Zune's Gaining [What Do You Expect?]

[ACE]

With the entire PDMP market relatively slow-going, one positive aspect (depending how you look at it) is Zune has still able to find ways to increase its market share. And not by minuscule amounts; Zune has been able to capitalize and generate 33% gains in its share of a highly competitive market. No one expected that…

That’s no small feat with the likes of the market-leader iPods being gobbled up by the millions per quarter. Sure, Zune’s 2 millionth device sold still doesn’t compare to the number of iPods or Sandisks sold, but when looking at the numbers more closely, a more accurate depiction of what’s happening will emerge.



Sandisk was only able squeak out a 10% gain as Creative lost ground by 50%. Even the mighty iPod is showing signs of losing relevance with a 1.4% slip. But that’s still not enough? What then do they expect?

Around the blogs, Zune is still given little if any respect. Tech writers drone about Zune’s flat sales when it’s apparent everyone’s sales are flat. Apparently gaining one-third of one’s market share is nothing worth noting. But that’s expected.

These days, over-priced iPods, with their smaller screens, less features, and pay-per-song model, are what pass as cool. No one likes the new kid on the block.

But heads are turning. The numbers show that. Even amidst economic hardships and a slowing of the PDMP market, Zune is still gaining ground and gaining relevance. With the new features and games on the way (officially), Zune is becoming more of a reckoning force that apparently no one wants to recognize. That’s Ok though.

What do you expect?...

[PoN]

I really cant wait till zune becomes the biggest MP3 player in the world. But most likely it wont happen.. For a long time at least. People have been used to the Ipod. Which is gay because they wont give zune a chance. For all those Mac lovers. Just because Zunes Made my microsoft

[Gregory]

Hmm, those numbers seem a little low... Anyway, glad we're gaining!


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zune#Sales

[collver]

Microsoft just needs to advertise more, other than that zune has a chance for the top spot, after all it is a better machine.

[runtohell121]

hopefully it grows faster

[Dark616]

Yay for gain! posted at gotzune.

[mr.handsomeman]

advertising will do wonders. I just saw my first ever Zune commercial on TV the other day. and it was advertising the marketplace, not the Zune, (was actually the Zune pass tey were advertising), a company as big as this should know how to advertise.

[XSV1137]

As long as we keep growing. I see zune commercials constantly now.

[codestp202]

If they made a mudkip themed zune, sales would sky rocket.

[stkr]

Am I the only one not really impressed? I was expecting Microsoft to have done better with the new Zunes. They've had great ads, the newest one is amazing imo, but I only see them on one network late at night. They need to step up their marketing. Most of my friends only know about the Zune and it's features through me, but most of them knew everything about the iPod before they even owned one. I also fail to see how the iPod has less features than the Zune...really. I like the pay-per-song model as well. I don't like the idea of subscribing to my music. The Zune has a lot to offer and it's a great player, but MS will be looked down upon until they actually surpass an important competitor in the market. I don't see them passing Apple anytime soon. The software is still lacking and the device is still missing some important features.

[ACE]

yeah, culture takes a lot of time to change. The iPod is iconic and has defined the PDMP market for years. The Zune has lacking features? Compared to what? an iPod? See what I mean...

People instantly hold any competitor against the Pod...err..measuring stick.

What I think Zune is is a step in a different and bold direction. Optional Subscription Music Service, Better Game Interface and Support, Wi-Fi.

Not to worry. Zune is still in its infancy. MS is still learning (but keeping an open mind). Sure there's been some bumps along the way. But I think I love this journey more than if I were to have a pop-cultured, already established, but over-rated iPod.

[stkr]

The Zune and it's software lack a lot of features, but I look past them. I'm not sure if everyone will, though. I think Microsoft would have much more respect if they had done better with the first-generation devices. They were not visually appealing overall (though this counts as an opinion, a widespread one, though). The newer Zunes are much better, though, and do a great job when stacked up against the 80GB iPod Classic. It is in it's infancy, so I can see some things being looked over. But some issues are just unreal. No clock? The six months with the crippled software? I had a hard time recommending the Zune to any iPod owners simply because I knew what they would have to deal with when converting to the software. It's better now, but still not where it should be.

[Alex]

Yeah finally getting some respect
*play the song "Respect" here*

[ecidic]

Originally Posted by stkr

The Zune and it's software lack a lot of features, but I look past them. I'm not sure if everyone will, though. I think Microsoft would have much more respect if they had done better with the first-generation devices. They were not visually appealing overall (though this counts as an opinion, a widespread one, though). The newer Zunes are much better, though, and do a great job when stacked up against the 80GB iPod Classic. It is in it's infancy, so I can see some things being looked over. But some issues are just unreal. No clock? The six months with the crippled software? I had a hard time recommending the Zune to any iPod owners simply because I knew what they would have to deal with when converting to the software. It's better now, but still not where it should be.

What are the features it lacks? Just curious...

[mr.handsomeman]

Originally Posted by stkr

Am I the only one not really impressed? I was expecting Microsoft to have done better with the new Zunes. They've had great ads, the newest one is amazing imo, but I only see them on one network late at night. They need to step up their marketing. Most of my friends only know about the Zune and it's features through me, but most of them knew everything about the iPod before they even owned one. I also fail to see how the iPod has less features than the Zune...really. I like the pay-per-song model as well. I don't like the idea of subscribing to my music. The Zune has a lot to offer and it's a great player, but MS will be looked down upon until they actually surpass an important competitor in the market. I don't see them passing Apple anytime soon. The software is still lacking and the device is still missing some important features.

no way man! I'm not impressed either! I look at the numbers with my Apple friends and get embaressed all the time, I hate it! I was expecting the Zune to be way up there, but i mean, i guess not,

we're doing better, that's for sure, but I don't want to celebrate too much until we reach WAY up there you know?

[ChrisV1]

What zunes desperately needs is to be cheaper. That is why the Sandisk is doing so much better than zune. When most people choose a new Mp3 player they choose one they're already comfortable with (like iPods). Unless people have personal grudges against iPods, they will most likely be buying one next time unless zune is cheaper or has many 'Big' features that the iPod does not, like radio and such.

[chi]

GAIN IS GOOD ZUNE FTW!

[soccerfreak24]

1% gain isn't bad, but I was expecting more..

[stkr]

Originally Posted by ecidic

What are the features it lacks? Just curious...

It really depends on which iPod you're comparing it to, but since the Zune 80 is competing with the iPod Classic, I'll just start there. For one, it lacks the ability to repeat a single song. It doesn't have an alarm, sleep timer, calendar, on-the-go playlists editing, notes, the ability to be used as an external harddrive (w/o the need to hack it), an EQ (didn't bug me until I got some headphones that sounded like crap with my Zune, but great with my iPod), video playlists, etc. The software is lacking in the same ways and more than the device. There's no crossfade playback, no sound check (no audio leveling, can't increase or decrease the volumes of songs or videos), no Internet Radio (not useful for most, but I'm sure some iTunes users use it), and the new and welcomed auto-playlists are still limited. The software does have a built-in converter, but unless I've missed it there's no way to manually convert audio and video files. The Zune Marketplace is stepping in the right direction, though I doubt I'll ever use it. All of that aside, I still love my Zune. I guess that says something about the player. It's still cooler than any iPod I've owned, but it's got a long way to go. It does have it's own cool features that stand out from the iPod, but it'll take more than that for some people.