Microsoft Corp.'s introduction today of its Zune MP3 player was expected to be greeted mostly with yawns from gadget aficionados still loyal to Apple's iPod despite the widespread availability of cheaper knockoff devices with greater power and features. But yawns might be preferable to many of the reviews the device is getting, with techies noting a familiar Microsoft failing in pushing the product to market early when it can't even take advantage of many of its best features.
Redmond certainly wasn't going to miss the Christmas selling season but it took a hit for introducing an ambitious new platform with little of its promise yet realized. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said Zune's lead on Apple in wireless technology will help it catch up with Apple in the player market, but that its first step is a foot in the door to a larger platform play that will include its own music service and mobile phones. |
