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MP3.com founder: Zune will be ‘biggest flop of 2007’
MP3.com founder Michael Robertson believes the Zune media player will be a large failure for Microsoft. “At first glance the features seem compelling but my prediction is it will be the biggest flop of 2007 with less than 50,000 units sold worldwide,” he says. Robertson cites Zune’s disappointing wireless features and the device’s incompatibilities with “Plays For Sure” purchased songs. “Microsoft will likely spend nearly $100 million in marketing the Zune. The press will give them tens of millions of dollars in free marketing,” Robertson continues. “In spite of this publicity the Zune will be an expensive failure for Microsoft because consumers aren’t stupid. As the saying goes: Zune me once, shame on you. Zune me twice, shame on me.”
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1
*fewer than 50,000 units sold worldwide.
Sorry, I may be a computer geek but my Mom is an English teacher.
Posted by jeromatron on October 9, 2006 at 7:28 AM (PDT)
2
Will it be a bigger flop than MP3.com was?
Posted by TuQuoque on October 9, 2006 at 1:17 PM (PDT)
3
Too bad Microshaft didn’t see fit to aggressively price the Zune. A lowball price is pretty much the only chance in hell for MSFT making the Zune business model work.
Posted by flatline response on October 10, 2006 at 12:12 AM (PDT)
4
Don’t underestimate Microsoft. I hate’em and think they have no clue on what the public wants, but I also recognize that they compete ruthlessly.
They could afford to give away a Zune with each copy of Vista. Think of what that would do to the market. Granted, it would cost a ton of money, but they’ve got money to burn. And it would be unethical but that never stopped them before. Illegal? Bah. They own more politicians than God does.
In short, Zune is not that impressive. But they could make a lot of inroads off the strength of their abusive monopoly power. And nobody who *can* stop them *wants* to stop them.
Posted by paul on October 10, 2006 at 6:49 AM (PDT)
5
Come on Paul!!! I am no particular fan of Microsoft but why in the world would it be unethical to give away a Zune with a copy of Vista? It may be stupid, but I am not sure on what ground you would question the ethics of giving away a product to incent trial. Ironically, Apple is the only party engaging in a predatory practice by locking everyone into their proprietary AAC format.
Posted by david on October 16, 2006 at 12:13 PM (PDT)