Zune-enomics

While I don't normally like to rub failure in the faces of those who have failed, I need to point to this:
"The Zune is a square wheel, a product that's so absurd and so obviously immune to success that it evokes something akin to a sense of pity."
So what happened? A machine that played video, audio, and didn't look half bad. The obvious answer is "It's not an iPod", and that is sadly one of the reasons people aren't biting. The exaggerated claim is that "Everyone" has an iPod, I even have one, and that no one is going to buy some silly Zune just for a few extra features.

In my opinion, there is a deeper issue at hand with the Zune. My opinion is broken in to two parts, they both fall in to a category I like to call "Lame Uncle" syndrome. One of the companies that is trying to get you to buy their digital audio player is regarded as the "Lame Uncle", and you can probably guess who I consider the lame uncle. A few examples of why I think the way I do.
Example the First Example the Second Example the Third
So this is screaming "Biased" but I really think that Apple is a far cooler company, and Microsoft simply cannot emulate their "hipness". They really did a good job at the Xbox 360 in terms of making it look sexy and all, but I think the fact that it came to the market place as "the most powerful video game console ever" is what is selling it. Similarly, the Zune does look really nice, but why won't people touch it?

The "Lame Uncle" usually can do things just as well as your best friend, but there are always conditions. A rousing game of tackle football, turns in to an un-fun game of touch football. A movie selection goes from R to PG. Your parents are usually to blame for this, since they don't want you breaking your neck, so the uncle is there to keep that from happening, while giving you a false sense of fun.

This is what I think is wrong with the Zune as well. A little organization known as the RIAA* has it's giant hand in the pot here, ruining the party, just as your parents busted your nudie mag stash, and fire cracker exploits. So firstly, from the get-go, Microsoft is a "Lame Uncle". Not a very appealing company, trying to appeal to the young and hip. Their install screens show people listening to music at various venues and outlets, but the install takes so long, and has been known to crash so frequently that people are having troubles doing ANY listening. Secondly, the player is crippled for getting music on it, it's a chore and a turn-off.

Recap: Microsoft's system has left users of Napster, Real and other music download services that use Microsoft's DRM* in the dark. Essentially you have a digital music player that has a Microsoft stamp of approval, and you've spent hundreds of dollars on music that is downloaded. Now the "Next Big Thing" comes along and tells you to re-buy every song you own? People get killed for that kind of thinking. This fact, along with the fact that Microsoft is the "Lame Uncle" of electronics companies is a recipe for disaster.

So that is my partially biased opinion of what is going on here. What I think we should all do to test this theory is, when you are visiting family for the holidays, try and pick out the lamest uncle you have and quiz him on certain subjects. Then see if he wants to do something risky/fun.

That is the end of my diatribe, have a nice week.
JaronW.
*sources listed are from wikipedia and may not be neutral or factual, but should give you a rough idea.