[PCWorld]

Post your comments for Microsoft Readies an All-Out War on the iPod here

[davebancroft]

I filled my music player with all the music I already owned and loads of free podcasts. I think I only ever bought one new track from iTunes, the rest are off CD.
$30,000, what a load of BS!

[p1gnone]

Let's all agree to laugh at the pathetic lack downward spiral of Microsoft. Even the Verizon project is souring. Those of the VZw development team say the project can only fail, just another example of misguided high level management handshaking without a clue about customer need, hence customer demand..

[p1gnone]

[oops]..lack of vision, and downward spiral...

[Gamble20]

I'm not trying to pick sides or anything..

but seriously what a stupid, stupid, idea if MS was going to do this. The reality is, monthly plans don't work. Consumers want to pay for songs when they want, they don't wanna pay 15 a month to RENT a song. How ludicris. Second, most people DON'T PAY FOR THEIR MUSIC so they DON'T CARE! Sadly, it is true.

While Apple has a high cost for their product, no question, you aren't going to beat them with that sort of ad campaign. Almost EVERY other major competitor has tried this, and although MS has a mammoth marketing budget, it still won't sell right.

Its like they are using an Apple strategy to fight Apple. It won't work. iPod owners are happy with their products, unlike many Windows owners.

Again I'm not saying the Zune or MS sucks, but this ad strategy is ridiculous and it won't work!

[pjhenrygd1216]

This article is misleading. To fill up a 120gb device in the first month, it costs $30000 from iTunes and $15 from Zune Pass. The statistic of how long it'd take to fill it up with songs you permanently own is a bogus statistic. You could simply purchase more music above and beyond the 10 free songs you get a month. Its sorta like leasing a car. In fact, this works pretty well in that, especially today, a huge demographic of individuals will only listen to songs for a fixed amount of time and then usually move on to new music. This is by far cheaper to do with Zune Pass than iTunes. In all honesty, I think the Zune Pass is the one major thing MS has over Apple. The Zune itself has a few small features that are also useful, but not dealbreakers and I'll admit the Zune software isn't all that great. But economics-wise, the Zune Pass and a compatible player is definitely a better deal.

[Gamble20]

I hope that this "Pink" or whatever the hell is great, it will cause Apple to lower the cost of the iPhone ect.

I'd gladly welcome a competitor, unfortunetly this is jsut another blunder for MS.

[SteveRoger]

This is not nearly as deceptive as you are claiming. In fact, it is expected. That is the fundamental difference between the Zune pass and the lack of one with iTunes.

Further, any ipod user knows that Apple ipod and itunes products are proprietary just like they know Microsoft Zune products are proprietary. You are basically calling iTune users idiots.

I think this add is probably targeted at both people who own either devices as well as people who own none of them.

Sure, it is a bit of a stretch to say that you would fill up a 120GB device, but that really is just hyperbole, (most people understand that in advertising)however, the point is that you can have access to a lot more music for a lot less. That is true.

If you were a person who really wanted to try before you buy, then this is a good plan. Furtther, the Zune pass is really like a radio on demand. Apple just doesn't do this.

So, the add is okay. It is not the anti-Christ message you all are making it out to be. So what if it didn't reach you. No matter what you weren't going to be getting or have any interest in Zune products.

[pjhenrygd1216]

I don't blame you because the article is misleading, but the $15 a month gets you 10 free songs that you get to permanently keep PLUS you can rent unlimited songs.

[Gamble20]

I'm not saying the Zune pass is a bad idea, but most mp3 owners don't pay for their music. Especially those between the ages of 14-23. (pulling numbers out of my butt I know lol)

If they are going to go after the iPod they need to go directly at it. MANY people are happy with iTunes and their cost analogy is bogus and very transparent as decieiving, at least in the way the present it.

MS used to have a comparable product to Apple, but ever sicne the Touch and other iPod's.. it seems MS hasn't been able to keep up and has to resort to this sort of crappy advtertising.

[pcSimon]

Music from Zune pass must be DRMed - it seems no one has mentioned this important point. Why is Microsoft still trying when everyone else believes DRM is dead?

[Diknak]

Let's not pretend that Microsoft is a failing company and will be going away anytime soon. Since 90% of the market share belongs to Microsoft over the Mac in the computing world, it isn't something that goes away easily. Having downloaded the new Windows 7 Release Candidate, I can tell you right now that Windows 7 is everything Vista promised to be and much much more. I actually have increased performance in Windows 7 over XP, not to mention what it did in comparison to the garbage that was Vista.
But in relation to this issue, the author of this article is correct in the fact that Microsoft's ad is terrible, because if someone is into music to the point that they have purchased a 150gb iPod, they will not be satisfied with only 10 songs per month. If they release a competing mp3 player, they might be able to gain a little of the market share, but otherwise, this is a market that Mac is going to own for a long time.

[TomMariner]

You know Microsoft is in trouble when given the choice of technology or marketing, they select the latter.

Who gives a hoot about how much it costs to store music on an IPhone? Hello Microsoft, it is a cell phone / PDA / mobile app platform / GPS. And, oh yeah, it can do the same function as a $10 music stick. Everyone in the world has had at least 18 months to counter the innovation that is the iPhone with the "Apps" and noone has come close. Apple streaked out of nowhere and turned the cell phone market on its ear. And the competitors have no chance of even catching up with a "me too" effort -- In any technology war you have to leapfrog.

Microsoft is a developer company and they have yet to make a peep about the creation of "Apps" on Windows Mobile -- and the time for them to act is fast drawing to a close. I know they messed up at first with the Internet and then did a great save -- with technology, but if you throw marketing money against innovation, you're gonna lose.

And Verizon -- There is zero chance they will abandon their practice of charging piecemeal for every little feature that they don't emasculate out of the phone. For now their only reason for existance is the best network of cell towers -- Once we all get to LTE / 4G, they had better have a way of countering the folks who bought the AT&T name (and signed with Apple) or they will be a footnote in telcoms history.

[Havok69]

After reading this column, I am confused. Is this Macworld, or PCWorld? It's pretty obvious how biased the writer is...
Plain and simple: $15 a month gets you 120GB of music. It is really quite fun. You plug in your Zune, enter the code on the pre-paid card, or sign up for a monthly payment, and then just download albums. I was really enjoying filling up my Zune LEGALLY. Select an album, download. Repeat until full.
Let's do a little math: 120GB - approximately 30,000 songs. Lets say (generously) on average that you get 20 songs for $9.99 on an album with iTunes. That's around $15,000 dollars to fill an iPod.
Here's the subscription model with Zune: $15 dollars gets me the $15K that iPod users paid in the first month. What? I don't own the music? So what - I just keep paying $15 dollars a month. It will take me 83 YEARS to catch up to your expense. So, you owned the music. That's great. After 83 years at 10 songs a month I will own quite a few tracks myself.
But what about new music? For iPod users, that's EXTRA. Not me - I just delete a few albums I didn't like, or just songs I didn't like, and download the new tracks at no extra cost to me.
Who's stupid now?

[spellcheck]

It's spelled "ludicrous" not "ludicris", when you spell it like that, you're mashing "Ludacris" and "ludicrous". -Spellcheck

[spellcheck]

When referring to an advertisement, the correct short hand is "ad", not "add" -Spellcheck

[mmagliaro]

Yeah, one costs a lot alright... I can blow $15/month or I can buy music I really like only

when I find it. Subscription services are such a joke. That's how the TV services get rich. Get you on the hook paying that monthly fee, whether the selection is any good not. I'd much rather be left alone and just pay $1 when I find something I really want.

It's not about QUANTITY. It's about selection and value. Buy the songs you want, plus get whatever stuff you can get for free, and put it all into a really nicely designed slick player.
OR... pay a rental fee (YUCK!), and put it into an ugly fumbly clumsy crummy player.
Costs a lot? Yeah, in terms of value, a Zune costs a lot.

[Ryan22158]

Exciting to know a new Zune product might be coming out.
As for Zune Pass. I have subscribed to it for the past 7 months or so and could not be happier. I have legal all I can listen music. I don't have to worry about the RIAA knocking at my door or viruses. Although Microsoft's way of going about advertising it is really lame.
So, I guess that makes me the only person to have authority to say anything about the products. Because I have both a Zune 80GB and the Zune Pass, and I love them both. Oh, did I mention if I want to transfer the music I own(Not the subscription stuff of course) out of the Zune player I can? Unlike somebody's media player.

[elgarak]

Let's see:
iTunes songs are DRM-free, 256 kbps AAC files. Buy them, play them wherever you want (even on a Zune), do whatever you want.
On the other side, on the Zune side, there's subscription files, and purchased files. They're different, and separate. Subscription files are WMA only, i.e. don't play on an iPod. And you don't 'keep' 10 per month -- MS allows you graciously to BUY 10 songs a month for free (with no rollover: if you don't buy 10 songs this month, you cannot buy 20 next month. It's 10 credits per month, period. Use 'em or lose 'em).
And subscription and downloading are two separate issues that need to be negotiated for each artist, label etc. separately. For us users that means that some songs are purchase-only. Zune does NOT subscribe it's whole library; it doesn't have the rights to do so. And from what I hear, it's not clear beforehand which right is associated with each file.
Lastly, last time I checked the Zune marketplace, they advertised music that has only ever been released on CD and never been (legally) for online download. They listed music they DO NOT HAVE. Without labeling it so (before you tried to finished the deal).
In short, Zunepass is cumbersome. It's a hassle, You have to spent a lot of time organizing your collection. You cannot go through your subscribed music and just click them to keep -- you need to purchase them. And you have to keep it up month for month to get your money's worth.
I'm sorry, but I'll stick to the clean and simple iTunes concept. I know what I pay for, and how much. And I can stop paying when the money gets tight, but keep my music.

[AtriusNY]

What are you talking about? The ad is about iPod not iPhone.