It’s pretty simple actually. There’s no way Microsoft can build an iPod killer. It won’t matter how much money they toss into marketing this new device. It won’t matter if they take out hours and hours of ads on MTV. It won’t matter if they sign the Rolling Stones, Usher, Madonna or any well know musician to hawk their device. It won’t matter if they add WiFi to it. It won’t matter if it supports more formats, has more recording options and ships with 100 GB capacity. It won’t matter if it works with Vista, WMP 11, or Media Center.
I don’t know how I can put this gently so I won’t try: Microsoft just isn’t cool and music is all about coolness. The Xbox is the only product I can think of that has the coolness factor. The iPod’s ease of use has been well documented. I don’t think Microsoft is capable of creating a seamless iPod-iTunes solution, but even if they could, it won’t matter. The iPod is hip. Microsoft isn’t. Windows users carry around iPods to distance themselves from the bland PC crowd.
Only Apple can create an iPod killer.
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