Microsoft prepares 'iPod killer' for Europe

The gadgets will run Microsoft's yet-to-be-unveiled Portable Media Center software and represent a direct assault on Apple?s hot-selling digital music player.

The story "Microsoft prepares 'iPod killer' for Europe" published March 17, 2004 at 7:58 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

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[wrwjpn]

iPod Killer???

How can this be a killer? It is larger, heavier, and more
expensive. Do they think most people will watch video on a 2X3
inch screen? What this will come to be is a money waster for
anybody who gets one. Also will this be as susceptible to virus
as the rest of MS products? I will wait until there is a viable
alternative to the iPod, maybe Virgin, will come up with one to
go with their upcoming music store.

iPod Killer?

Yeah, and people are going to want to carry a brick around in
their pocket. Apple seems to do a few things VERY right,
whereas, in their typical shotgun fashion, Microsoft is a jack of
all trades, mastering none.

ipod squasher/killer

I think the only way this monster could possibly kill the
ipod would be to lay it on top of it! Or if there was a price
war for the highest price in media players. And since
Microsoft
is programming it's software, it might just kill itself....

[I1more]

This article is a premature April 1st joke right?

Could have sworn only a couple of months ago CNET reported
iPod's imminent demise at the hand of Bill and Mike's Digital
Jokebox... err, I mean Jukebox. Then a couple of weeks ago, it
was the Dick & Bill tag teaming Steve at Virgin stores, and now
it's Microsoft and Creative vs Apple in Europe??? Then again,
maybe the last two news items are related.

Yeah, I can picture it now... a bunch of Brits (Swedes or Danes)
down at the neighborhood Virgin store, having a cuppa (or
whatever it is that Swedes & Danes have) at the expresso bar
while waiting for their movies, videos or what have you to
upload into their brick just so they can catch the latest
hollywood blockbuster or teeny-bopper video in a teeny-tiny
screen on their hours long daily commute to work.

$800?? Really??

For a couple hundred more you can get an ibook and watch
DVDs, read downloaded emails, listen to music, etc.
etc....Do they really think people will spend that much on a
player just to watch video on a 2x3 screen? Then you have
to go to a Microsoft website to download media in
Microsoft's proprietary technology? Isn't Real complaining
about that with the iPod? I don't see this going anywhere,
much less killing the ipod as we know it.