...expect more coverage soon
This is what Ryan Block at Engadget is saying today.
So yesterday I posted a look at the new Zune device and software, which caused quite a stir with the Microsoft faithful in the house (as I suspected it might). Ok, I'm sugarcoating it. Some Zune fans went ballistic over my criticisms of the new products -- and took it out on me, often personally.
There are lots of things I'd like to remind these people of. Like, besides the fact that it's just a product, I (and Engadget) have been a vocal advocate of Microsoft's entry into the space since before the Zune was ever announced. We led the charge in press coverage of the Zune last (and for a while the Apple fans even called us Zune fanboys). Nothing's changed though, we're critical of all this stuff, and whether some people believe it, we don't easily let Apple off the hook either (read our iPhone review and iPod touch review if you want to dig in). If we didn't care about -- or hated -- the new Zune we wouldn't waste our time telling Microsoft how to get it right, we'd just ignore the thing and you wouldn't see any risky, critical editorial. (Believe it or not, PR agencies by far prefer negative reviews than having their product ignored.)
My thoughts from yesterday still stand. Mainly the critisism about the lack of Mac Support. Apple making iTunes PC compatible was a necessity for Apple. PC Users outnumber Mac users by ~10:1. Getting the iTunes going with MOST of the computer users is a must. Like I said yesterday, development cost to make Zune Mac Compatible may not be feasible based on the small percentage of Mac users that would actually buy a Microsoft product other than Office. I may be wrong here, but I am fairly sure economics drive this choice.
9 Responses for "Zune people: we hear you…"
As much as I’d like to see a Linux port, that just makes development that much harder. To simplify dev they have relied heavily on the .NET Framework (Bravo, I adore .NET) which is of course not easy to use on systems not running windows.
- Leif
Could Microsoft be ignoring the Apple crowd because they feel it would take to much work to make a dent. As you said PCs are ten to one in comparison.
As a Mac user, I would love to see them at least try a port to OSX. Among other things, if Microsoft is able to grab some market share at the iPod’s expense among Mac users it would surely feel great to the team. I can’t imagine that it would all that difficult to port over. Microsoft has a very capable Mac development team; I believe that Microsoft is the largest selling Mac developer (at least they were a couple of years ago.)
I’d welcome it. (Of course, so many Mac switchers like me are running Parallels or Boot Camp these days that perhaps it’s a moot point…)
HOLY CRAP… It’s DOOGALD!!!!
Howdy Sir.
I really can’t blame Microsoft fans for attacking that review. It was way biased and more of a clever attack against the Zune. I’d like to see another more neutral review.
Yep, it’s me.
As an iPod user as well as a Mac owner, I am rooting hard for the Zune to succeed. It only benefits all of us when a huge market share device gets pushed by competition. That’s also why Windows users should silently applaud the market share growth of the Mac - it will only lead to good things for Windows going forward.
But, thinking about this - I seriously doubt that there are many Mac users who would think seriously about a Zune (other than me.) And there are probably fewer Linux users. Probably not worth the effort.
I think the best approach they can take for Linux and Mac is to write a web based app. Doing that you won’t get all the cool animation effects as a desktop app, but it will be comparitively cheaper on Microsoft. Also doogald I agree that right now that market share is so small it is not worth the effort especially when a lot of mac fans are reporting that they find Zune 2 to be competing with old iPod and not iTouch / iPhone.
i agree it was a very bius review. Wow i can not spell
[...] it a fair shake. I wasn’t the only one, lots of folks flogged him for his assessment. He promised to give it another whirl and he did. So as we said before: same place, same time in late 2008? Bring your A-game, Zune, and [...]
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