Microsoft Corp.'s introduction today of its Zune MP3 player was expected to
be greeted mostly with yawns from gadget aficionados still loyal to
Apple's iPod despite the widespread availability of cheaper knockoff devices
with greater power and features. But yawns might be preferable to many of
the reviews the device is getting, with techies noting a familiar Microsoft
failing in pushing the product to market early when it can't even take
advantage of many of its best features.
Redmond certainly wasn't going to
miss the Christmas selling season
but it took a hit for introducing an ambitious new platform
with little of its promise yet realized.
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said Zune's lead on Apple in wireless technology
will help it catch up with Apple in the player market, but that its first
step is a foot in the door to a larger platform play that will include
its own music service and mobile phones. — Clifford Carlsen
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