Why did Microsoft discontinue the Zune HD?

Hi Zombie79,

 

Thank you for your question and your concern. I believe the answer can be summed up with in the first sentence of the press release, "...going forward, Windows Phone will be the focus of our mobile music and video strategy, and that we will no longer be producing Zune players". We appreciate and share your feelings regarding the Zune device, however we have decided to move forward with a new strategy and we hope that we will be able to get you back on board soon.

 

Cheers!

 

robert

Are you guys trying to lose all your customer base with your dumb decisions....?

I'm sorry to say Robert, that I am not a 360 fan. I love windows 7 and what I can do with it and most of the great programs and services microsoft has to offer, but I hate windows phones. I have no use for one. I love my droid and can do really awesome things with it. I really hate to see the zune be discontinued, I even went so far as to order a custom 64G hd in my favorite color with my favorite team laser etched into it and my name. I went all out with it, and I love it. I came to order another one because now I'm at a real university and wanted to show off my pride with a 64G hd in my school colors. You can't say that wouldn't have been cool. iPod doesn't offer custom colors, the sound quality, or the simplistic functions of a dedicated media player. I chose the zune based on size, colors, sound quality, and the fact that I don't WANT it doing what an iPod touch does. I don't need a camera, or hd games, or all the other mess they can do. I have a lot of music, I just want to play it.

I hope that something can happen to where the zune is back in production, if for nothing else, custom orders. Either that, or make a zune app for the droid. Thanks for the time to read this.

CJ

I am afraid that microsoft is lacking in the kind of imagineering that Steve Jobs brought to Apple

with Ipod and Iphone, Ipad.  Microsft invented the Tablet computer but failed in the implementation.  Microsoft seems to be lacking in the ability to make things happen.

And is being led by people who lack enthusiasm and ability to get great product ideas to

the market place.

Zunnies!

As one of the pioneers during the Zune.net Forum debates and have hotly debated many issues -- one pivotal issue was the demand for a 64GB Zune HD which MS capitulated and realized they really screwed up only introducing the 16 and 32 GB versions -- I was surprised that the "Zune.net Forum" was/is still alive to some lessor degree.

William, I agree that MS is known by their starting something great and exciting, then in a few years they seemed to lost all momentum and excitement on most of their products:  Zune is a very good example of this.  I applaud MS for their Xbox which, I think, is a very rare success.

But, getting back to what you and others have said, I'm very disappointed that MS decided to shelve the Zune players.  If I were MS, I would have looked into partnering with the likes of Samsung to explore selling or sharing the patents and trademarks of Zune and continue making Zune players.  I'm in the opinion that buying an iTouch would be a good investment and backup and it seems like every month, my paradigm is shifting towards simply going to Apple and replacing all my products: computers, laptop, tablets - et al,

I couldn't agree with you more that the lack of enthusiasm and creativity is continually a growing problem, in my opinion, for MS to evolve even further.  I hope I'm wrong, and while we have to give credit to MS for bringing into consumers' home the integration of computers/home theater experience (for example Windows Media Center), I don't see the continued development and enhancement in those areas as they should have been.  We're looking at (again) another company like Apple or Android to take this experience to a higher level (like the missed opportunities to improve on Windows Mobile and Windows Media Center) for MS to play catch up.

If you haven't went to the dark side yet, and still want an HD, they are for sale new and used on ebay.