Microsoft is happy with Zune sales numbers

[mjh]

At a time when the Apple iPod controls more than 70 percent of the MP3 player market and continues to rack up strong sales numbers, it seems like every other company is simply fighting for second place. One such company is Microsoft, which bravely entered an already crowded market knowing its main foe has a strong following of dedicated loyalists.

"Zune is about having a choice. With Zune you can customize the back of the player with laser etching, you can pick your own background image on the player, you can listen to the radio without an add on and for the price of one CD a month you can have access to millions of tracks," a Microsoft spokesman told CDFreaks. "You can also share the music you listen to on your PC and your Zune player with friends in the Zune Social online music community, MySpace and FaceBook."

The rest of the article available here at CDFreaks

Am I the only person not buying it? Sure, they could be number two in the HDD MP3 player market, but how many people do you know who own a Zune?

I don't actually have anything negative to say about the MP3 player, as I was quite pleased with mine until I broke it, but I still don't believe Microsoft is happy being in second place right now. But with the success Apple is having with its MP3 players, second place seems to be the only thing every other company can get.

Any of you own the Zune? Will you buy future Zune models in the future?

 

[Deeko]

Of course they want to be #1....but in a market so dominated by the hype of one product (emphasis on the hype - while the current gen of iPods are pretty nice, the past couple of years the competition was just as good or better), it takes time to gain market share like that.

I don't own a Zune, but I don't rule it out, either.

 

[KeithTalent]

The iPod is almost like Kleenex or Band-aid now. People just use iPod to describe all MP3 players and almost lose sight of the fact it's just a brand.

I have a Zune and love it, but nothing is gong to actually unseat the iPod for a very, very long time, if ever. It's kind of like WoW, the juggernaut that nobody can really compete with, so all of the newcomers just end up filling the small niches surrounding the massive WoWniverse.

KT

 

[Rio Rebel]

I had a Zune, and gave it away to buy an iPod. You can't beat the wheel control.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: Rio Rebel
I had a Zune, and gave it away to buy an iPod. You can't beat the wheel control.

I know people are infatuated with the wheel, but I've never really liked it that much. I had an iPod (borrowed) for a few weeks a while back and I just didn't enjoy the controls much at all.

KT

 

[Deeko]

Its nice and all, but I don't understand why people love it so much.

 

[Rio Rebel]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: Rio Rebel
I had a Zune, and gave it away to buy an iPod. You can't beat the wheel control.

I know people are infatuated with the wheel, but I've never really liked it that much. I had an iPod (borrowed) for a few weeks a while back and I just didn't enjoy the controls much at all.

KT

It makes a huge difference in whipping through a large collection.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: Rio Rebel

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: Rio Rebel
I had a Zune, and gave it away to buy an iPod. You can't beat the wheel control.

I know people are infatuated with the wheel, but I've never really liked it that much. I had an iPod (borrowed) for a few weeks a while back and I just didn't enjoy the controls much at all.

KT

It makes a huge difference in whipping through a large collection.

I'm not really sure why, since if I just hold down my Zune button, or similarly hold down the button on my Gigabeat, it scrolls very quickly through everything.

Guess I'm just weird though, because everyone seems to love the wheel, while I don't. It's ok, but not my preferred choice for navigating through my library.

KT

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: Rio Rebel
I had a Zune, and gave it away to buy an iPod. You can't beat the wheel control.

I know people are infatuated with the wheel, but I've never really liked it that much. I had an iPod (borrowed) for a few weeks a while back and I just didn't enjoy the controls much at all.

KT

Wheel wins by FAR. iPod touch owns too. I personally pick the wheel though =)

Well basically you can compare the iPod and Zune navigation in simple terms. A d-pad is like using the mouse to click on the arrows to scroll up and down a page. You go down you move your finger. Then you lift it or slide it across to press the up button if you overshoot. The wheel is like a mouse wheel. You simply switch spinning directions if you overscroll.

Now who prefers using the mouse to click on the scroll arrows on the side versus the wheel? There you have it. Now you know why the iPod wheel is so loved.

 

[RandomFool]

I'm not a big fan of the wheel navigation either, it's kind of neat but seemed less precise to me. The Zune click isn't bad but sometime it scrolls too fast and I end up over shooting my target. I've never owned an iPod though so maybe it's something that grows on you as you use it. I never liked tabbed browsing either but now it's tough to live without it.

I only really use my mouse wheel for slowly scrolling pages I'm reading. Currently it's set to 3 lines at a time. I use the arrows/bar thing for quickly scrolling.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: DLeRium

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: Rio Rebel
I had a Zune, and gave it away to buy an iPod. You can't beat the wheel control.

I know people are infatuated with the wheel, but I've never really liked it that much. I had an iPod (borrowed) for a few weeks a while back and I just didn't enjoy the controls much at all.

KT

Wheel wins by FAR. iPod touch owns too. I personally pick the wheel though =)

Well basically you can compare the iPod and Zune navigation in simple terms. A d-pad is like using the mouse to click on the arrows to scroll up and down a page. You go down you move your finger. Then you lift it or slide it across to press the up button if you overshoot. The wheel is like a mouse wheel. You simply switch spinning directions if you overscroll.

Now who prefers using the mouse to click on the scroll arrows on the side versus the wheel? There you have it. Now you know why the iPod wheel is so loved.

I've used it, I know how it works, I just was never really that enthralled with it.

Ah well, to each his own.

KT

 

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: DLeRium

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: Rio Rebel
I had a Zune, and gave it away to buy an iPod. You can't beat the wheel control.

I know people are infatuated with the wheel, but I've never really liked it that much. I had an iPod (borrowed) for a few weeks a while back and I just didn't enjoy the controls much at all.

KT

Wheel wins by FAR. iPod touch owns too. I personally pick the wheel though =)

Well basically you can compare the iPod and Zune navigation in simple terms. A d-pad is like using the mouse to click on the arrows to scroll up and down a page. You go down you move your finger. Then you lift it or slide it across to press the up button if you overshoot. The wheel is like a mouse wheel. You simply switch spinning directions if you overscroll.

Now who prefers using the mouse to click on the scroll arrows on the side versus the wheel? There you have it. Now you know why the iPod wheel is so loved.

I've used it, I know how it works, I just was never really that enthralled with it.

Ah well, to each his own.

KT

I'm kind of with ya here. I have no complaints about my Zune 30gb's click navigation.
You get used to it, and have no issue navigating large collections. You hold down long enough to fly by what you need to, and let go in time to land very close to where you want. A click or two down, and boom, you're there.

With the wheel, sure, you can scroll slightly more accurately, but it's still easy to miss, and then there's the issue of... there's a lot more movement going on. Call me lazy, but holding a button down is easier than swirling my thumb around a large pad.

However, the iPod touch is great. The sweep/flick is excellent and easy... it's one feature I'm glad is in my Samsung Glyde's touch controls. Flicking through contacts is great.

Don't get me wrong, I like the wheel... and have no real qualms with the iPod family, other than I hate white. Took forever for a black iPod to be released. Other than that, I despise iTunes.

 

[QueBert]

Zune software is horrible, if MS would open it up so people could use 3rd party with it I might consider, but as it stands I don't care how good the player is (I find it just decent to be honest) I wouldn't ever consider a Zune having to use that POS software MS made for it. I'm not a huge Itunes fan either but it's about 537 times better than Zunes

 

[RandomFool]

Originally posted by: QueBert
Zune software is horrible, if MS would open it up so people could use 3rd party with it I might consider, but as it stands I don't care how good the player is (I find it just decent to be honest) I wouldn't ever consider a Zune having to use that POS software MS made for it. I'm not a huge Itunes fan either but it's about 537 times better than Zunes

The Zune software used to be horrible but the spring update fixed most of the problems with it. Technically the software was ok when is was basically a re-skinned version of media player, then it became horrible when they released the redesign, then the spring update fixed most of the issues with it and it's quite good. I'm interested to see what happens with the fall update.

I'll take the Zune software over iTunes just about any day. I'd actually consider replacing winamp with it but it doesn't have an option to minimize to tray while playing.

 

[QueBert]

the update is nice, but it's still pretty crappy software. I don't like iTunes either, but at least with an iPod I can use other software to transfers songs to it.

 

[idiotekniQues]

im quite happy with the zune80. the combination touch pad and click interface is great. i can scroll through songs at a wicked pace or a leisurely one.

the big screen is a big plus and overall the sq is impressive coming through my ultimate ears triple.fi 10's.

overall very happy with the zune80. and the software is actually respectable. im lookin forward to apple's response, and then the 3rd generation zune.

 

[QueBert]

Apples response to what? Apple is about as worried about the Zune as Microsoft is worried about OSX. Weather you like iPod's or not, they are the MP3 player equivalent of Google. The majority of people I talk to, even the ones who don't own an Ipod refer to their mp3 player as an iPod. I'm sure MS never expects to have the Zune as the IT mp3 player.

If MS releases a Zune that can do what my iPod Touch does I might look into it, but as it stands it's just another mp3 player. Not saying the Zune is bad, but what does it do that a Sandisk or Acronis can't? find iPods to be just as generic, but the Touch is a thing of beauty.

 

[idiotekniQues]

Originally posted by: QueBert
Apples response to what? Apple is about as worried about the Zune as Microsoft is worried about OSX. Weather you like iPod's or not, they are the MP3 player equivalent of Google. The majority of people I talk to, even the ones who don't own an Ipod refer to their mp3 player as an iPod. I'm sure MS never expects to have the Zune as the IT mp3 player.

If MS releases a Zune that can do what my iPod Touch does I might look into it, but as it stands it's just another mp3 player. Not saying the Zune is bad, but what does it do that a Sandisk or Acronis can't? find iPods to be just as generic, but the Touch is a thing of beauty.

respond to some of the features microsoft implemented such as the bigger screen and wifi. i hope you are right and apple doesnt even consider the zune anything at all, let the zune innovate while the ipod sits on its ass. the social is not a bad concept, you can interact with other peoples music collections and learn about new music that way as well.

a lot of people dont want a touch screen interface on their mp3 player, you have to look at the thing for everything you do.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Deeko
Its nice and all, but I don't understand why people love it so much.

It's simple. You and I are nerds; the rest of the world is not. You stick your finger on the iPod and choose a song, and it works. It's EASY! That's why it's popular...people can figure it out without having to call India for tech support.

 

[RandomFool]

Originally posted by: idiotekniQues

Originally posted by: QueBert
Apples response to what? Apple is about as worried about the Zune as Microsoft is worried about OSX. Weather you like iPod's or not, they are the MP3 player equivalent of Google. The majority of people I talk to, even the ones who don't own an Ipod refer to their mp3 player as an iPod. I'm sure MS never expects to have the Zune as the IT mp3 player.

If MS releases a Zune that can do what my iPod Touch does I might look into it, but as it stands it's just another mp3 player. Not saying the Zune is bad, but what does it do that a Sandisk or Acronis can't? find iPods to be just as generic, but the Touch is a thing of beauty.

respond to some of the features microsoft implemented such as the bigger screen and wifi. i hope you are right and apple doesnt even consider the zune anything at all, let the zune innovate while the ipod sits on its ass. the social is not a bad concept, you can interact with other peoples music collections and learn about new music that way as well.

a lot of people dont want a touch screen interface on their mp3 player, you have to look at the thing for everything you do.

I hope that if/when MS does a touchscreen Zune they leave the play/pause, back and sqircle (I think that's what they call it) buttons. Maybe shrink them down a little but I'll gladly accept a smaller screen if it means I don't have to look at the screen everytime I want to to pause or skip a song.

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: idiotekniQues

Originally posted by: QueBert
Apples response to what? Apple is about as worried about the Zune as Microsoft is worried about OSX. Weather you like iPod's or not, they are the MP3 player equivalent of Google. The majority of people I talk to, even the ones who don't own an Ipod refer to their mp3 player as an iPod. I'm sure MS never expects to have the Zune as the IT mp3 player.

If MS releases a Zune that can do what my iPod Touch does I might look into it, but as it stands it's just another mp3 player. Not saying the Zune is bad, but what does it do that a Sandisk or Acronis can't? find iPods to be just as generic, but the Touch is a thing of beauty.

respond to some of the features microsoft implemented such as the bigger screen and wifi. i hope you are right and apple doesnt even consider the zune anything at all, let the zune innovate while the ipod sits on its ass. the social is not a bad concept, you can interact with other peoples music collections and learn about new music that way as well.

a lot of people dont want a touch screen interface on their mp3 player, you have to look at the thing for everything you do.

Assuming Microsoft is 2nd in the MP3 market which I don't know because I bet Sandisk might be selling more players. But even if they're 2nd, they'll never make much of a dent in the iPod. I understand what you're saying about touch screens not being for everyone. But I bet Apple has sold more Touches alone then MS has sold Zunes.

MS can innovate all they want, but in the end Apple still still control the MP3 player market by a rediculous margin. At this point Apple doesn't have to innovate much at all, between the iPod Video & the Touch Apple has the market locked. 2nd place will be between MS & Sandisk, and will be for what maybe 10% of the market?

 

[idiotekniQues]

Originally posted by: QueBert

Originally posted by: idiotekniQues

Originally posted by: QueBert
Apples response to what? Apple is about as worried about the Zune as Microsoft is worried about OSX. Weather you like iPod's or not, they are the MP3 player equivalent of Google. The majority of people I talk to, even the ones who don't own an Ipod refer to their mp3 player as an iPod. I'm sure MS never expects to have the Zune as the IT mp3 player.

If MS releases a Zune that can do what my iPod Touch does I might look into it, but as it stands it's just another mp3 player. Not saying the Zune is bad, but what does it do that a Sandisk or Acronis can't? find iPods to be just as generic, but the Touch is a thing of beauty.

respond to some of the features microsoft implemented such as the bigger screen and wifi. i hope you are right and apple doesnt even consider the zune anything at all, let the zune innovate while the ipod sits on its ass. the social is not a bad concept, you can interact with other peoples music collections and learn about new music that way as well.

a lot of people dont want a touch screen interface on their mp3 player, you have to look at the thing for everything you do.

Assuming Microsoft is 2nd in the MP3 market which I don't know because I bet Sandisk might be selling more players. But even if they're 2nd, they'll never make much of a dent in the iPod. I understand what you're saying about touch screens not being for everyone. But I bet Apple has sold more Touches alone then MS has sold Zunes.

MS can innovate all they want, but in the end Apple still still control the MP3 player market by a rediculous margin. At this point Apple doesn't have to innovate much at all, between the iPod Video & the Touch Apple has the market locked. 2nd place will be between MS & Sandisk, and will be for what maybe 10% of the market?

apple does have such a huge majority of market share it is definitely possible they don't lose much of it at all just because it is so insurmountable. i dont think apple is going to sit pat though, they are a smart company. im guessing this next iteration of ipods will have some cool new features, larger screen, etc

but, you only have to look at what ati is doing now vs nvidia to see that it is not always wise to sit on your laurels.

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: Rio Rebel
I had a Zune, and gave it away to buy an iPod. You can't beat the wheel control.

Well, now the Zunes have wheels, so that excuse is gone.