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Posted by unregistered user at 11/12/07 8:27 a.m.

Who cares... it's still a me too product that works like crap. Give it up MSFT. You got beat, just like you got beat about this whole Internet thing and browser applications. You're big and slow, the modern day IBM.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/12/07 9:05 a.m.

Well you are missing the point. It is not the only thing Zune is banking on (i hope). Its one of those things which people can think of differently when it comes to zune. This is called "emotional branding"

When it comes to competing with a product you have to juggle with, three things. Differentiation, Parity and Innovation over the competitor. And this particular aspect gives it differentiation from the iPod. I agree zune has not done much on the innovation side.. other than the "squirt" feature which was a half-hearted effort at best.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/12/07 9:17 a.m.

are there better mp3 players out there, sure. But what people who argue on 'just' the player are missing out on the whole user experience. From opening the box to installing the software to syncing the device. What makes iTunes the winner is iTunes and the seamless integration to its player. I have helped a dozen people who decided on either a sony, sansa, or zune... and all but one regretted not getting an iPod (yes, it was the zune (but that person HATES anything Apple anyways, so that was a given).

I do hope there are other players who challenge Apple, so that we as consumers can have more options. But I don't think fancy engraving is going to push zune higher. But who knows??? Who would've thought changing a computers colors would have any impact.

Posted by Freakshow1 at 11/12/07 9:33 a.m.

Gotta love opening any apple box. Everything from the feel of the box to the way the device is set in side it is so thought out. The iPhone's box is fantastic.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/12/07 10:49 a.m.

Precisely why Apple wins and MSFT loses this time. In terms of a total brand experience, purchasing any Apple product is so delightful compared to just about anything MSFT or anyone else brings to market. It's ironic that MSFT, being the marketing colossus that it is, got it so wrong in this case. They rushed the product out to get in the game, now they find themselves smearing lipstick on the pig. Time to cook up some bacon.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/12/07 11:21 a.m.

The comments in some of these posts demonstrate my belief that Apple is primarily a marketing and design company. There is little innovation at Apple, but lots of marketing and design talent. And it is obvious that can take you a very long way.

Posted by Mr. Baker at 11/12/07 11:29 a.m.

Good for Microsoft and anybody that enjoys that kind of product by the scratchings on the back.

I have an older iPod that I had engraved some meaninful (at the time) statement. I rarely looked at the back of the thing.
I have an iPhone, didn't bother with pithy words for free. The iphone box was fantastic.
It's meaningless trash of tomorrow.

Posted by Mr. Baker at 11/12/07 11:38 a.m.

"The comments in some of these posts demonstrate my belief that Apple is primarily a marketing and design company. There is little innovation at Apple, but lots of marketing and design talent. And it is obvious that can take you a very long way."

Your post demonstrates evidence of a lack of understanding about topics and the nature of conversation.
This topic is about aesthetics, and Apple comparison, so you have discussion about... aesthetics, Microsoft and Apple.
RIF.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/12/07 12:33 p.m.

I think its neat and worth it. I would like to get one for my fiance as a travel gift. She likes personalized stuff, as do I.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/12/07 2:51 p.m.

"belief that Apple is primarily a marketing and design company."

and the problem with that is?? We live in a world where aesthetics do matter (therefore the Zune engraving)(or our love for cars). But where Apple has excelled at is taking the aesthetics and carrying it over to actual substance on its products. TOTAL user experience, from opening the box to actually USING the product.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/12/07 2:57 p.m.

Awesome! I want one. :)

Posted by unregistered user at 11/12/07 4:07 p.m.

I didn't insult you when discussing Apple's strength as a marketing and design company did I? Can Apple fans respond without mocking or insults? Let's see. And there is nothing wrong with Apple excelling at design and marketing. Nothing at all. They get credit from some quarters as innovators, but they really do very little innovating or creating. Apple's real strength is design and marketing. Customer experience is important, from point of sale (if you go to an Apple store) to opening the product and using it. I agree absolutely. A product sold this way still has to work and fulfill the customer's needs, but it doesn't need to be cutting edge or even very creative if you sell it right.

The iPhone is rare case where Apple actually did do some innovating as well as its usual first class design and marketing. But this post is about iPods and Zunes not the iPhone.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/12/07 6:54 p.m.

Customised! I still want one
;) or more...
:)

Posted by ucsdstud at 11/12/07 7:19 p.m.

There is little innovation at Apple, but lots of marketing and design talent. And it is obvious that can take you a very long way.

"Little innovation?"

You have got to be kidding me ... has anyone come out with a more ingenious MP3 player than them?

Has anyone come out with a more original all-in-one cell phone/MP3/browser/emailer device than Apple?

The "innovation" is not the marketing, it is the conception of its industrial designers who juxtapose all these individual elements into one cohesively functional device ... which by Apple's mantra ... is COOL.

Marketing does the rest.

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