Microsoft Attacks Apple over iTunes Pricing
Posted 05/12/09 at 01:32:37 PM by Paul Lilly
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Oh snap, it's on like Donkey Kong, or at least like an intense level of Galaga. More specifically, Microsoft continues its advertising offensive against Apple with yet another commercial pointing out the cost of being hip, only this one targets iTunes and not MacBooks.
In the latest ad, financial planner (certified, of course) Wes Moss points out it would take $30,000 to fill the latest iPod using iTunes at a buck a pop.
"I don't know about you, but I don't have thirty grand laying around for music," Moss says.
His solution? A subscription service like Zune Pass, of course! "One costs a lot, and one costs a little," Moss adds, referring to the iPod with $30,000 worth of music and Zune Pass's unlimited subscription plan for $14.99/month. For those of you doing the math at home, $30,000 buys almost 167 years of Zune Pass.
There are obvious flaws in Microsoft's latest pitch, but the goal here isn't necessarily to discredit Apple's iPod/iTunes combination as a viable music platform (too late for that) as much as it is to promote Zune Pass. The question is, will it work?
Hit the jump and sound off!
Like many of the comments
Submitted by pizzaguy on Tue, 05/12/2009 - 3:37pm
Like many of the comments here, I too, am quite happy with my Creative, Zen X-Fi. As much as I would love a good subscription based music center, until DRM gets better (or dies), I think ill stick with the CD's.
Submitted by konata on Tue, 05/12/2009 - 4:59pm
Rhapsody is probably the best subscription service... Good quality MP3's, very large selection of music...
I wish my iPod would let me use Rhapsody...
The iPod touch is, in my opinion the best video player advailable... (It was hard to purchase it even though I greatly dislike Apple and iTunes). If I wanted a large capacity music player or a flash music player, I'd get a different brand for sure.
Submitted by tehR0XX0Rz on Tue, 05/12/2009 - 2:28pm
I recently paid over $20 to download a single Gov't Mule concert, but I didn't much mind, because the money went to the band themselves and I respect what they do.
But I'll never pay $1 per song from Sony, Apple, Wal-Mart, Microsoft, or anyone else. NEVER. I don't have to, because there are alternatives to their 128kbps garbage.
When those bastards stop being such greedy pigs and price DRM-free songs per megabyte like MP3Sparks, then I'll buy from them.
I'm really happy with my
Submitted by D.E. on Tue, 05/12/2009 - 2:23pm
I'm really happy with my Zune. It does the jobs that I bought it for and some other neat tricks. I really enjoy the Zune software, particularly the awesome visualisations. :D
LOL
Submitted by blackzarg on Tue, 05/12/2009 - 1:56pm
Not even going to spend my time arguing. I'll just say the logic is
LAWL
Submitted by N25PHILLY on Tue, 05/12/2009 - 12:51pm
i-tunes and quicktime are the worst software programs I have ever used. Fortunately it only took one song to figure out what garbage i-tunes is, and there are alternatives for quicktime.
I have a zen vision w and a 4gig sansa clip. Both are so much better than any ipod I've ever seen
Who cares...
Submitted by CleverBullet on Tue, 05/12/2009 - 12:30pm
Screw M$ and (Cr)Apple, Creative MP3 Players FTW!
Submitted by AndyYankee17 on Tue, 05/12/2009 - 11:46am
I'm happy with my zen vision:m
Submitted by Selio on Tue, 05/12/2009 - 11:40am
Yeas, because SOOO many people will buy 30,000 (or less with new pricing) songs off iTunes. My parents, sister and I are all audiophiles with different songs on our iPods, and we only have 3767 songs TOTAL, most of that from CDs.
Submitted by skhills on Tue, 05/12/2009 - 1:47pm
I think you're point would be then, that no one needs an ipod that big for just music.
Submitted by itsleeford on Mon, 06/15/2009 - 12:22am
I have an 80gig ipod with only music on it. Of course the only time I ever purchase music is when I can't find a torrent of it.
Submitted by RodneySB on Tue, 05/12/2009 - 11:07am
Not just the service the Zune player is so much better.
We have both a Ipod and a Zune. I got the Ipod for myself and my 10yr old son disappeared with it, so I decided to grab a Zune a few months later. Now the IPod and the computer with Itunes sits unused and the Zune along with the newest laptop in the house are used daily. From videos to what ever the Zune is just perferred not only by myself but even a soon to be 5th grader. (Maybe Foxworthy can do there adds next)
I tell you Zune is the better more polished product, I guess if you spend all your money from overpriced PC sells you can market a wrench down peoples throats and they will buy it.
Submitted by popstop785 on Tue, 05/12/2009 - 11:01am
Rhapsody has a better song selection then iTunes or Zune and has had a $15 a month subscription for some years. Rhapsody FTW!
Submitted by Pyrophorics on Tue, 05/12/2009 - 10:51am
Additionally, you get 10 credits with Zune Pass each month that you can use to buy whatever music you like. If you think about it like this, you are paying $1 per song to keep and then $5 for unlimited rentals.
Hate to give any credit to Apple...
Submitted by CTskifreak on Tue, 05/12/2009 - 10:49am
But some of hte space is taken up by the iPod's software/firmware. Also, a lot of people buy CD's and put the ones they already own onto the iPod. Still, it's a good point for some one who wants to buy all of their songs through iTunes.
didnt itunes and amazon
Submitted by bingojubes on Tue, 05/12/2009 - 10:34am
didnt itunes and amazon raise their song prices 25 cents? now it's like 1.25 for a song or something? that just made another difference there.
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