Dating 101: Zune vs. iPod
With just a month to go until Microsoft's Zune goes on sale, Apple Computer's Steve Jobs is maintaining a regal composure about his company's hegemony over the digital media player marketplace.
And why shouldn't he? Apple's iPod line has ruled the field for five solid years--indeed, virtually invented it--even as media players have grown from mere tunes to photos and video, and evolved from hard drives to flash memory. It's even on its way to saving the world. In an interview published Sunday with Newsweek magazine to commemorate the fifth anniversary, Jobs reminisces about how the iPod came to be.
He also, predictably, gave short shrift to the Zune. "Are you worried?" asks interviewer Steven Levy (who not so coincidentally is the author of a new book on the iPod, "The Perfect Thing," coming out next month). "In a word, no," says Jobs.
Almost without exception, commentary across the blogosphere weighed in on the next words out of Jobs' mouth. In a diss reminiscent of Apple's current line of ads contrasting Macs and PCs, he essentially provides dating advice on how to get the girl. (Hint: It won't be by using the Zune.)
Blog community response:
"Teenage girls all over America issue restraining orders against Steve Jobs, related to his attempts to 'share his earphones' with them."
--Bewbewbew on Slashdot
"With a subtle style all his own he's saying Microsoft = Cold tech and Apple = Humanity. MS scares her away, Apple gets the girl. That's a sharp, clear, and powerful distinction. Whether it's true is up to the customer, but Jobs understands how to bait the hook like few others."
--Ragamuffin Soul
"We'll agree with you that the wireless capabilities on the Zune kinda suck out of the box, but we'll also bet that you're already at work on some wireless action for a future iPod, no matter how hard you might deny it now."
--Engadget
"What was he supposed to do? Halt all production and support of iPods at the sight of the Zune and declare that he's beaten? Is he supposed to assume the fetal position and cower and cry when he hears the word 'Zune?' Retreat to the northern woods where he trains night and day so that one day he might come back and beat Microsoft in some other fashion?"
--Eldavojohn on Slashdot
Jonathan Skillings is managing editor of CNET News, based in the Boston bureau. He's been with CNET since 2000, after a decade in tech journalism at the IDG News Service, PC Week, and an AS/400 magazine. He's also been a soldier and a schoolteacher. E-mail Jon. 
