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November 27, 2006
Apple Breathes Easy
Microsoft's Zune, dubbed the "iPod killer," is a bust.
The world's largest software maker hopes to capitalize on consumers who may have wearied of the iPod, which has sold nearly 70 million devices and commands about 75 percent of the portable music player market.Slow building process = we're going to have to do a lot more marketing.But initial shopper interest suggested the Zune media player—heavily promoted in gadget reviews and television talk shows—was in for a slow building process.
The device has garnered some harsh reviews, the best being this one from Andy Ihnatko at the Chicago Sun-Tribune:
The Zune is a complete, humiliating failure. Toshiba's Gigabeat player, for example, is far more versatile, it has none of the Zune's limitations, and Amazon sells the 30-gig model for 40 bucks less.The Zune seems more like an effort to push the Microsoft brand (you can't download the installer using Mozilla, for instance) or make the record companies happy than to actually provide a music player for everyday use.Throw in the Zune's tail-wagging relationship with music publishers, and it almost becomes important that you encourage people not to buy one.
The iPod owns 85 percent of the market because it deserves to. Apple consistently makes decisions that benefit the company, the users and the media publishers -- and they continue to innovatively expand the device's capabilities without sacrificing its simplicity.
Companies such as Toshiba and Sandisk (with its wonderful Nano-like Sansa e200 series) compete effectively with the iPod by asking themselves, "What are the things that users want and Apple refuses to provide?"
Microsoft's colossal blunder was to knock the user out of that question and put the music industry in its place.
In case it isn't obvious, I've become extremely disillusioned with Microsoft of late. The low point has been the past few weeks, with the never-ending Windows Updates. Memo to Microsoft: you know the last thing people want to do when they start up their computer? Restart it after installing your latest attempt to fix your buggy software.
Adding to my fun is the fact that for some reason, my store-bought copy of Office Professional decided it needed the software key again. When I entered the key from the CD case, I was told it was invalid. I repeat - I purchased this software.
Enough is enough.
When my desktop dies, it's going to be replaced with something from here.
Posted by slublog at November 27, 2006 01:07 PM
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Comments
You don't "buy" Microsoft software any more, you just lease it. If you don't "activate" it w/in 30 days, it shuts itself off. And of course, you have to download their "validation tool" which checks all your software, often forcing you to upgrade or patch whether you want to or not.
Blackmail.
Posted by: Steve B at November 27, 2006 07:36 PM
Vista. I haven't had a single problem with it. In fact, I think its wonderful. Granted, I've only had it since RC1 was legally available, so it's only been a few months. I really do think the $5 for a legal key that's good until June is worth it. I don't wanna go back to XP.
Posted by: Anonymous at November 27, 2006 11:31 PM
I too am thinking of going to a mac when it comes time to replace my 2001-vintage Dell pc.
And why can't somebody make a plain jane music player? I don't want to watch tv on it or listen to the radio of record voice memos. I just want a simple gizmo that shows up in Explorer when hooked up; click and drag songs from my hard drive to the device; and then listen to music. Simple. Easy. JUST a music player.
Is there such a thing?
Posted by: Barry at November 29, 2006 12:20 AM