Sep 24th, 11:00 pm
Zune Pricing Leaked at $229.99
First, we heard this morning from David Caulton of Microsoft’s Zune team that “Zune won’t be undercut on price by iPod”. Then Gizmodo leaked a story indicating that Microsoft met yesterday to determine the price of the first Zune player.
Apparently Microsoft had initially set $289.99, to undercut iPod’s $299 price for its 30GB player. But after last week’s price breaks from Apple, knocking the 30GB to $249, Microsoft pushed the price down to $229.99.
We’re loving the aggressiveness of Microsoft’s pricing. It’s a clear gauntlet-drop - and says a lot about Microsoft’s determination to grab a generous slice of Apple’s pie.
This is precisly what the mp3 market needs, ipods only about half the price to make than they are sold for, and they have not been making substantial improvments on it. Pictures, video support, and a color screen arn’t what I would call groundbreaking features. Now, with the impending Zune they should have sufficent competition to force them to improve, and drop their prices. I have always loved iPods but never could afford one, now with the Zune being so cheap and all the features that it supports, unless Apple releases something better and cheaper on the same day as the Zune, I am going to buy one on release day.
I have been using my second MP3 player, a Creative Nomad Jukebox 3, for over three years and want to make a change. I have never been an Apple fan because of their closed system mentality so wouldn’t buy an iPod. The Zune looks like my next MP3 purchase.
I think that the price is OK….. just have in mind that this includes WiFi, and other cool features……
$230 seems to be a resonable price. But there are people talking about the amazing $99 !!!
Personaly I think this is too much, even for microsoft.Ok 30% off the price for Zune sounds resonable. But 60-70% off the price ?
What is your opinion about this ?
Zune-Online.com
“I have been using my second MP3 player, a Creative Nomad Jukebox 3, for over three years and want to make a change. I have never been an Apple fan because of their closed system mentality so wouldn’t buy an iPod. The Zune looks like my next MP3 purchase.”
Apple’s no more a closed system than Microsoft. If anything, Apple is more open than ever. Mac OS X contains huge amounts of open source code, and if you’re a Linux geek, you can even run Linux on your iPod.
Get an iPod folks. You won’t be disappointed.
Oh, and for the folks who still think iPods are too expensive, Apple’s dropped the price on the 30GB Video to $249, and Nanos can be had for as low as $149. The Shuffle is a cool alternative for $79.
I think it’s time for a change. The Zune is exactly that. If anyone wants to be up-to-date with the newest and best technology to date, I highly recommend purchasing a Zune.
I don’t know how this is going to compete with the iPod:
a) It’s butt-ugly (ok, just my personal opinion, but I think others will feel the same way. And brown??? Why even bother?)
b) It isn’t “open”, at least no more so than the iPod.
c) It’s no cheaper than the iPod, and it offers nothing revolutionary. WiFi is nice, but really not that useful if you think about it.
d) It’s bulkier than the regular iPod, and much bulkier than the Nano. I find the regular iPod already on the limit of what I am willing to drag around with me.
@ SadMan:
It’s butt ugly? Because it’s brown? Way to show your arrogance.
It isn’t “open”? YOU CAN CONNECT TO OTHER PEOPLES ZUNES WIRELESSLY and LISTEN TO THEIR SONGS!
It’s no cheaper than the iPod?
30GB iPod: 249.99
30GB Zune: 229.99
It’s bulkier? Literally ist he same size, look at some of the fuckin’ stats.
@Josh
The ugliness is a personal issue - and I do not think brown is going to be a popular choice.
Do you think this thing looks good? Especially compared to an iPod?
By open I am referring to their sales model - you will be tied to the microsoft tunes store. You wont be able to use Napster, for example.
As for the price: What do you think Apple’s price will be once this hits the stores?
I just think it is unattractive and offers nothing significant that would make me want it - and no significant price break either. I mean, is anyone going to base their decision on a 20$ difference?
I am all for the zune. I am sick and tried of ipods crappy products at a high cost and their aragence towards customers. But you keep saying the price for the zune is $229 but i can only find it sold for $249 is it just me or is it the smae price as the ipod?
Get The Zune!
Why:
-cheaper
-we need to start a new revolution
-Microsoft came out with xbox so, the Zune must be a good product to
-ipods don’t last
-wi-fi
-Zune pass ( this allows you to purchase as may songs as you would like for a set fee
-portfolio or landscape screen
Although, I do agree with josh it is ugly. Not specifically the brown one but the whole unit but it least it will last unlike the ipod. The Zune is just better than the ipod. So remember November 14, to go get revolution of mp3 players of the future.
They need more functionality.
1. conectivity to an external hd, printer, keyboard, monitor
2. electronic text books for school. market it to schools. they spend severla billion on text books.
3 imagine, submit your homework electronically. Oh, the cyber dog ate it!
4. lead the race in electronic classroom revolution and own the youth market