Report: Zune HD will be the last Zune standing

Microsoft has reportedly discontinued all its current Zune models, meaning that the upcoming (and pricey) touchscreen Zune HD will soon be the only Zune still on sale.

That's the word according to Supersite for Windows (via Wired's Gadget Lab), which notes that the existing Zunes—ranging from the $80 flash-memory 4GB model to the $229 120GB version—will remain on sale only while supplies last, so if you're in the market for a sub-$200 Zune player, you'd better get cracking.

Once the supply of older-model Zunes is exhausted, we'll eventually be left with the Zune HD, which is due to arrive Sept. 15 starting at $219 for the 16GB version; a 32GB model will also be available for $289. (Click here for my hands-on impressions of the Zune HD, and keep your eyes peeled for my full review.)

So, is Microsoft wise to deep-six its older, cheaper Zunes and put all its eggs into the Zune HD basket? On the one hand, Redmond is essentially ceding the bargain portable media player market to ... well, everyone else, given that the cheapest Zune HD will cost north of two C-notes.

On the other hand, it's not like the current line of Zunes has been selling all that well anyway. As of June, the Zune only claimed a mere 2 percent of the MP3 player market, compared to a whopping 73 percent for the iPod (this according to the NPD Group, via BusinessWeek.com), and analysts have been clamoring for Microsoft to kill off the Zune altogether.

In any case, we'll learn soon enough whether the new Zune HD—which, among other things, boasts a 3.3-inch touchscreen, 720p video support, an HD radio receiver, and a revamped user interface and Web browser—is worth all the trouble (and the cash).

So, what do you think: Disappointed that Microsoft is chopping the existing Zunes? Couldn't care less? Let us know.

Related:
Microsoft Discontinues All Current Zunes [Wired Gadget Lab]