Five Reasons The Zune... Um... Flopped?

[Aaron Roma]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://cleaningupmylife.blogspot.com/2006/12/5-simple-reasons-why-zune-flopped.html' target='_blank'>http://cleaningupmylife.blogspot.com/2006/12/5-simple-reasons-why-zune-flopped.html</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>&quot;Why did the Zune fail? There was so much hype and buildup. Almost as much as Apple gets when the media pushes their products for free. I find it difficult to believe that, with all this free publicity, a product could flop so miserably... However, there are a couple of items that I don't think people have picked up on yet that I think are key issues that may have significantly helped the product to fail.&quot;</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Ouch.&nbsp; Isn't it a tad early to declare Zune a complete failure?&nbsp; (I sure would love to see a nice comparison chart of the first generation offerings from each major competitor in the DAP arena to see where Zune falls in.)&nbsp; Back on topic, despite the harsh tone to the article, this blogger does bring up some very valid points.&nbsp; I won't repeat all of them here, but one I found of particular interest, was his point regarding the inaccessibility of in-store displays.&nbsp; Most of the Zune displays I've seen have had the &quot;locked down&quot; Zune (if one was present at all).&nbsp; There was no way of actually picking the Zune up, holding it, playing with it, seeing how good it actually feels.&nbsp; Most shoppers aren't going out specifically looking for a Zune, so they need that chance to touch it and see what it's all about.&nbsp; (Possibly to see that it's not the huge, heavy brick that they've heard about!)&nbsp; Has anyone else have any complaints about terrible in-store displays?</p>

[NPrtmn4evr]

Most of the Zune displays I've seen have had the "locked down" Zune (if one was present at all). There was no way of actually picking the Zune up, holding it, playing with it, seeing how good it actually feels. Most shoppers aren't going out specifically looking for a Zune, so they need that chance to touch it and see what it's all about. (Possibly to see that it's not the huge, heavy brick that they've heard about!) Has anyone else have any complaints about terrible in-store displays?


I agree with the displays. They are pretty terrible, and not inviting to the general consumer. The only place where I was able to get a decent feel for the Zune was at Best Buy.

[Alber1690]

I also find it kinda of useless to show-off one of its biggest features, the screen, and not have it available to move in a horizontal position so people can experiance the literally huge differerence of a widescreen video experience. Best Buy was the only place around in my area too because it simply didn't have a display. It was just with the rest of the MP3 players on those circle plates with the cable for power and security. I find the displays attractive and useful for brand marketing, but they really weren't designed very efficiently to have a customer experience the product.

[Master_Chief]

Here's one thing I noticed. I never see the white Zune on display it's always the black or brown one. The white one is cool too because thats the one I have :D I think the Zune will be fine as soon as they ad podcasts and movies and video downloads on the Zune marketplace but until then :(

[Paul Martin]

As Mark Twain said, The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated. It's a little early for everyone to do a post mortem.

Even better, a touch of Monte seems appropriate:

The Dead Collector (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001385/): Bring out yer dead.
[a man puts a body on the cart]
Large Man with Dead Body (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000092/): Here's one.
The Dead Collector (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001385/): That'll be ninepence.
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0949707/): I'm not dead.
The Dead Collector (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001385/): What?
Large Man with Dead Body (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000092/): Nothing. There's your ninepence.
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0949707/): I'm not dead.
The Dead Collector (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001385/): 'Ere, he says he's not dead.
Large Man with Dead Body (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000092/): Yes he is.
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0949707/): I'm not.
The Dead Collector (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001385/): He isn't.
Large Man with Dead Body (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000092/): Well, he will be soon, he's very ill.
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0949707/): I'm getting better.
Large Man with Dead Body (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000092/): No you're not, you'll be stone dead in a moment.
The Dead Collector (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001385/): Well, I can't take him like that. It's against regulations.
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0949707/): I don't want to go on the cart.
Large Man with Dead Body (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000092/): Oh, don't be such a baby.
The Dead Collector (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001385/): I can't take him.
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0949707/): I feel fine.
Large Man with Dead Body (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000092/): Oh, do me a favor.
The Dead Collector (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001385/): I can't.
Large Man with Dead Body (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000092/): Well, can you hang around for a couple of minutes? He won't be long.
The Dead Collector (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001385/): I promised I'd be at the Robinsons'. They've lost nine today.
Large Man with Dead Body (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000092/): Well, when's your next round?
The Dead Collector (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001385/): Thursday.
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0949707/): I think I'll go for a walk.
Large Man with Dead Body (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000092/): You're not fooling anyone, you know. Isn't there anything you could do?
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0949707/): I feel happy. I feel happy.
[the Dead Collector glances up and down the street furtively, then silences the Body with his a whack of his club]
Large Man with Dead Body (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000092/): Ah, thank you very much.
The Dead Collector (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001385/): Not at all. See you on Thursday.
Large Man with Dead Body (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000092/): Right.

[Master_Chief]

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

[enjoythemusic]

http://cleaningupmylife.blogspot.com/2006/12/5-simple-reasons-why-zune-flopped.html
...

The article makes some very valid points. Look at Bose and their lackluster products, yet their marketing is so elegant they succeed time and time again.

As for size, yes the Zune is outclassed by Apple variants. There is only so much circuitry shrinkage that can be engineered at a certain price level, so MS probably paid the price for the larger screen. They may want to focus on streamlining the internals and also roll out a new chip-based unit and larger HD counterpart.

Other problems include incompatible WiFi for ease of use. Proprietary items MUST STOP! Either be industry standard or do not bother at all, as it only upsets users to tease them with non-standard interfaces.

Unable to store/listen to uncompressed audio files

Unable to access HD like a standard storage device

Inability to work with PlaysForSure. Frankly, what the heck were the MS engineers thinking?

Stupid payment system for online content.

No podcasting compatibility.

Stop TRYING to be cool and simply BE. The cool factor should come naturally if you designed a cool product.

As the editor of an online audiophile magazine (and partners with three audiophile print publications) the Zune gets high marks for sound quality, but loses out due to basic inability to use the unit in any flexible way (WiFi, uncompressed, etc) as is normal with an iPod.

So why did i BUY my Zune at retail you ask, because of the sound quality and HOPE that at least uncompressed audio would be allowed in some future firmware... plus have been a MS enthusiast with AutoPC, WinCE, Smartphones, etc. Well, that and because the MS press representative never answered my e-mails.

Microsoft had their chance and serious blew it. Sadly, now it will take 4x the time and cost to repair the damage :(

The GOOD NEWS is that some of the above can easily be solved RIGHT NOW with firmware update. Imagine the positive buzz if new firmware and OS software allows for standard WiFi, playing back uncompressed audio files, and having the Zune show up as an external HD within the My Computer GUI. Lastly, stop using the proprietary Zune DRM and allow current Zune content to migrate to PFS DRM. Why did MS license PFS DRM if they were not going to use their very own technology?

That is all for now and hopefully a proper MS Zune design/engineering representative will PM me, we have some things to discuss...

[kryptman40k]

i went to best buy and picked it up and played with it there.

what's the problem?

[rldeweese]

Perfect excuse for me to post my experience. I set out to purchase my 2 teenage daughters new mp3 players just prior to Christmas. I was looking at the 30 gb iPods and the Zune. I had read online about the Zune and it seemed to have some interesting features that the iPod lacked, i.e. bigger screen, fm radio, wi-fi, etc. I decided to go to a couple of local retailers to check them out - but as stated above - the Zunes were "locked down" and I really wasn't able to get a feel for the size / weight of the device. I decided that this was done by design, so as not to let the consumer see tha the Zune was a bit "bulkier" and certainly not as sexy in a side by side comparison with the iPod. Unfortunately, it also prevented me from picking one up and thinking, "hey, this is pretty light and really doesn't feel all that bad in the hands" afterall.

Ultimately, I decided the iPods would be a safer bet for me as the girls were already familiar with them, they were definitely sexier, etc. I discussed my experience with my wife and told her I thought the Zune had potential but that the iPods were probably the way to go. bought 2 30gb iPods for the girls and they were thrilled at Christmas.

Afterward I commented to my wife that those iPods were pretty cool and I wouldn't mind getting one for my birthday coming up in January. LOL. Remembering my comments about the Zune my wife proceeded to let a sales person talk her into the Zune for me. When I opened it up it was with a bit of trepidation - I was excited at getting a new player, but had kind of settled on the iPod as being the way to go. Wasn't too sure about the Zune. Much to my surprise, I absolutely fell in love with the Zune. I have a Zune pass and now my wife wants a Zune as well. In hind sight I really wish I had gotten the girls Zunes so we could all play with the wi-fi feature (even though it is a bit crippled without the hack). I have also encoded lots of my favorite tv shows and synced them to my Zune so I have some added "filler" when I am sitting around waiting on my daughters' various sports activities. Love the viewing experience.

Oh, and an additional bonus is that I was able to plug the AV cable into my Pioneer N2 navigation screen in my truck with 0 issues. Displays the album art, song, etc. right on my nav screen. Really sweet! Sounds great too!!

I agree its too early to call these things a flop - and I for one am rootin for them to succeed big time.

Bob

[NPrtmn4evr]

i went to best buy and picked it up and played with it there.

what's the problem?

There's not a problem with Best Buy's Zune displays. But try going to GameStop and play with the Zune there. You'll understand. ;)

[kryptman40k]

haha i don't even buy video games at that damn store.

why on earth would you go to a gamestop to look for an mp3 player?

that's like going to walmart and being upset that they don't have top of the line stereo equipment.

people need something to complain about, i guess.

[Aaron Roma]

The point being, it does no good for Microsoft to sell the Zune in all the stores, like their doing, when the Zune is locked down in a case where you can't even hold the device in your hands and play with it.

[enjoythemusic]

The point being, it does no good for Microsoft to sell the Zune in all the stores, like their doing, when the Zune is locked down in a case where you can't even hold the device in your hands and play with it.

So in these same stores they have iPods out in the pen for people to handle/play with? Having over a decade of experience at the retail level in the consumer electronics field, things that can easily be handled can also be stolen. A sad truth, though also notice how in the past wireless remote controls to televisions were on top of the unit, then over the years these remotes were 'tired down' for security.. and now there are some stores that do not keep out the wireless remotes at all(!).

Just some food for thought, especially when we are discussing a small, easily stolen $250 consumer electronic device like the Zune. Naturally the store should have the ability for salespeople to unlock the Zune from the diplay so they can allow customers to use/see/feel it.