AfterTek

When it launches next month, the Zune will cost $250 for 30 GB, which is just like the equivalent iPod. But the Zune also has Wi-Fi for wirelessly trading songs; a larger, 3-inch screen (good for widescreen movies); and will connect to Microsoft’s Zune Marketplace music service, which will sell songs at 99 cents each and offer a $15 a month subscription plan.

The Zune will definitely have an impact on the industry. That’s guaranteed by Microsoft’s clout, and is why music labels, movie studios and accessory makers are jumping on the Zune bandwagon.  But although the Zune looks good on paper, many customers think that it’s not going to kill the iPod because the iPod is miles ahead in the things that really matter to the customers.  The look of the Zune is beleived to turn people away because of the choice of colors. The Zune will come in black, white and brown. While black and white are common and safe colors, many people are wondering why they would choose brown, which is considered a very dull color.

Another problem that may arise is Zune’s interesting features.  The Wi-Fi sharing and the music subscription plan will be subject to a strict digital rights management scheme, and given Microsoft’s reputation in this area Zune may drive the customers to the iPod.  After all, PlaysForSure is such a technical and marketing disaster Microsoft is abandoning it altogether in favor of the Zune, which will attempt to tightly integrate hardware, software and services, just like the iPod.

The Zune’s only original feature is Wi-Fi song sharing, which will allow Zune owners to search for others nearby and temporarily trade songs over the air. Traded tunes will be playable up to three times over three days, and can be flagged on the player for later purchase online. Otherwise they will disappear. But while it’s obvious that sharing songs will be fun with friends at school or college, it’s not an activity that will take off in public. It will largely be confined to peer groups.  Many people are so self-conscious of their music collections, they will turn off sharing altogether or carefully prune their library to present themselves in the best possible light.

Wi-Fi song sharing will be more about managing your image in public than sharing music.  But of course, for a lot of people, that’s the point: Music-clerk types will show off their bona fides by loading their Zune with obscure indie bands, while the rest of us will be frantically deleting treasured show tunes for fear of looking ridiculous.