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You can ignore that quote. It's BS, in fact it's exactly the same BS that gets tossed around all the time about the iPod line. It can play unprotected AAC and MP3.

Hmm, that's funny, cause I'm pretty sure that quote wasn't referring to unprotected AAC or MP3. See, the Zune won't play any WMA files that use the "PlaysForSure" [sic] DRM, thus the quote is exactly right. If you bought music from any other online store (except the rare ones that sell unprotected music), then you can't use it on the Zune.

jW
 
haha i just went to Best Buy and this guy was asking questions about the Zune and the girl that worked there was like…ummm…errr i don't know so i told him all the things that where bad about it and the three "good things" and told him not to buy the big brick turd of an MP3 player and buy an iPod
 
Funny actual zune error message:

link


Well, what do you expect from microsoft :), lol

Notice that is appears to be two girls together at the top, seinfeld quote "not that theres anything wrong with that" :)

I don't see how many other MP3 players will survive easily, now major airlines are putting ipod docks on their new planes so passengers can watch movies on the screens and listen to their own music. My first thought: "mommy, why is that guy watching naked people on their screen?"

lol, well, I guess we havent had too many problems with laptops, so an ipod shouldnt be different I guess
 
I think you're missing the point..

You are missing the whole point mate, at first glance - ie what will be on the posters in the stores for xmas it has more "stuff" than the iPod. This is all that is needed to get a mainstream, non tech savvy forum poster google researching news site reader to buy one. ;)


aussie_geek

Naive users buy iPods due to 'coolness' not because of the features otherwise Zen & Archos would rule - they don't.

McD
 
Yeah I saw that too! I was like what the hell thats like comparing a beat up old G3 iMac to a nice new Alienware and calling it better. What do you bet microsoft paid them to use the older iPod.

Microsoft and NBC work together, hence the MSNBC (Microsoft + NBC) TV network.
 
Naive users buy iPods due to 'coolness' not because of the features otherwise Zen & Archos would rule - they don't.

McD

-McDave

There's also the "It wouldn't be on the menu if somebody (in this case everybody) didn't think it was good.

In the case of the iPod, not only is it 'cool', but it's actually a device that is very good at its job. Which is how it became cool in the first place.
 
Is it just me, or does anyone else think that Microsoft will use the points system to boast how much money they have made with the Zune Store ?

Since you can only buy songs by paying a minimum of $5 (to get the 79 points you need to buy a song as) opposed to .99¢ for one song, they will get allot of cheated earnings just by those who wanted to buy one or two songs!

The other thing about their DRM (which has been touched upon by many posters) that chaps my hide, is the fact that you have to use a friggen calculator or slide rule to multiply, divide, and subtract to figure out how to get every penny's worth out of your money with their store. Why is Microshaft resulting in parlor (or carnival) tricks to get more money out of people?
 
haha i just went to Best Buy and this guy was asking questions about the Zune and the girl that worked there was like…ummm…errr i don't know so i told him all the things that where bad about it and the three "good things" and told him not to buy the big brick turd of an MP3 player and buy an iPod

So - did he end up purchasing the iPod?
 
Nah, never...

Miles O'Brien about Microsoft: Why can't they get some decent designers? LOL!

They call it bulky and ugly and Soledad O'Brien shows off her tiny Shuffle..

Watch CNN American Morning review of ZUNE

Against their philisophy.

Apple employ real designers to drive their products with a concept/design first, technology second approach. Microsoft have a 'throw enough ***** at a problem and some of it will stick' - not efficient or inspired & wastes a lot time but at a Windows-license per throw they ain't complaining.;)

McD
 
Most stores have a 30 day return policy. I predict there will be a new iPOD available within 30 days, which could inspire a a price drop for the 30 GB iPOD. 120 GB Full Video iPOD, 80GB Video, 40GB Video, Nano, and Shuffle. The full line will finally be joined together like a beautiful Voltron episode.:D

Don't expect to see an immediate response (or retaliation as somebody called it) from Apple, because Apple doesn't need to "respond to ZUNE". They invented slick mp3 players. There is a reason Apple doesn't already have certain features on their device.

1. Who on earth has 30GB of music on their mp3 player and still needs to listen to the radio? I would think MOST of your favorite songs would be on there. I would rather have a Shuffle or Nano with an FM radio.

2. Crippled Wi-Fi Music sharing... it's not even capable of sharing other files. Not to mention, who are you going to share with when everybody else has an iPOD? I don't like the idea of somebody being able to access my music wirelessly anyway.

3. Beautiful BIG SCREEN... it's coming, but remember what steve said originally, "it's about the music" (right now).

Remember when CREATIVE copied everything the iPOD had (okay, some things belonged to CREATIVE), but it looked identical to the iPOD in everyway (minus the click wheel and thin body). It had the same size screen, same shape, even had "MORE" like an FM radio. That really sold well. Same garbage here. Nobody is going to be bragging about sharing songs. It's a gimmick...

I'm tired of typing, but I could go on for HOURS (as most of you could)
 
Brown !

what the hell were they thinking?????:confused:
that is the ugliest thing i have EVER seen
why not red, or blue or green ?

Brown is NOT the new black.:D
 
Don't get me wrong..

-McDave

There's also the "It wouldn't be on the menu if somebody (in this case everybody) didn't think it was good.

In the case of the iPod, not only is it 'cool', but it's actually a device that is very good at its job. Which is how it became cool in the first place.

I love my iPods because they work well & feel good to use, a triumph of design-led technology in a world where it's lacking. I'm just saying, I think the giggling girls I saw buying them in a local store at the weekend probably didn't share my perspective (buying right product for the wrong reasons) - all good though

McD
 
So the Zune is released today, and Microsoft stock is down $0.03 at market closing? That's whack.

I loved the CNN video too, priceless. :D
 
I have really stirred the pot now haven't I.

If you're referring to naive customers, those are the ones who walk up to the sales person and say "ipod please" asking only what colors it comes in. As far as Techno geeks go, a lot of them don't have iPod, it's APPLE geeks that do. No offense, but naive consumers aren't going to give a crap about wifi, and when they see the Zune is larger and uglier- I think we both know what they chose. May I suggest you try the cNet forms if you'd like to continue to promote this blatantly pro-microsoft point of view?

Yes - I am referring to the naive customers that come up to the counter to get an mp3 player. The first thing they will notice is the big screen. And secondly it will have more "stuff " than the iPod.

Although they have no idea what it is, just the fact that you get more for the same money means they will sell.

The simple notions of " Bigger is better" and " more for your money" will unfortunately come into effect when considering to buy this product.

aussie_geek

ps - and for the Pro- Microsoft point of view comment you have made. I am exactly the opposite. I have been a Mac - AND ONLY MAC user for over 20 years. Look at my sig mate ... :rolleyes:
 
disagreed. The ipod has made a name for itself. The ipod is the player that everyone wants, its stylish, and if theyre already using iTunes, theyre not gonna wanna switch to the bloated WMP11 software which is still beta.
 
Yeah the features on the Zune... Not so new!

If I wanted something with a wide screen, wireless capability, photos, songs, music, PDF viewer , etc.. I am going to buy the Archos, as it does all of this better than the iPod or Zune can currently.


However, I don't need or want any of these extra features, and like iTunes, so I plan on sticking with the easy to use iPod line of products!
 
The xBox and the 360 is a Microsoft product, and a lot of people have voted with there wallets to buy one.

Me? Its almost certain that i'll buy another iPod eventually and I will upgrade to a 360 when Halo 3 / Sega Rally 3 comes out - If Microsoft are selling something worth buying then i'll certainly consider it.

This is the sort of thing I've been thinking about while reading over these posts; the XBox has managed to take a respectable market share in the console world, despite being a pretty bulky and unattractive piece of equipment. Microsoft was really aggressive in enticing game makers over to their system, and offering a few exclusive hit titles to boot. I'm guessing that the buckets of money they'll try and throw at music labels and (potentially) accessory makers will help make the Zune more appealing in time. The real question is whether this strategy will work in the same way it did for the console world; my gut says no, but I'm not sure on the specifics of why just yet. :confused:
 
Ok, got a Black Zune today. Here is my story.


Went to Target to pick up diapers and milk and as I always hit the toy and electronics section (kids) I noticed the Zune there. It was $249 with a $25 gift card to target for free so basically $225. I sat there debating whether or not to buy, not because I need one but becuase I love new gadgets and I wanted to see if it had any features the ipod doesn't besides the radio.

I spoke with the folks there about it for a while. They were convinced it had a 16:9 ascpect ration screen but I knew better. Its just a standard screen tilted 90 deg. They offered me a no hassle return in 14 days and they ended up giving me an extra 10% off and the gift card so I took a bite. Total was $199 plus tax. Not bad.

So I get it in the car and plug it in. I have a Chevy Tahoe with DVD system and navigation that has an video and audio input in the dash. Nice setup and works great with my video ipod. Anyways I plug it in and select a video that came with it and it says it won't play output video, needs firmware update. LAME.

Ok, I hook it up to my pc and update the firmware and slap some songs on it. Then I take it out to my tahoe and plug it in. Now here is a pleasant surprise. The menu navigation shows up on the lcd screen in the tahoe. The ipod does NOT do this. This is great. Love this feature. Now I can navigate to the song or movie I want without looking at the tiny screen. Cool. This feature alone has changed my mind on returning it. I need this.

Still trying to figure out how to get my damn movies on here.

So comparison here.


ipod: video 640x480
zune: 320x240

ipod: no menu navigation on screen
zune: has menu navigation on screen

ipod: More devices available
zune: almost none

ipod: mac and windows compatible
zune: windows only

ipod: pretty
zune: ugly

ipod: scratchpad, horrible
zune: scratch resistant

ipod 30gb: $249
zune: $199 if you are savy shopper.


Got questions about the zune, just ask. Still charging.
 
But most people hae no idea what the frack it is.

Apple normally advertises no specifics... adds intrigue, which drives people to investigate.

People see Zune and go "wow, a brick-shaped turd."

That was hilarous/
 
ipod: no menu navigation on screen
zune: has menu navigation on screen

Got questions about the zune, just ask. Still charging.

I was extremely pissed that the iPod 5g did not come with screen mirroring for menu functions when you are connected to an external screen. That and the fact of the remote being 100% worthless for menu navigation in the first place!

It was only when I became aware of the pending iTV that this made some sense to me. Why would anyone buy an iTV when you can navigate menus, select music, pictures, notes, or videos to view on your TV screen with an iPod using the Universal dock and remote?

Regardless of that, It still bothers me that these features are not built into the iPod 5G. The hardware is there, why not enable or add these features with a firmware update!?!?
 
Hmm, that's funny, cause I'm pretty sure that quote wasn't referring to unprotected AAC or MP3. See, the Zune won't play any WMA files that use the "PlaysForSure" [sic] DRM, thus the quote is exactly right. If you bought music from any other online store (except the rare ones that sell unprotected music), then you can't use it on the Zune.

You need to read the whole thread for context. You can click on the little blue links in the posts to see the interpretation the previous poster took from that quote. That's what the little blue links are for. The little blue link would have led you to this:

This implies that if you have music on your computer that was NOT downloaded from M$'s Zune Marketplace, you can't play it. So, what's the point?

That's the bogus interpretation that will be taken away by many. Context, context.
 
Miles O'Brien about Microsoft: Why can't they get some decent designers? LOL!

They call it bulky and ugly and Soledad O'Brien shows off her tiny Shuffle..

That was awesome, thanks for the link.

"Why can't they get some decent designers?" :eek:
Completely out of no where, and somewhat random. Hilarious. :)

Then she pulls out her shuffle...... :D
 
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