CNN Ridicules Microsoft Zune

[+Warwagon MVC]

For all the ****ing idiots on this board arguing, shut the hell up. It's ****ing annoying, and it's the same redundant **** over again. Seriously, this world has become who can say the biggest opinion to change the other's mind.

This ****ing CNN report is a ****ing joke. Why would they put a lady reporter talking about an electronic device, not that women do not know anything, but this lady was just plain stupid. Email, it's not a ****ing pda. Does it look like it has a ****ing keyboard on it.

Tell me how you really feel

[WhoTheF]

For all the ****ing idiots on this board arguing, shut the hell up. It's ****ing annoying, and it's the same redundant **** over again. Seriously, this world has become who can say the biggest opinion to change the other's mind.

This ****ing CNN report is a ****ing joke. Why would they put a lady reporter talking about an electronic device, not that women do not know anything, but this lady was just plain stupid. Email, it's not a ****ing pda. Does it look like it has a ****ing keyboard on it.

Okay. Now take a deep breath. Calm down. And let it go.

[Toology]

that was kinda ridiculous.. it all looked very planned. why does CNN hate microsoft?

Perhaps because of MSNBC? :D

They "reviewed" it? Whatever, just give me the specs and I'll be the judge.

[kryptonate]

Fact is that you can't compare the Zune with the iPod shuffle because it doesn't have the same targetgroup and because it has got a totally different purpose. The iPod shuffle is for listening to music only while the Zune is for listening and sharing music and for watching videos. If they want to compare the iPod shuffle to something then they should compare it with a regular mp3-player that also just plays music and doesn't have tons of gigs as storageroom. The only thing funny about all this is the stupidity at CNN for this. If you want to critise the Zune good then compare it with the iPod video or so.

[DrCheese]

To be honest I don't really see the whole video thing being all that appealing to people, at least until it comes with a camera feature ala mobile phones.

I mean seriously when is anyone going to use it? Watching movies on a bus? Maybe but doubtful

Its a seriously ugly piece of kit. Also seems a little big considering nowadays the average mp3 player is getting smaller and smaller.

The wifi feature is insanly retarded, you can't even sync music from your pc or media center from it. It relies on Microsoft having a large amount of sales and even then, you can't freely transfer music to people(3 playbacks only???)

Also MS really made a mess of things by not allowing playsforsure content to run on it. I can understand why itunes music won't work on it but to dump playsforsure just like that is stupid.

Anyway it is a first gen product so MS can be forgiven for doing somethings wrong but we'll see what future releases are like

[Flummery]

I am amazed people are complaing so much about size and weight of the Zune compared to an Ipod.

The Zune is .3 inches larger in height, .1 inches smaller in width, and .15 inches larger in depth. Seriously, are these size differences really to much for some of you to handle? Your hand probably changes that much in size depending on the weather, for crying out loud.

As far as weight goes, .8 ounces difference, I'm sorry but that's really not a whole lot, eat an extra flake of Wheaties in the morning if you can't hold .8 ounces more. And considering the size of the screen compared to an Ipod I think the Zune's "super excesive" size/weight is worth it.

Link to Spec comparison:

http://www.zunegroove.com/2006/09/23/zune-...ecs-comparision

I can't verify it at the moment, so I maybe wrong but I thought MS was going to allow anyone with ITunes Music to download the same songs from the Zune marketplace for free so that Ipod users do not have to re-purchase the same songs to work on the Zune. Anyone have any links to this by chance? I'm in a hurry and do not have tiem to fully research it at the moment.

You also have to remember that this is the first generation of Zunes, what generation is the IPod on? 7? 8? I forget. I don't think MS is to worried about the IPod since their version one is as good as Ipods 7th or 8th version.

[revvo]

I'll admit that I don't like much of the Zune because of its restrictions and boring look, but I'll also agree that this is not fair to compare the Zune to an ipod shuffle or nano. Compare the Zune to the ipod video, at least be fair on that.

[redfish]

You're missing the point. You have to look at it from her perspective: The Zune is being marketed primarily as a music player, and all SHE needs in a music player is what the shuffle offers. She doesn't CARE that it has a video screen and 30x more capacity, it's just a another music player.

But in all, NONE of them had any sort of enthusiasm at all for the Zune.

At least they pointed out that the Shuffle held less music, I think that's the main point. Besides, most people buy mp3 players to listen to music, not look at videos on a tiny screen at a crappy resolution.

it's all about marketing. For all it's drawbacks, Apple knows how to market a product

When Apple released the video iPod, CNN didn't have reports where the news person said 'Why do I want to look at videos on a tiny screen at a crappy resolution?' They didn't even criticize Apple. Instead, the tone was 'Wow, Apple does it again!' Apple is innovative for a video iPod, never mind that PMC devices had that ability before, and Steve Jobs mocked them. Yes, so I'm sure many reporters didn't know about PMCs and neither did the public; but I'm sure the business reporters did; and they didn't need to cheerlead for Apple and call them innovative, even though its not apparent people would want to use video iPods.

So part of my point, is that this isn't all about marketing strategies by Apple vs Microsoft. Part of the point is Apple's image vs Microsoft's image (which in itself is a marketing plus), which causes people to be automatically positive about Apple and automatically negative about Microsoft.

[MonkeyClaw Veteran]

Well to be honest, I guess its only fair since MSNBC compared the Zune to a B&W 4th Gen 20gig iPod.

[CaKeY]

I can't verify it at the moment, so I maybe wrong but I thought MS was going to allow anyone with ITunes Music to download the same songs from the Zune marketplace for free

lol as if

[Tech_Dude_5000]

all the zune is is a dumb idea microsoft had to bring back customers they lost the past few years due to the vista delay. The colors are :x if the player had some kind of shine, then it would be ok. the box is huge and bulky, at least with apple they just do the basics, which is what people want.

I still don't get the wifi deal. I mean, how many of you are gonna buy a zune and have all your friends buy a zune so you can send them messages and songs and crap? Not many. by the time that gets in full force, the 2ed or 3rd gen zunes will be out.... and apple will be on their 10th :p

What makes apple so spechiel is they make and produce their own products. Microsoft has to have other major compenys make and produce their products and have them slap on "microsoft". Why is it that miocrosoft doesnt make their own hardware?

[y0sh]

I find this to be very shallow and pedantic.

Haha (Y)

[zivan56]

Comparing the Zune to a shuffle? And they call this journalism? The woman in the report seems quite uneducated in terms of almost anything really, and is biased towards anything that looks good. I bet if someone made a shirt button that stores two songs, she would think its the holy grail of mp3 players.

[CaKeY]

And they call this journalism?

No. Commentary. Microsoft released their zune today, here it is, discuss... lady happened to have her nano. Big deal.

[L3thal Veteran]

I find this to be very shallow and pedantic.

Reminds me of Family Guy :p

[zivan56]

No. Commentary. Microsoft released their zune today, here it is, discuss... lady happened to have her nano. Big deal.

If she had a Nano then there might have been a somewhat just comparison, but a Shuffle? That's like comparing a Toyota Tercel to a Aston Martin and saying they both drive nicely and you should get the Tercel because it "drives."

[Lare2]

Doesn't CNN = The Register when it comes to credibility

Edited November 15, 2006 by Lare2

[ambiance]

Doesn't CNN = The Register when it comes to credibility

Pretty much. Nancy Grace and Glenn Beck have PHD's in spin doctoring.

The bottom line is I have not read one positive review about Zune or its marketplace. They should have branded this Windows ME and left Zune for the second generation.

Just had to add this, and is another reason why its destined to fail. Microsoft needs to fire Ballmer or they will continually disappoint.

Wireless sharing is Zune's killer app: Microsoft CEO

How can someone so out of touch run this company...in to the ground.

Edited November 15, 2006 by ambiance

[DigitalE]

The mindset these days seems to be "If it's not an iPod, it's crap."

I, personally, think the Zune is great.

I'm not really much of an Apple fan :no:

[Melfster]

The mindset these days seems to be "If it's not an iPod, it's crap."

I, personally, think the Zune is great.

I'm not really much of an Apple fan :no:

I am definitily not Apple fan but Zune is pretty awefull. There are plenty mp3 players that are better thenboth the ipod and zune. The Zune explifies everything wrong with microsoft. Its half baked product full of bugs with features that are in comptibale with previous drm control methods. Its far from cutting edge.

[ANova]

IMO the Zen Vision M is and always has been much better than the ipod, in fact the best mp3 player around.

[Rudy]

if people dont want an ipod.....there's MUCH better out there than the zune...

[oceanmotion]

It will be interesting to see what MS come up with when they build their own in house player rather than rebranding a Toshiba Gigabeat.

[Bryan000]

For the most part, I agree with the review. Zune didn't try hard enough to please users and draw people away from Apple, instead it gives us crippled devices that can only play shared songs for 3 days/3 plays!? Screw that. Cater to your BUYER not the stupid music industry...

I look forward to teh 2nd gen of Zune, hopefully it'll be a massive improvement. For now, I'm pleased with my 5.5 gen 30gig iPod video. No, i'm not an Apple fanboy, but it "just works" and executes it in a way that doesn't insult the userbase.

[qdave]

unprofessional journalism at its best :D