Microsoft Targets iTunes Prices in New Zune Pass Commercial

[MacRumors]

Microsoft is continuing its attacks on Apple pricing, this time with the launch of a commercial for Zune Pass, Microsoft's monthly subscription plan for digital music. In the commercial, financial planner and former The Apprentice contestant Wes Moss contrasts the $14.99/month Zune Pass with iTunes Store purchases for Apple's 120 GB iPod classic, which at $1.00 per track would cost on the order of $30,000 to fill if all content was purchased from the iTunes Store.



Article Link: Microsoft Targets iTunes Prices in New Zune Pass Commercial

[trudd]

Yet another linear-minded response to Mac vs. PC ads, stylistically speaking.

Owning music just isn't cool anymore, guys!

[Dimwhit]

When it comes to Microsoft trying to make points against an Apple product, this one may very well be the dumbest.

[SLCentral]

I'm not going to lie...I signed up for ZunePass a few months ago via Boot Camp on my Mac, and loved it. As much as I hate the idea of renting my music, the Zune software was EXCELLENT, and the ability to literally go through and just click "download" on entire albums and not worry about price is pretty awesome. I was able to discover so many new bands and songs that is really impossible to do using iTunes.

Zune is irrelevant to me unless they port a version over to OS X, but I don't see that happening, so it looks like this is irrelevant news story to Mac users. For Windows users, though, I can't strongly suggest enough at least trying out the 14-day trial. As much as I couldn't believe it, the Zune software is well-polished, has a very attractive UI, and offers a fantastic service.

[GeekLawyer]

This is much worse than their laptop hunter series.

And it's odd to me that Microsoft is conceding Apple's central premise in all these recent ads: Apple is concerned with quality while MS/generic PCs are concerned with low-cost.

[ZachsMacDaddy]

Play them whenever you want on up to three computers and three players, for as long as you keep your subscription up to date. You also get to keep 10 of your favorite songs each month to add to your permanent collection.

So I would pay $14.99 a month and if I leave I lose all my music except the 10 per month.

If I spend $14.99 a month at the itunes store for the 15 or so songs, I get to keep those 15 songs forever. Looks like I get a 50% bonus with itunes.

Heck, I don't even buy 1 album a month as it is.

Amazingly enough, I happen to have a nice big stack of CDs that I can use practically for free. Considering use and depreciation, I can't really compare using what I have to going out and buying new CDs.

[bondsbw]

Originally Posted by ZachsMacDaddy

So I would pay $14.99 a month and if I leave I lose all my music except the 10 per month.

If I spend $14.99 a month at the itunes store for the 15 or so songs, I get to keep those 15 songs forever. Looks like I get a 50% bonus with itunes.

Let's take that out to 2 months, $30. On Zune, you keep 20 songs. On iTunes, you keep 3 albums, each with probably 12-15 songs. So 20 songs on Zune vs. 40 in iTunes. So in many cases, 100% bonus with iTunes.

Apple gives you an out any time you want to leave. It makes no difference when you leave, since the music is yours. And it doesn't make a difference if you decide to buy some songs from Amazon instead. Microsoft makes it an investment... the longer you're on, the harder it is to leave.

[LagunaSol]

Originally Posted by ZachsMacDaddy

Amazingly enough, I happen to have a nice big stack of CDs that I can use practically for free.

Yep. Most of us have big stacks of CDs. Which is what we use to fill our iPods. But Microsoft doesn't mention this. Microsoft assumes its customers are idiots. Probably because they are.

Oh, and Slacker Radio > Zune Pass. Cheaper too.

[Designer Dale]

The music on my iPod cost me nothing. It's my CD library. But in MS terms, that is probably like $500 because I had to buy the CDs before I could load them to my player.

I remember something like this from way back in 2004 or 2005. Something like iPod + 1000 songs = $1500 or something. They added the cost of the player onto the cost of the songs.

Long live brick and mortar. Long live hard copy.

[Michael CM1]

Originally Posted by GeekLawyer

This is much worse than their laptop hunter series.

And it's odd to me that Microsoft is conceding Apple's central premise in all these recent ads: Apple is concerned with quality while MS/generic PCs are concerned with low-cost.

Kinda makes me think about McDonald's versus everybody, and lately Starbucks. "Look, it's coffee! We put ice in it, and we charge less than Starbucks!" That's nice, but your coffee tastes like leftover cigarette ash, just like the rest of your food comparatively.

Microsoft just has no clue how to advertise. They throw out these insane generalizations and have ridiculous points, like the lady who rolled her eyes at 2GB of memory for making videos. I know these ads are supposed to make Microsoft look good, but when you have a bazillion media picking these things apart, it just makes Microsoft look stupid.

[Axl Rose]

Originally Posted by SLCentral

I'm not going to lie...I signed up for ZunePass a few months ago via Boot Camp on my Mac, and loved it. As much as I hate the idea of renting my music, the Zune software was EXCELLENT, and the ability to literally go through and just click "download" on entire albums and not worry about price is pretty awesome. I was able to discover so many new bands and songs that is really impossible to do using iTunes.

Zune is irrelevant to me unless they port a version over to OS X, but I don't see that happening, so it looks like this is irrelevant news story to Mac users. For Windows users, though, I can't strongly suggest enough at least trying out the 14-day trial. As much as I couldn't believe it, the Zune software is well-polished, has a very attractive UI, and offers a fantastic service.

Can you put songs from subscriptions on ipods?? i assume not, though i do like the idea of subscriptions, i dont want a zune.

[SHOlover]

Does anyone actually know anyone who owns one??? I personally do not.

EPIC FAIL.

[GeekLawyer]

Originally Posted by SHOlover

Does anyone actually know anyone who owns one??? I personally do not.

EPIC FAIL.

I don't know anyone who owns a Zune. I've never seen one in the wild, aside from on sale at Best Buy.

And I don't understand what the Zune Pass gets me in the way of music discovery that a service like Pandora doesn't.

[Shake 'n' Bake]

Originally Posted by SHOlover

Does anyone actually know anyone who owns one??? I personally do not.

EPIC FAIL.

I've never seen one out in public. It is either the iPod or a cheaper MP3 player from Creative (Zen is the most popular non-iPod I think) or Sony or whoever makes those things.

[ZachsMacDaddy]

Originally Posted by SHOlover

Does anyone actually know anyone who owns one??? I personally do not.

EPIC FAIL.

I knew one person who owned a Zune. She couldn't figure it out to save her life. Then again, she was lucky to be able to use Windows. She couldn't figure out how to use OSX at all after sitting with a Macbook for 3 months. Sadly, she was part of our IT team (not that we had her by choice).

[Sehnsucht]

Wow. I am at a complete and total loss for words.

Microsoft, you DID NOT just repeat the same ignorant line that I hear from customers at work, did you? Yes, you did.

I've had multiple customers ask me to explain to them how to use iTunes. When they saw that the iPod classic can hold 30,000 songs, they freaked out because they thought it'd cost $30,000.

Now, this ad was not only Microsoft's most asinine of all, but it seems that they're also being deceptive. Zune Pass customers are renting the tracks, not owning them, and they're still DRM'd when the iTunes Store is 100% DRM-free.

Microsoft is giving us an almost-daily reminder of how much they suck. Just keep it up, Redmond, it all has to come to an end eventually.

And now, for the wisdom of other fellow MR members:

Originally Posted by BornAgainMac

What about movies/TV shows that take up a lot of space and tons of free Podcasts? And there is no rule that says you have to fill up your iPod with music from the iTunes store.

Originally Posted by GeekLawyer

This is much worse than their laptop hunter series.

And it's odd to me that Microsoft is conceding Apple's central premise in all these recent ads: Apple is concerned with quality while MS/generic PCs are concerned with low-cost.

Originally Posted by SHOlover

Does anyone actually know anyone who owns one??? I personally do not.

EPIC FAIL.

+3.

[Gonzo3333]

Originally Posted by SHOlover

Does anyone actually know anyone who owns one??? I personally do not.

EPIC FAIL.

Sadly my wife has one that goes with her lame PC. She has had numerous problems syncing the device. She is on her second zune because the first one stopped working right after the warranty expired. I have had to help her several times trying to figure out the cryptic sequences that just about anything microsoft has to offer. Installing the zune software took forever too. I wouldn't recommend one to anybody.

[Hattig]

Originally Posted by Axl Rose

Can you put songs from subscriptions on ipods?? i assume not, though i do like the idea of subscriptions, i dont want a zune.

No, the subscription music is 128kbps DRM-encumbered WMA.

Also not every song is available on the subscription service, it would suck if the music you actually wanted wasn't available for whatever reason.

[TheOrioles33]

I think between your own personal library of music and apps like Pandora, Last.FM and Slacker Radio, you should have more than enough variety to last a life time. For those wanting to discover new music, use the above mentioned apps.

[TunesRus90]

I don't get why Apple keeps saying people don't want to rent their music. Personally, if Apple came out with a plan with exactly the same terms as the Zune Pass, I would subscribe without thinking twice. I'd probably even pay $20-25 a month for that. The only thing stopping me from buying Zune Pass is the lack of Mac/iPod compatibility, but the terms and pricing seem great!

[Shake 'n' Bake]

Originally Posted by TunesRus90

I don't get why Apple keeps saying people don't want to rent their music. Personally, if Apple came out with a plan with exactly the same terms as the Zune Pass, I would subscribe without thinking twice. I'd probably even pay $20-25 a month for that. The only thing stopping me from buying Zune Pass is the lack of Mac/iPod compatibility, but the terms and pricing seem great!

Nobody does want to rent music. If you're going to use it, you may as well own it.

How very out of touch with the consumer. Like it or not, hardware gets bought, software gets 'shared'..

No-one's going to spend 30k on iTunes, and no-one's going to believe they need 30k to fill their iPod.. that's reality..

[djourd]

Do The Maths!
Not that I'm bitter but according to Microsoft each month for $14.99 you get to keep 10 songs you like, so if you cancel your membership, each song would have effectively cost you $1.50.

That in mind to fill the zune up with like for like i.e. the songs you own! it would cost:

iPod = $30,000
Zune = $44,970

So why would I want to pay an extra $14,970 based on their advertisement?

By: cwedl

[Buschmaster]

This ad did accomplish something with me:
It's the first time I've ever heard of "ZunePass"

Go up to 50 people on the streets and ask them if they've heard of iTunes, then ask them if they've heard of ZunePass.

Let's see who has heard of what.

[eXan]

Both suck. CD is still the best way to buy music.

[Bonte]

Originally Posted by TunesRus90

I don't get why Apple keeps saying people don't want to rent their music.

If i remember correctly Apple didn't say that people don't want to rent there music, there defense is that they could not guarantee a good download service for a monthly fee. Its easy to do with the Zune (duh) but Apple would have to support 100 billion downloads a year for a moderate monthly fee.

The contracts with the labels are also a problem, when every iPod has a subscription there is no guarantee that the labels will keep the monthly fee at the same price. Its a trap Apple want's to avoid at all cost.