Comments on: Teen survey makes Microsoft's Zune seem futile

Piper Jaffray's biannual Teen Survey is out and when it comes to MP3 players, things look very good for Apple and bleak for Microsoft and Sony.

[H2OSKIMOTOX]

This proves not much more than the teens polled are typical teens. They go for what is marketed to them the best regardless of whether it is actually the best product or not.

Zune is superior and is a better value.

Kids think it is cool to blow their parents money to have trendy things. Just because kids think Ipod is the best sure does not mean it is so. Case in point, our new prez. The media campaigned endlessly and continues to act like he is a celebrity vs. a prez. Regardless of politics one can't deny we were sold on "change". Despite that he has signed us up for a national debt (full of wasteful spending and socialism) that exceeds all the debt of every previous president combined!! People "bought it" but clearly is not the best thing for the country. Teens are the same.

All that said, it probably means that Apples marketing campaign has worked the best--at least on those who "think" the least anyways.

[nivlazenemij]

I think the Zune's main problem is that they joined way too late in the game, and the initial product offering was not good at all. Now they finally have something that IMO is better than the iPod classic, but of course Apple now has the iPod Touch and the iPhone.

I'm in the market for a new mp3 player, and I'm really looking at the Zune. The battery on my old iPod is pretty much dead. Plus I'm sick of iTunes hogging all my memory and doing useless upgrades all the time. I like the newer Zune software plus all the features on the player. I will however wait for Sony's new touchscreen player and make a final decision.

[chamelean75]

well, i own a sandisk. i think apple products are good but they don't have radio and voice recording hehehe if they asked me, i plan to buy a Sandisk Sansa Fuze in the next 12 months. :)

[The_Last_Scavenger]

Conclusion: Microsoft's, Creative's, Sony's, iRiver's and Sandisk's MP3 players ... all suck. iPod gets it right, period, and has been for a long time.

[nivlazenemij]

"iPod gets it right"

Wrong, wrong, wrong. Sound quality for one is better on all the devices you listed (in Sony's case, MUCH better), if you care about that stuff. Which of course it's your prerogative. Apple's been coasting for a long time and you know what, they deserve to in a way, because of strong marketing and being first to market. But to say they get it right all the time is fallacy.

[ikramerica--2008]

if people cared about sound quality, they wouldn't use MP3 players.

it's the same argument that people have against Mac computers: too expensive, blah, blah.

but nobody understands that EASE OF USE matters. It matters a great deal for portable products, which is why iPods and iPhones sell well and MacBooks do to. Slower/lower sound quality aside, they are well thought out products, very polished, very easy to use, constantly upgraded via software with more features, etc. That matters.

[herbalizer1]

I just bought an MP3 player about a month ago. I had 2 shuffles prior to my purchase and each one died on me. I only bought them because that is what's being shoved down your throat everyday on TV, Radio etc.... So from that experience I swore to never ever buy an over priced Ipod of any sort.

After researching all over the net and reading reviews here on Cnet. I ended up getting a Creative Zen. I couldn't be happier. IMO it's far better than a Ipod and much more affordable. If any of those teenagers had to dish out their own hard earned money I'm sure those figures would be very different.

[kenyan105]

anti-Zune titles get way more traffic than pro-iPod titles, so it seems...

[akljsdj]

i will be so pissed if microsoft decides to end the service i am a proud zune owner

[GSOgymrat]

I like my Zune. They just opened an Apple store in my town and while the products look very nice they are just too expensive. If Zune goes under and I have to buy another player I will consider Apple but they need to be competitive on cost versus features. Also, Apple needs to just use Mp3 and give up their proprietary format; I avoid Sony products for the same reason.

[camanda]

If Zune goes under check out the Sansa line of players. You won't be disappointed.

[retrojet]

What's a "Zune"?

[docstar7]

to me, this survey shows nothing but that teens are more concerned about their image and fitting in than with quality.

[joeltom]

I just want to comment on some of the other brands. I have tried Sansas and Creative Zens with my family. You pay les and you don't deal with DRM, but the Sansas locked up or broke too easily, especially the earphone jack, and the Zens lock up and the firmware has to be reinstalled just about every month or so. I have tried to stay away from IPODs, but if they are more resilient thne they might be worth the extra money. If Sansa and Creative want to stay in the game, then INCREASE YOUR PRODUCT QUALITY!

[bblande]

That's nice.

*Goes back to his Zune pass*

[Dan7637]

artstate where you get your data? i wouldnt call more features superior, every ipod in the ipod family except for the shuffle is better than other mp3 players, there is a reason why ipods are more ubiquitous than sansa's or sony's

[Waam]

This is an unwarranted and low blow to the Zune.

I guess Microsoft could do itself some favors and shut the program down on the Zune too.

[jcameron552]

I wonder how many "teens" look at ipod as a generic name for an mp3 player. I also wonder just how many teens understand the extra fees associated with the purchase and use of an iphone, regardless of the initial cost?

[lickmoreshoes]

Lets face the truth Ipods are ONLY!!!!! popular because of the thum twister scroll pad they have. When Zunes came out they slowly started to " calm down the ipod rage." But guess what happened apple copied some of zunes ideas such as a full screen album art and called it "The 4th gen ipod" When you think about it they sort of disguised the zune. If there is any company to take down ipods its microsoft. "or sandisc." I want to see what happens when the new zunes come out.(=

[pantoya]

I have Both. I prefer my zune. sound quality seems to be better IMO

[man_is_man]

This makes me feel special! I solely rely on my archos 604.

[ViEtNiNjA007]

If Microsoft has any hope to win the MP3 war, they MUST extend the zune to the hugely sucessful Xbox platform. If they can run Xbox games on the devices, they would have a fighting chance

And also, market more and better! The only Zune commercials are on NBC, and NBC's own Chuck disses the Zune ALOT. They need to make the Zune known so people will now how good it can be!

[bajanx]

Listen up folks, first of all the title is crap. Secondly Apple was first to market and kills because of it. If these two device came out around the same time it would be a totally different story. I'm not saying the zune would be the one on top but i belive it would be a much closer race. Thirdly the subscription for the zune marketplace is just the best. 14.95 a month and i can share my subscription between 3 Zunes and 3 different computers world wide.

[ikramerica--2008]

Apple was not first to market. They waited on the MP3 player. Creative was one of the first, as was Sony. Apple just did it, you know, better... at least in the eyes of the masses.