Microsoft V-P: Zune Gets a B- and Nothing to Announce Right Now for the Holiday Season

A “B-”! That’s what the Zune Team got from Mindy Mount, corporate vice president and chief financial officer of Microsoft’s entertainment and device division.

The V-P was speaking at the Citigroup technology conference in New York, and said “We all feel that last year was a good, solid effort for first year. I’d give it a B-. Some things were really great.”

Among the “great” things, Mindy Mount said that “some elements of hardware were nice” and the Zune’s video screen was good. But on the negative side, she mentioned that users were expected a lighter player and a video service (Are we going to have it after all?).

This is probably taken out of context, but she also said, “We don’t have anything to announce right now for the holiday season”. Let’s hope that the “right now” is important in the sentence and it’s just a matter of a few weeks before we finally see a new Zune announcement.

What score would you give to the Zune Player? Less or more than a B-? And Why?

Comments

[Rob Cannon]

I don't think I can give the Zune a B+. I would have if they had updated the meaningful way over the last year. I bought the Zune because I thought it had a lot of potential and it would evolve in the same way the XBox 360 has with software updates. Sigh...

[Zapper]

sorry...but way less than a B-.

No firmware updates, VERY limited use of the WiFi implementation. The price was too high for what it does.

Biggest benefit is the larger video screen...but since they do not have a video store...and it is "illegal" to use a software program to strip DRM from your DVD's..they do not have a fully legal suggestion of how to take advantage of that larger screen size.

[Bengoria]

I think B- is right. While I love my Zune I am disappointed that it can't compete with the IPod. I'd love more accessories. I hate that my music "expires". If I'm paid up I shouldn't have to plug in to Zune software to update permissions. I was excited about downloading music videos and it's been almost a year and nothing. Wi-Fi capability is just wrong. I'm really defensive around the IPodders but I have to admit I think they are right...

[tom bar]

B- My backside! Try a D, or D-!

Not enough formats are supported in particular divx, xvid. Wifi implementation is an F rated joke.

Using it on multiple computers in the house is a unmitigated nightmare of worrying whether "my" media will be deleted.

Not enough accessories.

The interface is ugly.
I can't use it as a stand alone drive.

The drones at MS Zune couldn't have been more boring in their translation of the benefits of the device whenever they interviewed which hit Zune's take off incredibly. Who wants to buy a product even the developers couldn't develop enough interest in themselves to translate verbally and non verbally during product interviews?

Forget D- make it an F.

I wish I could get my money back so I could get a creative zen vision.

[GH]

I'll be getting one in a few months and I can't wait. I hope they don't come out with a new one yet since I'm about to buy one, just update the software and that should be enough. And I don't understand why people keep crying about it being too heavy! Who wants a paper thin easily broken device? I like it just the way it is.

[tom bar]

GH you don't have one.

We do. We know what we're talking about when we say that buying a Zune 1 now is a mistake.

It's a mistake in terms of cost ration compared to Apple's new touch screen offering.

It's a mistake in terms of how the hardware is implemented through software on the device and your pc with Apple being the clear better choice.

MS has just hampered the hardware to much to make it as useful as the new Apple.

The media options Apple offers is better, far far better.

Apple's better with the wifi implementation, and pc implementation, just all around better.

Granted that that mistake is yours to make certainly but it's still a mistake.

buying a zune 1 right now is a waste of money when compared to other offerings out there, not exclusively Apple's either. And frankly if zune 2 shows up on the market without a browser, or touchscreen that would be a waste of money, and a mistake as well.

You've been warned.

[Josh]

Meh personally i LOVE my zune. I think i like it more for the 14.99 a month offering unlimited music. Personally I feel a touch screen is a mistake and feel its personally unwanted and unneeded. i think the iphone is great but i would NEVER want a touch pad for something i carry in my pocket (unless its my ds and even then i dont play touch games on the go) I think the fact its not moving in the touch direction is a good thing. and would LOVE to see the same interfaced worked out with better battery life, a movie download service and better wifi. Dont just add a touch screen cause apple is, work on software first then hardware.

Personally i hate Itunes and feel its drab and boring and the only real way for MS to get a niche is make that great software offering rather than hardware. Anyone can copy hardware, I would like to see some software innovation rather than hardware "innovations"

sry for spelling and grammer :\

[maddie]

wow. i was about to buy a zune, but there are so many mixed reviews on it. i'm afraid it will be a mistake, but i already love it, and i don't even have it yet! maybe i'll wait for the zune2. eh...