Yes, I bought a Zune

I chose the black one, though it is not in my hands yet. It is in transit via everyone's favorite brown-themed shipping company. Once it arrives, I will start digitizing my rather large CD collection. I can finally bring all my music with me on business trips, thus breaking the monotony of the exciting cars that only seem to get sold to rental companies (who really buys a Chevy Malibu, anyway?)

I have placed myself squarely in a niche market. Compared to the juggernaut that is the iPod, the Zune is barely a drop in the bucket. Microsoft hopes to sell 1 million Zunes by June. Apple sells more iPods than that in a month. You can't walk two blocks in LA without seeing an iPod ad. Zune ads are starting to appear in key places around town, but they could do with a bit of "refinement" (explained tomorrow or thereabouts, plus photos).

Why, then, did I buy a Zune? Quite simply: because it is guaranteed to plug into Microsoft's growing ecosystem of home media products.

The XBOX is clearly starting to become more than just a game console. Microsoft has started renting movies through XBOX Live, and though it has its hiccups (only about 60 movies, last I checked, and for some reason, cancelling a download that is taking too long doesn't refund your credits). However, it's a start, and though they have a ways to go, clearly, Microsoft wants to turn the XBOX into the TV-attached hub that links to everything else (Media Center through Extender, the new Windows Home Server, IPTV, Zune players...which is a key reason I am buying a Zune, etc.)  

I probably wouldn't have been as aware of these things had I not gotten an XBOX 360. Following that logic, I'm not going to be as aware of events in the Microsoft portable media space if I don't buy a Zune. Besides, if it ever becomes possible to move recorded video easily to a portable media player from an XBOX 360 (which Gates said during one of many CES interview is in the cards), the Zune will be the first destination.

So, I bought one, and I am happy (though I will be happier once it arrives in the mail).

Anyway, hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and your New Year is going swimmingly. Back to my regularly scheduled blogging activity.