No Zune in Europe until 2008
Zzzz...wake me when it arrives
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer told German business and economics magazine Wirtschafts Woche in an interview that the Seattle-based behemoth will delay the European launch of its moderately-awaited Zune MP3 player until next year.
According to the interview, Ballmer cited the fact that Microsoft was losing money due to substantial initial investment and it had not yet begun to make a profit on its first foray into the mercenary MP3 arena. This is the reason why we have not entered new markets, he explained.
And yet, only very recently, Microsoft had confidently predicted it would sell one million units by the end of June, much to the surprise of many market analysts.
With the imminent launch of Apple's iPhone in the US at the end of June, suspicions abound all across the internet that the European delay is a result of the first generation Zune simply not being up to scratch (judge for yourself here), and the model that does eventually arrive in the more merciless European MP3 market, is one that can realistically take on the seemingly-immortal iPod after having been tested thoroughly in the US first.
COMMENTS
Microsoft's arrogance knows no bounds
MS peons have been instructed to refer to the iPod and other MP3 players as 'Zune equivalents'. Seriously. They say this with a straight face and not a hint of embarrassment. Microsoft's brainwashing techniques put the CIA to shame.
Got one and it's great...
Microsoft were kind enough to give me a Zune as a thank-you for some feedback I gave them on their customer service (or lack thereof)...
... Have to say I'm impressed. To live with it isn't as 'cool' as the ipod but the sound quality is great and the interface is lovely. Graphics are so, so sharp. It's rugged and quite happily sits at the bottom of my bag with now complaints.
Plus since every kid with a Burberry baseball cap has an iPod the 'cool' has become 'commonplace'... My iPod has been sidelined. Long live the Zune.
ps. Only one issue. If you do get an import please be aware you can't use the marketplace as this is US only.
Zune, schmune
Well, all things considered, I for one won't be whining for it. I already own a Creative Zen Vision:M 30GB. Never had any problems with it (except resorting to import an adapter because only one store sells it locally and they're selling it for about twice the price than in Singapore).
I mean, come on. There are better players out there in the market. iRiver, MSI, one of those with wierd names from China, and they do just about as good a job at MP3s if not the same or better.
I'll gladly give this draconian piece that is created by the lizard empire a miss, thanks.
Quick, catch that bandwagon!
As ever, M$ has seen a rolling bandwagon and jumped to get on the back of it. Unfortunately, however, they appear to have missed the jump and landed flat on the ground in the settling dust. (Probably with their face in a pile of equine overflow.)
There seems to be a fair bit of that going on. It's funny that we never hear about this innovative new products that are going to make our lives complete UNTIL a competitor is marketing or developing something similar. From DOS to the flatpanel display interface (Surface? I forget), M$ have run after and jumped on bandwagons.
Most unfortunately of all, perhaps the one time they really should have landed in equine overflow they managed to corner the market. Dammit.
I imported my Zune
Because Mactards piss me off and i thought i'd try it. If nothing else, it would upset the Applevangelists.
As it happens, i'm very pleased with it. It works. I watch ripped TV series and movies on it's great big screen and see a great picture with far better sound than the iPod ever managed.
The whole 2008 thing doesn't worry me. Why would i want to pay £250 for something i can import for £100? So i can't share music - no biggie. I'd prefer to listen to my own choices anyway.
Best of all, i don't have install iTunes, probably the single worst music controlling interface ever.
