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Friday May 23, 2008
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 Games retailer GameStop has stopped selling Microsoft Zune MP3 players, reports TheStreet.com, because of apparent lack of demand. (You can still buy Zunes at GameStop online, until supplies run out.)
I'd call this a mixed bag for Microsoft; on one hand, it's hard to characterize GameStop as a vendor of MP3 players, when it's name is Gamestop. Most of the stores I've browsed have been tightly packed outlets either in malls or strip malls, where virtually all available shelf space is focused on selling a consumer something games-related. With games like Grand Theft Auto IV flying off of the shelves, I can see why GameStop would dedicate shelf space to something with a bit more turnover.
On the other hand, this type of story gets people asking: is this a trend?
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May 23, 2008 11:11 PM
Meh - it was part of Microsoft's marketing strategy. Go after the gamers, the young adults, make it look cool, make it look XTREEM. By making them available in game stories, they were also hoping to target tech enthusiasts who were disaffected by the iPod and the iPod/iTunes platform.
The trouble with the model though is that the people that Microsoft was aiming for saw it for what it was, and straight through it. I love music as much as the next person, but I could tell Microsoft was trying to sell me on being "cool," not having a superior product.
Now if only they'd pull their ads from Adult Swim, I'd be happy.
May 24, 2008 6:02 AM
Although I don't have anything against the iPod, I'm not an Apple fanboy. I tend to buy something because it has the features I want. iTunes software pi...s me off, I think it's slow and clunky compared to Zune soft. Try ripping or burning a cd with both. I find The MS software to be a little faster and easier to use.
Don't even start me on DRM
May 26, 2008 8:45 PM
DRM's not an issue anymore really - unless you want to count how Microsoft has been treating its customers when it comes to PlaysForSure and how the Zune won't play it, and now nuking MSN Music so none of their customers can ever play their MSN Music songs ever again:
http://www.appscout.com/2008/04/customer_service_101_microsoft_deletes_msn_music_servers.php
Dunno about ripping and burning CDs...in iTunes it's a one-click operation..I don't know about "Zune Soft" (sic) though? and add to that the fact that you don't have to use iTunes to manage your iPod, and you're set!
Truth be told, I think the Zune's niche popularity among some of its biggest fans is simply because they're the Ctrl-Alt-Del crowd who simply hate anything with an Apple logo on it and think this is their time to shine. I remember the Zune was supposed to be an iPod killer...frankly, I just wish that Microsoft would step it up a bit so the iPod would have some real competition and we could see more advances in the market!