Finally, the gloves come off. After months of hints and speculation, Microsoft announced that, yes, it is headed for a showdown with Apple.
In one corner is Microsoft with its billions to invest in R&D, design and marketing to support its own media player -- one that is expected to tie in closely with its entire product line, including Xbox , Media Center and its entertainment and productivity software.
In the other corner is Apple with its iPod -- a music player that has become nearly as ubiquitous -- and just as essential to many, many fans -- as a cell phone.
In truth, the face-off between these two companies and their products -- in the case of Microsoft, its prospective product -- is not quite as dramatic, or cut-and-dry, as it may first appear.
Even Microsoft seems to acknowledge that it has a way to go before its Zune player might seriously challenge the iPod. The company is going to release one product this year, according to comments made to financial analysts by Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft's entertainment division.
News source: Tech News World
In one corner is Microsoft with its billions to invest in R&D, design and marketing to support its own media player -- one that is expected to tie in closely with its entire product line, including Xbox , Media Center and its entertainment and productivity software.
In the other corner is Apple with its iPod -- a music player that has become nearly as ubiquitous -- and just as essential to many, many fans -- as a cell phone.
In truth, the face-off between these two companies and their products -- in the case of Microsoft, its prospective product -- is not quite as dramatic, or cut-and-dry, as it may first appear.
Even Microsoft seems to acknowledge that it has a way to go before its Zune player might seriously challenge the iPod. The company is going to release one product this year, according to comments made to financial analysts by Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft's entertainment division.
News source: Tech News WorldNext year, it will release additional offerings, he said, broadening the product line over time. Along the way -- perhaps over the course of five years or so -- Microsoft will spend "hundreds of millions of dollars."
It's a lot of firepower to throw at one market segment, especially as there is no guarantee Microsoft will win -- or even establish a sizable presence in this space -- when all is said and done.
"Microsoft has been known to pour millions of dollars of investment into a category and not have anything to show for it in the end," Charles King, principal of Pund-IT, told TechNewsWorld.
There is its purchase of Great Plains software, for instance -- with which Microsoft planned to dominate the SMB marketplace. Even reasonably successful endeavors, such as Xbox 360, have cost Microsoft more than it has made. "That division is still in the red," King said.
"Microsoft has a ton of money and a lot of smart people working for it -- it can create great products. But they haven't always been able to leverage those resources into new market domination," noted King. "Yes, they still dominate on the desktop and in office productivity, and they probably will for a long time to come."
Why do people keep going on about that? Personally I havent seen a BSOD since Windows ME, and I know many others with the same experience.
Get over it.
Why do people keep going on about that? Personally I havent seen a BSOD since Windows ME, and I know many others with the same experience.
Get over it.
I have seen BSOD in Windows XP, not as many but still. However... my iPod has frozen a few times, so nothing its perfect
My iPod froze up a LOT when I first got it, but now it hardly ever does. I don't know what is different. Maybe I had to abuse it some so it knew it was my bitch.
However, considering that the "average joe" has no idea what DRM is, no doubt Microsoft and Apple with share the spoils of this market in years to come. I dont really see one dominating the other tbh...
For that matter, point me towards a portable digital music player that supports no DRM of any kind.
It's proven that an open system will get abused. Look at windows 9598 locking thing down a little is not bad. forcing the hand of the costomer is.
i really don't like sureplay for that concept. the drm is to intrusive.
it's clear microsoft will not had anything interesting to the market this time around. And if they don't make some headway they are going to loose badly and be look down as another ipod clone that failed....
Last edited by Simon on 03 Aug 2006 - 18:57
Last edited by Simon on 03 Aug 2006 - 18:59
It doesn't compare with the iPod looks wise.. why do you think that the guy who designs stuff for Apple wins so many damn awards, and gets so much accolade? Because it looks superb.. it feels precious.. the Zune just looks like a mish mash of design ideas!
OK, let's see... turned it sideways, and imagined this is a white iPod:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e3/Zune.jpg
... nope, still uglier. Comparison:
http://netpublics.annenberg.edu/files/video-ipod.jpg
I dislike the cheap scroll wheel, and the fat black outline, for two things. Additionally, the iPod has an intuitive UI by only using a scroll wheel, so it's more minimalist too than this one.
Last edited by Jugalator on 30 Jul 2006 - 20:41
Well said!
It's not very "mass market", it's a very geeky name, like XBOX.
It's not very "mass market", it's a very geeky name, like XBOX.
Yet XBox sells......many people have Xboxs and I think more have the Xbox 360 (don't quote me though).
What is in a name? I remember when people with making fun of the name "iPod" and "Wii". Most people love the iPod and a lot of gamers want a Wii.
Everytime a company comes out with a new product it seems like all people can do is diss the name. Xbox 360, Vista, iPod, Zune, Wii, Motorola RAZR, etc.
RAZR was the top selling phone in Canada here for a while. Yet people make fun of that name all the time.
There is NOTHING in a name when it comes to how good it will do.
It's not very "mass market", it's a very geeky name, like XBOX.
You can say the same for names like iPod, Zen, Rio, etc when they came out. A name is just a name, if the product is good it will sell.
Who cares what it's called as long as it works and is good quality play.
btw, I like the zune name, nothing wrong with it.
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