How 'bout this: I would /consider/ it, but that all depends on the reviews.

well, i dont know about ""X% of statistics are made up on the spot"" but what i do know is
--comments edited by Lame Joke Detector Daemon--

NO WAY i'm getting a zune, report or not.

Oh, and tempting.

I heard that 98% of Gizmodo commentors are insecure about their accounts right now.

It's already disabled because you can't express a disagreeable opinion.

I'll consider one if the software to manage mp3s on the device is better than itunes or winamp's plugin for ipods. I hate itunes. Hopefully Microsoft can make theirs better than any of the creative players' software I've used in the past with their devices.

I think it all depends on the phrasing of the poll questions. That's the duh response that Jason was trying to avoid.

amen frog. always nice to hear threats from our friends at gizmodo. please PERSONALLY disable my ability to comment on your posts Mr. Chen. I fear I may say something in the future that would upset you and I wouldn't want to deprive you of the sublime sensation you get in your pants when you flex your E-Phallus tough guy.

They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time, iPod users may choose the Zune everytime.

Do they have a % on how much this would piss off Apple fanboi's because OMFG the world revolves around them?!

What is it that's attracting this 58% if it's not WiFi...? The [irony] bigger screen [/irony]?? Maybe brown really is next year's hot color. Maybe they really want to buy all their music over again.

I've always thought that a great deal of the mainstream (ie, non-fanboys) iPod users would switch to a non-Apple product if given the chance. I know I plan on getting either a new widescreen Creative or Zune, myself.

I'm part of that 58%...I have a 5G ipod now and would probably choose the Zune next.

Why?

FM radio and subscription music.

I would go broke trying to keep up with my appetitte for music at 99 cents a song. Instead I leave the iPod at home most days. "Unlimited" sounds real nice...and FM for when I'm sick of thinking about it... let someone else drive for a while.

I wonder if the website use a Windows server or other php apps? 58% great! but I'm in the 42% skeptical about this survey ;-)

it's because iPod sucks, and even though zune sucks almost as much, the heavily advertised products bring in customers. I'm gonna get a StormBlue A9+ and smack every zune user I see. I'd smack iPod users too, but you can't pop brain cells that don't exist, and I'd end up smacking some of my friends.

Any bets these surveys are false or were worded in a way to get the answer they wanted? I want a Zune but I know 58% of ipod users don't.
Also, you said in the title " Research Says 58% of iPod Users May Choose Zune iPod " since when is there a Zune ipod? I think you meant "may choose Zune over iPod". =P

I'd buy a zune, just for FM radio and the simple fact that it's not an iPod.

any bets the survey was done by a microsoft think tank?

Its not unheard of, they have made fake surveys for XP the Xbox Education and even god forbid ME (and we all know how well THAT turned out)

They even got caught 2 years ago paying a group 50,000 dollars to make up survey numbers to make their stuff look better.

I heard a report that MS will allow you to download all your paid-for iTunes music from MS's own music site. Is this a crazy rumor, or true? That's the only way they'll convert iPod users.

The worst conclusion this survey has for Apple is that the iPod users are not like the loyal Mac users.

The "100 million mp3 player sales till 2011 in US" estimation, could mean a large, 8 digit number, of Zunes.

Microsoft has to take seriously the Wifi feature n Zune for this to achievable.

-- Zune-Online.com

I would tend to believe the survey results for 2 reasons

1> While Apple has a 70-80% market share in this arena, its not like those people are apple fanboys. If they were loyal, then apple would have a much higher share in the PC arena.

2> The masses just want a product with good basic features that works well. If, and I do mean IF, MS can pull this off, then there is no reason for to stick with an iPod.

.

One reason not to beleive the results

1> No one else has been able to pull that off in 5 years.

Gee, that's a surprising and topical result. Perhaps I should pay the $3,000 to learn more.
Wait a minute. The news release says it's a "Web-based survey...".
Never mind. I'll just go ask my cat instead.

"I heard a report that MS will allow you to download all your paid-for iTunes music from MS's own music site. Is this a crazy rumor, or true? That's the only way they'll convert iPod users."

They have never confirmed it outright, but its not true. They want people to believe it though so they can get you to buy the Zune then realize all of their iTunes music needs to be converted to use it.

While the more technical users will know how, most people who use iTunes will not and will likely send their Zunes right back.

I did a survey, "72% of Xbox Players Would Switch To Sega Genesis Xbox"

It'll cost you $6000 to look at my results. So I guess there's a hyperbole that's safe - who would want to pay for those results?

Besides Sega. Dang. Anyone want to take an online survey - I'll give you the answers....

I am skeptical of any web based survey that costs $3000 to see the results of. Pretty much as skeptical as it gets.

I am also extremely skeptical that Microsoft, of all companys, can pull a freshman player in the portable game that somehow blows the competition out of the water. Especially if this thing works with Windows Media Player. I can accept that a PC person likes Winamp over iTunes, but if anyone thinks they like WMP over iTunes, that's just crazy talk.

umm.. Dr. Paul, i completely dislike iTunes interface... I would much rather use WMP11.
Maybe it is just because I am more familiar with the WMP interface. I love how in WMP it is so easy to make playlists, sync devices, rearrange albums, replace cover art, and actually play music! ( unless I am missing something, I can't figure out how to make a now playing list on itunes. )

I am confused about the confusion here. The majority of the world runs on Windows and that glorified eardrum buster known as "iPod" still doesn't know the language well enough to carry on a decent conversation. The Zune however (culturaly ambigous name and all) will speak a language the world will understand. Not to mention that it will break the ballbusting monopoly Mr. Jobbs has imposed on us all.

I'm confused about something. Couple people mentioned that they would like the Zune so that they can listen to FM and they leave thier iPods at home because of this. You know that there are less expensive options to get FM radio in your ears right? Or are you too young to remember the pre-Walkman portable radios. I hear they even make radios in watches now, you could ubber-geek on one of those if you like.

Apparently, respondents were provided a photo and description of the Microsoft Zune device before being asked about their likelihood to choose it over a competitive MP3 player - this strikes me as a horrible methodology, considering most of the popularity of the iPod is its integration with iTunes and iTunes Store. Also, from here:

http://email.officedepot.com/h/officedepot/pdf/20061031zun...

"The Zune-to-Zune sharing may not be available for all songs on your device ... Recipients cannot resent music that they have received via the sharing feature."

Then why even bother?

Furthermore, the iPod has become the "Xerox" or "Kleenex" of MP3 players. My parents actually think that "iPod" simply refers to an MP3 player. It will be very difficult for MS to take that many iPod users.

I have dealt with this research group before, and they are highly esteemed researched analysts. Their target audience is not the consumer. We paid somewhere b/w $15-20K for one year of their service. Many people I know with ipods dont know there's a difference b/w bt and wifi; they just want to by an mp3 player from a company they've heard of

"unless I am missing something, I can't figure out how to make a now playing list on itunes."

wow, if you can't figure out itunes i feel real sorry for you. the software was designed for simple minds. you seriously are going to tell me that you have mastered WMP but not itunes.

I'd buy one just because I dont want to be seen with white headphones on the street.

how embarrassing.

I think the poll might very well be true and accurate. How many "Apple" commited users are there are out there verses the "iPod" commited users? Its more then possible for an iPod user who prefers Microsoft products to jump on the Zune band-wagon because Microsoft is what they are familiar with - what they are comfortable with. Plus, how many iPod users out there were given their iPod and would then be more inclined to get a Zune with their own money? That's where the 58% comes from.

Zune is not widescreen--Sir, comment over, sir!

Well, it's not like polls have any issues:

http://www.connpost.com/news/ci_4298956

60% of the time, it works everytime

58% is a bold claim. Worthless unless they want to fork over that survey info. But yeh i believe it.... 58% of people who submitted online polls at zune.com er.... I want some the survey info other wise its rubish!

ABI is a very respected analyst firm. They normally target corporations with their research. You can purchase their research service for a year for a given technology and it can range from $10-25K. Given their need to protect their reputation, I would guess it is honest research.
Ppl like to buy things from companies they know, its called brand recognition. They barely know what wifi is anyway.

4 out of 5 doctors think the 5th guy is an idiot.

I'm pretty sure the actual survey question asked if ipod owners were going to get any other (meaning non-ipod) player, what would it be. Either that or that was the impression the survey takers got. Journalists sometimes like to mislead with these headlines when it comes to controversial studies. The reality is, once you go ipod, you aint going back.

Outside of the severely limited wifi and MS marketing money, what does the Zune have over the Creative ZVM or Toshiba Gigabeat S?

Also for the commentor mentioning Zune subscription services, what about Playsforsure on Naspter, Yahoo, Raphosdy, etc? They have had subscription services for a year or more...

My favorite part of the free portion of the survey is this: "Are iPod users willing to give Microsoft a try?" Given the number of PC owners vs. Mac owners, I'd say that there are already large numbers of people using iPods who are giving MS a try. These stats aren't much of a surprise, since most iPod users are probably already using Windoze.

Zune is fat and stupid, ipod is phat and stoopid.

Zune is fat and stupid. ipod is phat and stoopid.

My guess about the survey...

Look at the PC market share installed base...
There a helluba lot more PC users than Mac users.
Then, of course, there should a lot more iPod users that are PC users than iPod users that are also Mac users.

Do the math... iTunes sucks big time... If you are a PC user would you:
A- Buy a PC friendlier iPod thingy?
B- Stick with iPod?

Comparing, apples to apples, (no pun intended) iPods and Zunes are basically the same thing that provides basically the same function.

So it is my WILD guess that you would pick the OS platform that works the best for you regardless of the device.

There are a ton of mp3 players out there, but only a few with brand recognition. Even mentioning Creative to some of my friends yields a furrowed brow. MS is very recognizable and comfortable (as has been stated).

BTW, the link to the research organization is on this page, did anyone check it out?

They are very reputable, but their research is targeted at corporations; my company has used them and $3K is where things begin.

::Do the math... iTunes sucks big time... If you are a PC user would you:

But your premise that "iTunes sucks big time" it totally subjective, and a premise that is not shared by many, if not the majority of iTunes-iPod-Windows users. So what follows in your post is moot.

What sucks about iTunes?

I like it. I also like that I can crack the DRM from the songs I get off of iTunes.

So I guess finally this Is the ipod killer everyone was waiting for, congratulations Microsoft...

All you anti-Apple turkeys are just jealous. We don't want you to use iTunes and have iPods. You're not good enough for our exclusive club. I can't wait for the Zune to fail so I can give you my undeservingly smug/pretentious misguided better than you smirk. Mac fanboys RULE! Seriously, get off the Apple bashing and get a life you PC losers. You just don't know which way I'm coming form, do you?

I would pick a ZUNE anyday over my 4G Ipod, I dont think I will do it because I have 4 Airport Express on my house. Unless I can somehow Sync my ZUNE with Itunes.... or use my airport express with whatever ZUNE is going to use.
Q. Does anybody use Airport Express on other platform?? (hacked)