PriceSCAN Blog

Ahead of the introduction of Microsoft's new and improved version of its digital player, retailers are slashing prices of the old model, but only the 30 GB Zune in brown is selling for less then a C-note. That's at least 33% cheaper than 30 GB Zunes in other colors. The sepia tone was controversial from the beginning ("The Zune: Microsoft’s Little Brown Lump Of DRM-Enforcing Digital Joy" ) and new Zunes will not be available in the color of well, you know. Thus Redmond will eschew one troublesome early design decision, even if some DRM issues remain (see "Good Morning Mr. Gates – The Functionality Of This Zune Music File Will Self-Destruct After Three Plays. Good Luck, Bill!" ). Yet one has to wonder if the brown first-gen Zune could end up a buy at these depressed levels. Perhaps it will become a future collectible example of dubious corporate decision making, like a can of New Coke or a Ford Edsel. As for Microsoft, early difficulties penetrating new markets has not stopped Bill's empire from striking back with considerable ultimate success. Should that point be lost on anyone, there are veterans of Netscape, Real, and Sony that could clear up any confusion regarding the matter. Come to think of it, so could a certain Cupertino-based maker of more popular digital media devices.