Zune a Hot Item This Holiday Season?

Mon Nov 19, 2007 11:47PM EST

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Something tells me the Zune will be a popular Christmas gift this holiday season. The player is currently Amazon's top-selling music player, beating out the new iPod Nano and the 80GB iPod on the "Bestsellers in Electronics" list. Could it be that we've been underestimating the Zune for far too long, or are people snapping up the first-generation Zune players due to their heavily discounted prices?

I can't blame anyone passing on the $135 4GB iPod Nano when presented with the option to buy the brown 30GB Zune for $134. I mean, you would be crazy to pass up that deal. To prove that color does matter when it comes to electronics, the sleek black 30GB Zune is currently selling for $140, while the red and pink 30GB Zunes are even more expensive at $150. What's even more perplexing is that the white Zune player is the most expensive of all first-generation players, selling for a whopping $160. But wait, there's even a new 80GB Zune player at No. 17, so it can't be all about the deep discounts, right?

A report by the Associated Press says there's a shortage of new Zune media players on the web and in retail stores. Apparently, the new 80GB Zune player has sold out everywhere, but more should be on virtual and physical shelves in the next 10 to 14 days. This buzz obviously makes Microsoft very happy, but its discounts on first-generation Zunes are making consumers extremely happy, or at least happy enough to ditch their iPod for a Wi-Fi loving Zune.

Regarding the "Bestsellers in Electronics" list, I should mention that iPods are still dominating most of the list, but it's nice to see the iPod up against some real competition. I really thought the iPod Touch was going to be a hot music player this holiday season, but so far both the 16GB and 8GB models are coming in at Nos. 6 and 7.

Update: Please keep in mind the "Best of Electronics" list on Amazon is updated hourly, so the Zune's and iPod's position and pricing on the list will change every hour.

Quick poll: Does storage capacity really matter, or is it all about the brand name?

Related:

New Zune media player in short supply
Hands-on Review: The New Zune
More Details About the New Zune

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  • 1 Posted by ltphillippe on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    I just bought a 30GB brown Zune for $120. Videos & music plays great, pretty good earbuds. Only complaints: short battery life (plays only 6 albums) & does not support protected wma from sites other than Zune marketplace. Overall, I think iPod finally has a real competitor in this market.

  • 2 Posted by wagwa2001l on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:38PM EDT Report Abuse

    To put a little perspective on this ms fanboy article... just checked amazon... top 6 sellers are all ipods... (note, all new full price models no discounted last year models in top 6) then a brown heavily discounted zune at 7, lol. then another ipod model at 8 before we fi9nally make it to a current year product, the 80gb clunky zune2. just to round it out... apple then comes in 10, 11, 13, 15, 20 of the top 20. Sandisc playes come in at 12, 14, 16, 17, 18 & 19. so zune has 2 players in the top 20 one of which is a heavily discounted dud from last year. (note the flash zunes don't even place... making them an even bigger flop. Apple puts up the top 6, and a total of 12 in the top 20, all of which are the undiscounted current year models. if there is any player that can compete on any level it is made by Sandisc... the thing that is laughable about these posts is that anytime someone points out that the zune is a clunky POS whose most touted features are huge letdowns (sounds like Vista too) the MS fanboys just start screaming Aple fan boy... come on microsoft worshiping fanboys... MS and the szune are pathetic..the new AT&T... they will be around a long time but they don;t seem to have anything left... what truly novel product has MS come out with in a decade? Vista, a joke (and osx rip off) the zune, at best competes on an even level with the ipod but in a clunky thick uncool frame... the thing that sums it all up for MS, for you MS fanboys out there.... the zune was not vista compatible when vista hit the shelves, MS had to do an update.. that is pathetic. Ohh... and if you insist on running Windows vista... do a search for fastes vista laptop on the market right now... (it is a mac, lol)

  • 3 Posted by islandboy14pr on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    I like the ZUNE's giant screen, however its body kind of tick compared to the Ipod.

  • 4 Posted by jump65ft on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:44PM EDT Report Abuse

    my zune crashed at !2:00!!!!!! what the heck is going on. Its like the drive crashed and will not respond. I've Heard about Z2k but now i know its a reality.

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