05-31-2004, 10:24 PM

Yeah, Microsoft's gone unbelievably aggressive again, and is trying to knock out the iPod now! I mean, I'm sure everyone has heard about their upcoming Portable Media Centers.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobi...s/default.mspx

However, that alone probably couldn't knock out the iPod, since it will be much bigger and much more expensive than the iPod and a lot of people probably wouldn't really feel like taking advantage of all of its features when they're on the go. BUT, Microsoft will come out with an iPod killer. Apparently, it's got all the features of the iPod, but it sells for $50.

http://www.enn.ie/news.html?code=9413954
http://slashdot.org/articles/04/05/2...id=187&tid=188
http://www.macdevcenter.com/pub/wlg/4970

It works with something called Redmond technology, I believe? Anyway, I hope it'll be available for Macs (unlike the Portable Media Centers, which almost certainly never will be). Don't worry if they're not available for Macs from the start, since iPods were originally not for Windows. But, maybe eventually these "Microsoft Pods" will be available for Macs too. Nevertheless, it is a very aggressive move on Microsoft's part, and they've proven to be absolutely merciless? Can't they let any of the competition have anything for themselves? The answer is no. No matter what the competition, including Apple, comes out with Microsoft will counter with something better. Another example is the iTunes music store. Late in 2003 someone already posted a topic about it on this forum, but I'll just refresh everyone's memory. Microsoft is coming out with the ULTIMATE music store. Right now it's in Beta testing, and this seems to be as far as they've gotten: http://music.msn.com/ But eventually.....

http://www.activewin.com/articles/2001/msn_music.shtml
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/p...ineMusicPR.asp
http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/733231


Hmm, seems like it's been in Beta testing for over three years! Either, that or it's already out yet. Does anyone know anything else about this? All I know is that's it not fair (especially since the MSN Music service is currently a Windows-only service), and that if MSN Music perfects the greatest fault of the iTunes Music Store (that is, of course, the fact that the iTunes Music Store is only available in the United States), then there's truly no stopping Microsoft.

Damn, why the hell does Microsoft keep doing this!? (Sigh) But if they do offer truly good products and services, is there really a point in getting mad? All I know is things don't look too good for Apple at the moment....

05-31-2004, 10:46 PM

Having taken this long already, I see no reason for concern. M$ has vastly more important work to do, and a lot of it

05-31-2004, 10:50 PM

HISTORY LESSON #1: History repeats itself.

06-01-2004, 12:06 PM

This is Microsoft's hot new music player. Its wicked....

http://www.hotandfruity.com/xpod/the_xpod.shtml

06-01-2004, 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by Strider

This is Microsoft's hot new music player. Its wicked....

http://www.hotandfruity.com/xpod/the_xpod.shtml

Lol, that's kinda funny. I wonder what that "Xpod" really was? It's pretty impressive that not only were they able to turn the X-Box logo into the "Xpod" logo, but that they were able to make a sticker out of it. I also wonder what they used for the "buttons"? It's amazing that they went through all of this just for a little practical joke that practically no one will see. But, you found it, Strider!



Anyway, back to the competition problem....

06-01-2004, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by Strider

This is Microsoft's hot new music player. Its wicked....

http://www.hotandfruity.com/xpod/the_xpod.shtml

lol lol :p

06-02-2004, 12:19 AM

Microsoft's player that will actually be comparible to the iPod will not be the $50 one. I read in a couple articles that the statement was misread. Infact..the $50 version will be a smaller more portable player ("that feels and looks as good as the iPod"). Microsoft is bringing out a line of portable music players, which is actually a great idea...and once again...it could pose a threate...like zero said "hitory repeats itself"...meaning if Apple isn't careful, it could all start over again. People don't really care about better....we saw that with apple and windows in the beginning; if Microsoft does it right, and Apple does it wrong, apple could be robbed of the lead. Though, I have faith in Jobs this time....and the iPod is just so cool...I really don't think anyone can create a player that oows and awes people such as the iPod does.

06-05-2004, 07:06 AM

Any links of those articles Tylermoney?

06-05-2004, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by Matt

Any links of those articles Tylermoney?

.....I'm not quite sure what you mean, Matt. What's Tylermoney?

06-05-2004, 01:56 PM

I'm TylerMoney

But..um...yes...I'm sure there are....

I haven't checked out this thread in a while...so those articles are long past, but not long gone.

I read them all at one or more of these places: http://www.myapplemenu.com/ , http://www.macrumors.com/ , http://macslash.org/ , http://macminute.com/

I don't remember exactly where I read the article/aticles, but somewhere in one of those sites I do beleive.

06-05-2004, 02:08 PM

Actually matching an iPod for quality and $$ would be a neat trick presto!! Nope, not this time!

06-05-2004, 02:26 PM

I don't know... I really don't.
If history repeats itself like it always does, Microsoft will win again. Since it's cheaper... then yeah.
Kinda offtopic, but I was watching the Screen Savers yesterday. Kevin had an iPod mini and all of his music vanished. Lmfao.

06-07-2004, 07:52 AM

It's sad but...

Cheaper products almost always win.

06-07-2004, 09:59 PM

Originally Posted by Matt

It's sad but...

Cheaper products almost always win.

I'd like to agree with that... perhaps citing the macro-economic example of China as a country :rolleyes:

06-08-2004, 10:22 AM

Cheaper does not always mean better.. and people want quality. Not everyone, but anyone willing to shell out some dough for a good product wants quality. There are a hundred mp3 players out there that are cheaper than the iPod, but they all suck.. so iPod's still fly off the shelves in massive amounts. Now if you can find a player that does what the iPod does and just as good and cheaper.. then yes.. that one would probably sell better..