Right, because they are the greatest band in the world.

Is this some retaliation against boring artists like John Mayer or someshit?

Make a Grateful Dead Bong Zune and they will sell a million to people who don't even have electricity.

What are they, one of those combos the kids are listening to these days?

Well they look like nice young gentlemen.

What an odd pick for a band... I wouldn't exactly call Joy Division popular. Coming from a smaller company I would say they had some musical knowledge, but coming from Microsoft it comes off as begging for street cred.

@kaneshadow:
Isn't MS _continually_ begging for street cred with it's Zune division?

Didn't you see the telethon?
Freakin' Ed McMahn showed up and everything, it was great!

Still not much street cred, but those folks are SCRAPPY!

ah this also coincides perfectly with the time i planned to purchase my next zune (aka my birthday). lets just hope they make this original no extra charge.

What? Joy Division are cool. Surely a Jilted John or Freshies (Insert less successul Manchester acts here) Zune would be more appropriate.

july will bring the b-52 edition in your choice of pink or blonde, and august will see the cure model, in black or limited edition "pasty".

good for ms. i never caught on with joy division (dig new order, tho), but i respect what they helped to bring about.

@dave the wet sprocket: Don't be silly - The B-52's new album came out in April, the timing doesn't work.

This has to be one of the most bizarre marketing strategies I have ever seen. Some one got paid to think this up? Poor JD...

The best part is that the Limited Edition Joy Division Zune headphone cables are strong enough to support the weight of an asphyxiated goth. Take that, iPod!

Aren't all Zunes actually really Limited Joy Editions anyway?

hahaha thats a good one. Limited Edition Hanson Zune coming soon.

"While there are not yet any pictures of the artwork available, there is every indication that the design will be something along the lines of that which is on the band's Unknown Pleasures album." Actually a competing tech blog already has pics. C'mon Giz, get on it!

@nightsky: the pics on the "competing tech blog" are photoshopped, nobody has seen these zunes yet.
(but I guess nobody will see them ever, like any other zune)

You can listen to your Zune day in, day out, day in, day out, day in, day out, DAY IN, DAY OUT!!

I love Joy Division, though I can honestly say that I had never heard of them until I got the original issues of The Crow by O'Barr, and kept finding references to them in there. Then I had to look them up.

Ok, the people at the top of this forum are complete ignorants. anyway, too good it´s Joy Division, too bad it´s not an iPod, I hate Zune.....and Microsoft.

I don't know about you guys, but Joy Division is an incredible band. Bad choice for a Zune edition, because most people either don't know of this band, or they have bad taste in music.

I would buy this, but I've already got all their music and an iPod.

If Microsoft were really smart, they'd release a Zune themed around Steven Smith, the big fat tattooed zune guy who's changing his name to Microsoft Zune. While I'd rather have my Joy Divisisions on my iPod, I would be oddly tempted to buy a special edition Steven Smith cum Microsoft Zune zune were they to offer one.

://gizmodo.com/379580/zune-tattoo-guy-asks-microsofts-permission-to-change-name-to-microsoft-zune

Love the band, love their music, but this idea reeks of stupidity.
Does the Ian Curtis estate or the blokes in New Order need the tainted Microsoft money?
Who the heck gave their approval for this? Considering how small the band's catalog is, it wouldn't even begin to fill up the Zune.

*sigh* When are they FINALLY going to release the Zune to Canada?

Personally, I'm holding out for the Limited Edition Fudge Tunnel Zune. They wouldn't even need to change the color.

But those of you who have no interest in Joy Division, go see 24 Hour Party People. You'll thank me.

@monkeyrotica:

Ouch! low blow.

I almost feel guilty for cracking up on that.

@William Mize: I'm not sure what's going on. They just got their money for "Control." Great movie BTW- directed by Anton Corbin.

Joy Division is one of those bands that had a huge influence on music, but few have heard of them. Same category as Iggy Pop, Kraftwerk, Ramones (until recently), etc.

So, I assume it will be the dying star radiotelescope image?

Still waiting on the Meatloaf Zune (brown doesn't count)

C'mon Microsoft. Get with it already!

@William Mize: Maybe Factory Records needs the money to pay for just a bit more studio time for the Happy Mondays.

Alright, how much, I want one.

confusion in their marketing strategy says it all - they've lost control

Well, not much more I can say. But it does kick the crap out of a U2 ipod.

As I said elsewhere, Ian would probably kill himself again if he were alive to see the band become a commercialized selling point for any media playing device.

Way to miss the point of punk, Microsoft.

Yes, although not exactly punk, were they? And the number of people who claim that they know why Ian Curtis hanged himself is always a surprise to me. Don't think his wife knows, so maybe the rest of us should stop speculating.

I do like Ceremony though.

I think.

I do love Joy Division and I do love my Zune but seriously...WTF?

@William Mize: New Order = most boring live concert ever...Not that you were talking about concerts...just saying.

@ARP: Oh shit! I didn't even think about that!

MS just sold me a Zune. I don't particularly like the Zune, but I do love me my JD. I'm enough of a fanboy that I'll buy anything that has the death scream of a dying star slapped on it in some form or fashion.

well if saville is doing artwork expect it to be late.
new order is a great studio band,
and i think they deserve to make some money "substance 1987" is one the greatest albums ever in my opninion

@drewheyman:

rofl!

"Looooooove, love wil tear us apaaaaart.. agaaain..."

*insert thudding hypnotizing bass