Zune Me, Baby!
Sep 7th, 2007 by dave
There’s this guy over at Computerworld that thought (and probably STILL thinks) Apple was scared by Microsoft’s launch of the Zune player last year. I can’t tell you how side-splittingly funny that is!
And then…oh, well, it’s barely worth going on about. Now he thinks Apple is the new Microsoft. Hey, that’s good, isn’t it?! Oh wait, he means that in terms of the monopolistic side of Microsoft. Ehh…what?! Don’t you have to BE Microsoft-sized first? Maybe not.
On the subject of Zune versus iPod, I do have to say that I got a good laugh the other day as I was listening to Paul Thurrott’s excellent Windows Weekly podcast. Although he is fairly Microsoft-oriented, he is definitely one that I would describe as fair and balanced in his analysis of tech issues. In this podcast, co-hosted with the always-entertaining Leo Laporte, a caller on Talkshoe asks if Paul can give him any reasons not to sell his Zune and then buy an iPod instead.
I chuckled as a few moments of silence passed. Paul and Leo then in effect told the guy that they could give him no particular encouragement to keep his Zune. Paul then went on to describe the success of the iPod in terms of the whole ecosystem created around it–iTunes, the store, the ease with which people can purchase and download videos and music, et cetera. He rightly observed the importance of having a whole experience, not just simply selling a decent device, as the way to create a successful product. He really hit the nail on the head there. So, why are there still so many supposedly bright people, some pulling down CEO salaries, that don’t get that? Dunno.
Anyway, the Zune guy effectively said that it felt kinda…well, lonely…being a Zune owner. Then the money quote by one of the hosts, “…uh, Welcome to the Social?” Still waiting for that.
The Macalope does a much better and more complete job than me at thumbing his nose at this whole line of “Zune is as good as, or better than iPod” thinking, and why it’s never gonna happen that way.
‘Nuff said.
