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.
Greg Sandoval covers media and digital entertainment for CNET News. He is a former reporter for The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times. E-mail Greg, or follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/sandoCNET. 
Go figure.
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!
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.
- zune launch
- by The_happy_switcher October 3, 2007 7:27 PM PDT
- I think I will be doing something far more interesting that day: Re-arranging my sock drawer.
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