Awesome, its the microsoft betamax.

Note: i am referencing the betamax name in reference to its impending colossal failure. i am well aware that on a technical standpoint, betamax is superior to vhs.

That is a really horrible name....

Or is it one of those things that eventually grows on you and you deny ever calling dumb?

Dude, just so you know, Microsoft has 34 BILLION dollars in cash on their balance sheet as of June 30, 2006. They lost over 3 billion dollars on the first generation XBOX, which was widely seen as inferior to the PS2 at the time, but are now positioned for dominance of the US console market as Sony continues to bungle the PS3 launch.

The Zune is really just a revamped Toshiba MP3 player which Microsoft wanted to get out for the holiday buying season. Their longterm vision, though, is to integrate the Zune line with the XBOX Live community and use that as leverage to build a user base. One of the key features of the Zune you didn't mention will be the wireless download capability, which will be very attractive to certain users.

The Zune is clearly inferior to the iPod at this point in time, but it would be a huge mistake to underestimate the financial werewithal and strategic focus of Microsoft. They didn't become the world's biggest software company, even while putting out what many people consider to be inferior software, by being anything other than as ruthless and deadly as assassions. You better believe that Steve Jobs is worried.

it might have his attention as the biggest potential competitor but i seriously doubt he's shaking in his black turtleneck.

Eh... I'll stick with my 40GB Creative Zen thankyouverymuch...

one interesting point on the "bigger" screen: while it is a bit bigger in physical dimensions than, say, the video iPod's, the resolution is exactly the same (well, flipped on its side). So okay it'll be slightly bigger, but the image itself shouldn't look any better (if anything, it may very well look fuzzier).

Regardless, it should be interesting to see where this goes. If it does well, great... just means Apple will have more pressure to make the iPod better.

why is that bird on fire?

I agree. This will be the first major challenger to the iPod. Over time it will be good for the marketplace.

you know, every one questions it until they see video of it in action. then they start to want one, or secretly become jealous of it. it's yet to be seen that microsoft can really move into this space, but spouting apple propoganda and making strawman arguments about microsoft doesn't change the fact that they're taking it pretty fucking seriously. i don't know if i'll buy one yet, and a lot of that will have to do with the final size of the player combined with price, but after seeing it in action, i'm considering it.

Isn't this guy a bit biased? Doesn't he write for an Apple-fan site?

I'd like to hear what "MicrosoftTom" thinks about it.

This gets even better.

First, the Zune doesn't read Microsoft's own "PlaysForSure" copy protection. So if you bought anything from Napster, Rhapsody, Yahoo, Movielink or CinemaNow, you're shit out of luck trying to get it to play on your Zune.

Second, when Apple announced the pricing on their new video iPods at lower than expected, it threw Microsoft for a loop and they've since retracted any mention of pricing for the Zune while they figure things out. Walmart had the 30 GB Zune listed at $284, and it'll likely retail for $299, or $50 more than Apple's 30GB iPod.

RubberSoul said, "One of the key features of the Zune you didn't mention will be the wireless download capability, which will be very attractive to certain users."

I read that while you will be able to choose songs to download wirelessly and temporarily share songs wirelessly, you will have to plug it in to actually get the song permanently. Not sure why that would be true, but I read it on the internet. Soooo.....

I also believe another wirelesque ability is to identify songs played through FM and then automatically locate and download them upon syncing.

And what someone said earlier about the XBOX and the shear dominance with the Live Marketplace is entirely true. The release manager for the Zune clearly said that this product is not meant to be an iPod killer, but as the product is refined and integrated into the larger scheme of connected appliances (read: Media Centers and 360s) this device will become incredibly robust and powerful.

Not to mention, I'd consider buying because it ISN'T an iPod.

I still swear by my MPIO.