08-24-2006, 06:08 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 316
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Can MS really make a run at iPod?
Do you think MS can really pull this off and make a run at the iPod dominance?
Personally, I think if anyone can, MS can, and I think they have a real shot. Not with this first gen, but just a bit down the road.
Last edited by Aaron Roma; 08-25-2006 at 01:34 AM..
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08-24-2006, 07:17 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 378
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Microsoft has proven itself time and time again that it can break into most markets it wishes to. Take for example the game console market and how the xbox competed with the PS2 and GameCube, or the PDA market (Palm vs Pocket PC). I also agree that maybe the 1st-generation product may not be the one to stand out, but it'll be a great stepping stone, similar to how the xbox evolved to the xbox360.
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08-24-2006, 09:31 PM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 2
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I am not a big MS supporter but am rooting for them here. Quality competition always results in better produchs for the consuner.
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08-24-2006, 10:29 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 251
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Perhaps they will in the long run. But the iPod has such a large lead, and I believe will maintain it. To me, the situation is very much like when Pocket PC debuted. Except I don't see Apple doing a complete collapse like Palm for failing to innovate.
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08-24-2006, 11:51 PM
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Oracle
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 866
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If they are going to catchup to Apple in their already well established lead and following, then they not only have to match Apple's offering of an integrated Player, Software, and music store, but beat it with something better, yet as simple to use.
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08-25-2006, 01:41 AM
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Pupil
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 30
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Like JesterMania already mentioned - Somehow Microsoft already have proven that it can break into something that no one would even think of doing, and actually survive, or better yet actually succeeds.
Competition is always good for us; the consumers.
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08-25-2006, 02:02 AM
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Thinker
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 355
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I'm curious to see what Zune really becomes - the technologies it employs, the features it offers, how inspiring a piece of hardware and software it really is. As others have mentioned, Apple has built such mind-share in the marketplace that it's almost ridiculous - parents may not even totally understand what an "ipod" is, they just know they kids want one and that "everyone has one". That is the real challenge MS has IMO - they need to somehow become the device that replaces the ipod, probably with some kind of paradigm shift in consumer electronics. I think the race for MP3 players is done - it's Apple's win by a landslide. Rather than chase Apple and vy for the scraps left over, MS needs to define the "next thing" in the market....
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08-25-2006, 02:44 AM
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Thinker
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 378
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I think the point MitchellO brought up would probably lead Microsoft to integrate Zune with many of its other product offerings. It would be expected that Microsoft make a player similar to the iPod and a software+music store similar to iTunes. I think the main edge Microsoft has over Apple would be integration to its other product offerings. Right now, Apple has got iPod + Mac. Microsoft has at least a PDA market (Pocket PC), phone market (WM Smartphone), and game console market (Xbox) - all of which Apple doesn't have. I think that if Microsoft can prove how easy it is for Zune to integrate with all these products, Microsoft can then win. Of course, this is reliant on the expectation that all these other separate markets become popular too...
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