Microsoft: Zune launching November 13

Microsoft is shooting to release its new Zunes on November 13.

When the company announced the launch of the second-generation Zunes on Tuesday, it said only that they would arrive in stores sometime in mid November. But gadget blog Gizmodo discovered that Amazon.com is taking preorders for the 4GB, 8GB and 80GB digital music players and listed November 13 as the release date.

This is what I found when I tried to preorder a new Zune: "Availability: This item will be released on November 13, 2007. Pre-order now! Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available."

An Amazon customer service rep told me delays are common when dealing with new product launches and that he couldn't guarantee Amazon would have Zunes on that date. But he added that the November 13 date was given to the retailer by Microsoft.

A Microsoft spokeswoman confirmed this afternoon that the company will indeed launch on that day.

Not a huge deal, but it illustrates how hard is to keep something secret from the geek crowd.

[Vegaman_Dan]

Meh.

I'm not terribly thrilled by the new models. They are better than the first generation, so that's something, but it's still just a music player. There really isn't anything *new* in music players today. All the companies are just more or less mimicking each other and mixing and matching features.

[coryschulz]

Except for iPod touch and iPhone

These multi-touch screens and beautiful interfaces are completely different from anything else on the market, and are competitively priced as well.

[thebige77]

What I don't understand...

...is why don't they sell the ZUNE line for $50.00 less than the Ipod. If anybody is in the position to do something like that they are.

Go figure.

[aka_tripleB]

They shouldn't drop the price

Most people would rather have more storage. So if Microsoft sells a 8GB/16GB flash player at the $150/$200 price point and an 160GB/320GB at whatever the price the 80GB/160GB iPods are at. That would either put Microsoft at a significant price advantage or force Apple into a price war. Either way, the consumer wins.

[richto]

Uhm, they do...Its $200 cheaper than an iPod and has a better screen!

Uhm, they do...Its $200 cheaper than an iPod with a better screen!

80Gb Video iPod is about $450 and only has a 2.5" screen! - http://www.amazon.com/Apple-Video-Player-White-Generation/dp/B000EPHPPE/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/002-9853020-7356806?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1191491846&sr=1-3

80GB Zune is $250 and has a 3.2" screen!

[rcrusoe]

Re: why don't they sell ... Zune... for $50 less

Maybe Microsoft is hoping to come up with a new product that actually makes money.

[JayMonster]

Not so simple

Microsoft is (oddly enough) at a disadvantage in this area. First of all of course, with not having the sales of iPod (yet) they don't have quite the same advantages for inventory and lowers prices that Apple does.

You are right that they financially could probably put a huge dent in the market this way, and afford to take the short term hit on the balance sheet to do so. That however would have Apple, the media, and others screaming "anti-competetive" and how they are attempting to use thier Windows Monopoly to force Apple out.

Lawsuits, by various state attorney generals, as well as Apple (and perhaps Sansa, SanDisk, Creative and others) would follow.

[The_happy_switcher]

zune launch

I think I will be doing something far more interesting that day: Re-arranging my sock drawer.