[onlydarksets]

Originally Posted by andre

...and thats one of the problems MS faces, if you have $150 you would buy a 4GB ipod over a $150 zune, if you don't have enough money you purchase a creative 4GB players...so MS is sort of stuck

if MS really wants to increase sales they need to move beyond the 'me too' mindset (wifi was nice but...) and go above and beyond iPod to make someone make a decision to buy it over the same price iPod.

I've made that same point. The $20 price drop on the 8gb is intriguing, because it (finally) gives the casual user a distinction in the flash space between the iPod and the Zune. Of course, Sandisk/Creative are priced beneath that, but they lack a clarified brand strategy (which Zune has).

I'd like to see a price drop in the 80gb, as well, since, right now, the Zune is one of the few spec-for-spec alternatives to the 80gb iPod (the biggest being that it is virtually the same size, whereas every other HDD device is much thicker). I think that is the area that would get Zune the most attention.

[onlydarksets]

Originally Posted by andre

...and thats one of the problems MS faces, if you have $150 you would buy a 4GB ipod over a $150 zune, if you don't have enough money you purchase a creative 4GB players...so MS is sort of stuck

if MS really wants to increase sales they need to move beyond the 'me too' mindset (wifi was nice but...) and go above and beyond iPod to make someone make a decision to buy it over the same price iPod.

I've made that same point. The $20 price drop on the 8gb is intriguing, because it (finally) gives the casual user a distinction in the flash space between the iPod and the Zune. Of course, Sandisk/Creative are priced beneath that, but they lack a clarified brand strategy (which Zune has).

I'd like to see a price drop in the 80gb, as well, since, right now, the Zune is one of the few spec-for-spec alternatives to the 80gb iPod (the biggest being that it is virtually the same size, whereas every other HDD device is much thicker). I think that is the area that would get Zune the most attention.

[Macguy59]

Originally Posted by onlydarksets

I'd like to see a price drop in the 80gb, as well, since, right now, the Zune is one of the few spec-for-spec alternatives to the 80gb iPod (the biggest being that it is virtually the same size, whereas every other HDD device is much thicker). I think that is the area that would get Zune the most attention.

Not quite. The 80GB iPod is still thinner than the 80GB Zune. However, the 80GB Zune is slightly thinner than the 160GB iPod.

[onlydarksets]

Originally Posted by byteme

Not quite. The 80GB iPod is still thinner than the 80GB Zune. However, the 80GB Zune is slightly thinner than the 160GB iPod.

Right - that's why I said "virtually" and not "exactly"

The iPod 80gb is .41" (I believe)
Zune 80gb is .51"
Zune 30gb is .65"
Creative's 60gb offering is .87"

Archos used to compete in this space (the 204), but I don't think they have anything new. Still, that was .70"

Bottom line is that thin is in, and the only thing CLOSE to an iPod is the v2 Zune. They shaved .14" off between v1 and v2, and I expect v3 to get even closer to the iPod form factor (mostly in terms of thickness).

[Aussie4une]

I managed to get my ZUNE 80GB from AMAZON using my Australian C/Card. Amazon then shipped it to my friend in CA who shipped it to me.... Jason.... I think the MP3 topseller's list is a collection from amazon's database. A very clear picture would be if AMAZON could release a topsellers list STARTING from 13th NOV 2007. But not happening.

[Jason Dunn]

Originally Posted by Aussie4une

Jason.... I think the MP3 topseller's list is a collection from amazon's database.

Yes, correct. It's calculated at least daily, perhaps hourly, because it changed once when I was writing that post....

[Macguy59]

I think ZUNE is selling more than iPod in the US

Uh no it's not LOL