Comments on: Microsoft to launch iPod clone by Christmas. Dvorak Prediction: Flop!

By: OhForTheLoveOf

OhForTheLoveOf — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 13:26:11 +0000

Everyone seems to agree that Microsoft has made quality hardware in the past…

Correct me if I’m wrong, but Microsoft outsources all hardware manufacturing and has little to do with the actual design process. The mice, keyboards, etc., are all just Microsoft branded… not actually Microsoft.

Xbox production is owned by MS, but thats the notable exception.

By: Eideard

Eideard — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 12:22:35 +0000

Do that, paul. It’s running solidly 30% lower than the last time I owned it.

By: paul

paul — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 07:21:14 +0000

“it will still flop for one reason or another” – that’s the solid Dvorak reasoning we’ve all come to know and love.

Given your track record at predicting things I’m thinking it might be time to load up on msft.

By: John C Dvorak

John C Dvorak — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 03:55:30 +0000

I don’t believe for a minute that the device pictured will ever ship. Surely the iPOD clone will look sleeker. Nonetheless, it will still flop for one reason or another.

By: Clay

Clay — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 00:12:26 +0000

OK if it has built-in WiFi can it play ShoutCast? I have been looking for a portable device that would play ShoutCast over WiFi for years.

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 23:48:30 +0000

Like most Microsoft products, the first two versions will suck, the third one will be decent, and the fourth version will be so popular that they’ll get sued by Apple for anti-trust. Just look at Internet Explorer, Windows, Office, etc for other examples of the Microsoft “four version rule”.

By: Mynn

Mynn — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 23:36:11 +0000

I’m not sure I agree it’d be a flop: just look at the xbox360 and the soon to be released vista compatible keyboard. It proves that microsoft could make cool and suitably ergonomic hardware too. I’m happy that there will be competition from a strong company to Apple’s ipod. Hopefully the customer benefits.

By: mark

mark — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 23:32:08 +0000

The microsoft hardware i’ve had has been better than their software. Good peripherals anyway. I’ve not had an xbox.

That picture, whatever it is, I will be surprised it is the thing they are going to release. As everyone’s saying it doesn’t look cool enough and something tells me they will have a marketing guy looking into that.

By: Mike Bennett

Mike Bennett — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 23:03:02 +0000

I completely welcome any competion to the Ipod. I already use a different device (Rio Cali with a 2 Gig SD Card) because I wanted to be able to use a AAA battery that I could change when it died. I find Apple arogant and I intend to never buy one of their products. I compare their approach to the difference between a car with an automatic tranmission and one with a stick shift, sure an automatic is easy but I would rather have the performance and flexibility of a stick shift. While I am no huge fan of Microsoft either they have made some reasonablely good hardware in terms of keyboards, mice, joysticks and the x-box.

While their at it break I-Tunes dominence too. Not every song should be $.99. Let all the fools pay $1.50 for some top 20 boy band so I can get my favourites for less.

Breaking Apple’s stranglehold on the market would be a good thing. If it takes MS to do it then so be it.

By: Anal Avenger

Anal Avenger — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 22:53:39 +0000

*sniff* *sniff* I smell an AppleLUVR!

By: julian

julian — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 22:38:36 +0000

Companies seem to forget/ignore the simple requirements yielded by market research.
Nobody is asking for a media player to wash dishes or walk the dog, so then why over complicate the issue? In fact I do not like Apple, nor condone it’s usage, nevertheless as a media player the unit itself is wonderful in most aspects. It is a crying shame about the other limitations.
Why would in this market drowned by media players would people choose Apple or Microsoft? Are they producing quality merchandise or are they trying to globalise even more so. Can an entire country be wrong, if the answer is no, think again?

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 22:35:48 +0000

“iTunes (the program, not the store) is a masterpiece in terms of design. If MS wants to make people listen to their music on its platform, it has to match that design, and offer something extra.”

They have trumped iTunes. Have you tried Windows Media 11? Way cool! No folder trees or file lists. Album covers with a much better working and looking interface. And, it WORKS!

It looks a lot like Media Center Edition. Geez, you think there is some connection? iTunes the software vs XP-MCE the OS that interfaces with music players, video systems and players, HVAC, lighting, security systems, and more.

I think MS is thinking about a much bigger universe than Apple. The music player is just a small part of it. Why do you think the xBox 360 is also a MCE Extender?

Check out http://www.exceptionalinnovation.com

This stuff doesn’t make the press much because it is sold and installed by custom dealers. But, if you check out CES, CEDIA, and EHEXPO trade shows/training conventions you would see just how deep both MS and Intel are in the consumer electronics industry.

By: RGCook

RGCook — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 22:35:10 +0000

It looks like a neutered Origami. That is not a good thing.

By: doug

doug — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 22:21:35 +0000

23. having given it some more thought, I agree to the extent that they won’t be able to beat, or maybe even put a serious dent in, the DS domination. but I think they would have better luck with that than trying to take on the iPod.

I go with 26′s idea. not that MS will, but someone should – something with all the media bells and whistles of the PSP, hard drive or huge flash drive instead of UMD (bleh!), a non-proprietary software environment that is easy to mod and program for, support for every codec in the land, and a slick music store/ media manager.

I would buy one.

By: Garth

Garth — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 22:07:49 +0000

MS loses focus to the marketing department. Apple never loses focus- it is razor sharp on what the customer wants to do (with DRM reservations, damn you DRM) with no extra fat. Itunes made it’s first impression as a simple, elegant music player. MS products always, ALWAYS, !!!ALWAYS!!!, leaves the user with an impression that someday, somehow they will be screwing you into an ‘enhanced’ (read: fork out more $$$) experience. The nagging aftertaste of MS marketing leaves a distinct impression on the mind and sours the experience.

Apple, not perfect, nevertheless leaves you in direct contact with the product with little else to complicate the experience. So future purchases are simple: I need function Z, Apple provides said function without reading an owners manual and without complications or endless pitches of “enrichening” the experience.