to Mac buyers, who get an AWESOME, and absolutely not-bloated MP3 player on THEIR computers.

[eggothewaffle @ Nov 10th 2008 1:51AM]

In other news, the Dacia Sandero still hasn't arrived in the UK.

[Valicore @ Nov 10th 2008 2:01AM]

Oh so obscure, I had to Wikipedia that to understand it lol.

[telepheedian @ Nov 10th 2008 12:20PM]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dacia_Sandero

In the UK motoring show Top Gear, the hosts, Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond had a running joke about the car's delayed arrival to the UK, before revealing that it wouldn't be coming to the UK at all.

[Rekit @ Nov 10th 2008 1:57AM]

Next up to come to their senses in the no-need-for-a-PMP game: Myspace

[gerrrg @ Nov 10th 2008 2:07AM]

OMG, smarter people prevailed!

Now if they'd only get a CHEAP (as in under $250) touchscreen netbook running on Linux.

[rand @ Nov 10th 2008 9:56AM]

Actually smarter people would have stopped with the last round of MP3 products Dell tried to sell. Instead, they spent millions of dollars buying Zing, developing/building prototypes, procuring production parts only to finally realize what they should have known long ago.

[Vinn @ Nov 10th 2008 2:46AM]

Zing!

[Alex @ Nov 10th 2008 3:08AM]

Sony should do the same thing, sometimes I wonder who heads these product development departments! http://talksony.com - there is a topic on why the PSP phone would be the ultimate solution... PSP/Cellphone/MP3 Player (would be unbeatable)

[Coolty @ Nov 10th 2008 9:21AM]

You mean like a sony mylo 2?

[Cole Mitguard @ Nov 10th 2008 5:17AM]

That ugly thing would be DOA for sure. Unless they were able to price it in the sub $50 price range. But even then... its still ugly as sin. And it looks like it has one of those icon diplays like the Sandisk players do. I dont know, I always hated those displays.

[Paulmichael @ Nov 10th 2008 5:19AM]

Hey, Dell! Take your (now defunct) Axim line, add a phone to it, and slim it down. NOW we'd be talking, and my $$$ would be yours.

[Kelmon @ Nov 10th 2008 5:40AM]

Please tell me that this news means that the idiot "analyst" Robert Enderle is now out of a job.

http://www.macuser.com/rivals/rob_enderle_does_not_know_the.php

[Hammer @ Nov 10th 2008 5:56AM]

Dell = Done. Michael Done should shut down the headquarter and return money back to his shareholders!

[Jack Smith @ Nov 10th 2008 6:06AM]

very smarty and beautiful. http://www.laptops-battery.co.uk/ibm-thinkpad-t60-battery.htm

[nick @ Nov 10th 2008 7:54AM]

that is totally a rebranded sansa connect lol

[Coolty @ Nov 10th 2008 9:34AM]

Glad to know I'm not the only one who noticed the similarities.

[rand @ Nov 10th 2008 9:59AM]

Who do you think did the Sansa? Zing!

[JoeT @ Nov 10th 2008 10:07AM]

Which makes one wonder why they didn't release it just to recover some of their investment. I like the Connect, and PC World found the Connect's signal-to-noise ratio the best.

[Unique Gift Ideas @ Nov 10th 2008 11:54AM]

The Zing could have the best user interface out there, and people STILL wouldn't buy that atrocious looking thing. Someone at Dell should be flogged for letting this ill-fated project live as long as they let it.