Zune: Why Apple Should Care
At first glance, Zune looks like too little, too late, but as more news comes out, it’s something Apple should definitely be keeping their eye out for and have something killer waiting in the wings (I’m sure they do). Reasons:
Microsoft if nothing else is persistent. It’s a cliche that their products aren’t any good until 3.0. But that’s because they release 1.0 and improve it. Zune may not bite into iPod sales right away, but it will be a well-backed presence until one day, Apple messes up and Zune is there to pick up the lost customers. Microsoft has done this game before with Windows, Internet Explorer, Pocket PC, XBox, and come out on top.
Although Apple has an outstanding software suite with Macs, iLife, and iPods, Microsoft has Windows, XBox, and now Zune. Slightly different pieces on the chess board, but think about how many millions of PC users and XBox users are out there versus Macs. No wonder Apple is trying so hard to get PC iPod users to switch to a Mac. There will soon be a day when the salesman at Best Buy doesn’t know if the iPod works with the PC and hands grandma a Zune.
History did not treat Apple well the last time they had a huge market share and a “closed” system. Many people have criticized Apple for not opening up their Mac OS back in the day and losing the OS wars to Windows, who went the clone route. There seems to be a backlash of sorts brewing against Apple and their iTunes Music Store DRM. It’s a tricky game to play, and luckilly Apple has a large installed base of users with content bought from them that won’t transfer to the Zune, but there will come a time when people ask “Why?” and blame either Apple or Microsoft. If the Zune is really cool, people will blame Apple, and vice versa. At this point, Zune seems just as DRM saddled as the iPod, but this may change.
I’ve said repeatedly that my fantasy iPod would be one with wireless so you could browse other people’s iPods and listen to their music. I wouldn’t even care so much about the ownership of said files, if that bugs the RIAA.
So it’s kind of annoying to see that the Zune is getting both wireless and a larger screen before the iPod. I’m not saying I’m trading my Video iPod for a Zune, but Apple better be working on some future iPod (or the iPhone) that will blow away Microsoft.
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October 2, 2006 at 3:54 pm
[...] No, this isn’t a toothpaste ad. I had my first brush with Digg over the weekend when someone submitted ...
March 6, 2007 at 4:41 pm
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