11-01-2006, 06:30 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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ABI Research Survey: 58% of iPod Owners Planning Another MP3 Player Purchase Will Consider Microsoft's Zune
"A new survey conducted by ABI Research has shown that many prospective MP3 player buyers-even owners of iPods-would be likely to choose Microsoft's Zune player. 1725 teenage and adult US residents were asked whether they planned to buy an MP3 player in the next 12 months. Of those responding that they were likely to do so, 58% of those identifying themselves as existing iPod owners and 59% of those who owned other brands said they would be "somewhat likely" or "extremely likely" to choose a Microsoft Zune player over an iPod or another brand of MP3 player. "Our conclusion," says principal analyst Steve Wilson, "is that iPod users don't display the same passionate loyalty to iPods that Macintosh users have historically shown for their Apple products." Only 15% of iPod owners said they were "not very likely" or "not at all likely" to choose Zune."
Now that's some surprising information! I've always assumed that because the iPod has such massive control in the marketplace, and people kept buying iPod after iPod, that the Zune would have a tough time with current iPod owners (which is a good chunk of the market). The iPod fanboy sites would certainly have you believe that anyway, but this survey calls that into question. Assuming that the survey is an accurate gauge of the overall buying population, this is great news for the Zune. What do you think - are you a current iPod owner, and are you considering a Zune?
[Bonus points: can anyone point out why I used the above photo?]
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11-01-2006, 07:45 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 676
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I am an iPod owner, but I will not consider a Zune purchase. I simply have too much invested in iPod accessories to switch. But I am still extremely interested in what Zune will do and how it will affect the market as I am hoping that it will spur Apple to develop even better iPods.
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64 GB iPad 2 WiFi, Apple TV 2, 32 GB iPhone 4
Early 2011 MacBook Pro 13" (dual boot with Windows 7), Early 2009 Mac Mini
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11-01-2006, 08:44 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dyvim
I simply have too much invested in iPod accessories to switch.
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I heard that the new iPods have a slightly shifted connector port that makes them incompatible with a lot of accessories. Is that true? If so, does that tick you off? 
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11-01-2006, 09:39 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 19
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It ticks me off. I hear the connector is moved 3mm to the side on the new video iPods... forcing iPod owners to repurchase or junk their form-fitting carriers and cases...
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11-01-2006, 10:45 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 676
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason Dunn
I heard that the new iPods have a slightly shifted connector port that makes them incompatible with a lot of accessories. Is that true? If so, does that tick you off? |
It is true for the 2G nano, but AFAIK the new "enhanced" 30/80 GB 5G video iPods are exactly the same as the 30/60 GB original 5G video iPods from 2005. I'm not sure whether the ports shifted between the 5G and 4G (and earlier) iPods although the dimensions of the 5G iPods were much thinner than previous full-sized iPods so that alone could break many accessories.
Fortunately my most expensive accessory, a Geneva Lab Model L speaker system, uses the Universal Dock Adaptor system so it works fine with the new iPods (and all old iPods) and will continue to work with new iPods until Apple abandons their own standard (I hope they stick with it longer than Microsoft stuck with Plays4Sure).
My next most expensive accessories are 2 Klipsch iFi speaker systems. Unfortunately the iFi predates the universal dock adaptor standard. These were released before the original nano and 5G iPods and at first didn't work properly with those, but kudos to Klipsch for making new adaptors for the nano and 5G iPods and shipping them free to their customers (true, you had to request them and then wait a few months). So the new 80 GB iPod works ok, since it is same size as the previous 60 GB iPod, but the new nano does not fit due to the aforementioned shift in position of the port. It would be nice if Klipsch would make yet another new adaptor, but I doubt they will. Anyway, the new nano is light enough that it can be used in the dock without an adaptor- you just need to be careful not to snap anything off. But the iFi's are not likely to fit any new iPods unless by chance they match some old model iPod in shape. 
But my complaints don't extend to cases - I'm not going to complain about the movement of the port with respect to "form-fitting" cases on the 5G iPods - the 5G iPods are a different depth than previous 4G iPods (thinner) so I would need a new case even if the port position had remained the same. Besides, my old case stays with my old iPod (and can be sold with it, if I choose to get rid of it) and I'll probably get a new case for any new iPods I get. Cases are relatively inexpensive when compared to speaker systems.
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64 GB iPad 2 WiFi, Apple TV 2, 32 GB iPhone 4
Early 2011 MacBook Pro 13" (dual boot with Windows 7), Early 2009 Mac Mini
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11-01-2006, 10:55 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dyvim
Fortunately my most expensive accessory, a Geneva Lab Model L speaker system, uses the Universal Dock Adaptor system so it works fine with the new iPods (and all old iPods) and will continue to work with new iPods until Apple abandons their own standard (I hope they stick with it longer than Microsoft stuck with Plays4Sure).
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Well that's good to know - it's not as bad as I thought then. Regarding Plays4Sure, Microsoft hasn't changed anything - they're still working with Creative, iRiver, Toshiba, and other device makers, WMP is still going to be developed, and Napster, Yahoo, and every other music store is still around. It's bunch of FUD when people think Plays4Sure is suddenly vanishing...
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11-02-2006, 12:53 AM
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Pupil
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 19
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More on the ABI survey
Jason,
I phone interviewed ABI this morning to find out more about the survey. The 58% number seems astounding to me, and I wanted to know what specifically was asked.
Well, they wouldn't release the whole survey to me (that costs $3,000), but they gave me the exact three questions asked, and some demographic info.
It's posted on the Zunerama blog, and I'll post again once they reply back to some follow-up questions I had.
Harvey
Editor, Zunerama
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