Why Microsoft's Zune is Still Failing

DECS writes "Last winter, RDM detailed why Microsoft's iPod Killer would fail miserably. This year, the site argues, Microsoft will fail again, but for a new set of reasons. It is not obvious that the company has figured this out itself. 'Microsoft doesn't seem to learn from its mistakes in consumer electronics very well. When it does however, it frequently gets the timing wrong. This year, Microsoft appears set to compete against the Apple of 2006. It now offers two flash models, last year's leftover 30 GB unit, and new 80 GB version. The problem is that Apple moved the goalpost dramatically. Apple's new 3G Nano is ultra thin and small, but delivers the same video resolution as Microsoft's boxy flash Zunes at the same price. It also plays games.'"

Comments

Heh

[markov_chain]

You sure got the status symbol thing right. Here are some thoughts these two products evoke:

Exhibit A: Natalie Portman has one. Kristen Bell has one. The ex-college-buddy, now a $ucce$$ful investment banker has one.

Exhibit B: A bald, monkey-like beast sighted in public screaming like a pig, with sweat stains on the chest and under the armpits has one.

Need I say more? :)

Re:it's quite simple really

[ozmanjusri]

Why is this being modded flamebait?

It's absolutely true. Most commercial competitors haven't even survived against those dirty tactics. Ask Jean-Louis Gassée whether he thinks it achievement to be growing an OS in the face of one of the most aggressive monopolists the world has ever seen.

Slashdot needs to fix the moderation system. It's being gamed by astroturfers.

Re:Idiotic premise

[Cafe Alpha]

You shouldn't need a F**king kit and a F**king soldering iron to change a battery.

And no, it's not in any sense a win to save 1/3 of centimeter to make changing batteries take an hour, and require elecronics experience, over popping batteries in and out easily like every other battery operated appliance.

I have NEVER said to myself, "If only my cell phone was 1/3 of a centimeter thinner" or "If only I had 1/3 of a centimeter more pocket space!" And neither has anyone else. Consumer elecronics are already smaller than they have to be.

There's no better reason for the IPod and IPhone to have batteries that are hard to replace than for cameras to have batteries that are hard to replace. It's not a F**king heart pacemaker!

Re:Failure?

[Reservoir Penguin]

So what does it tell us? That people are more than willing to choose substance over style and easily dump Apple to buy players with comparable specs if they cost less. This is really bad news for Apple.