US customers are already having trouble finding the latest version of Microsoft's Zune media player, which briefly topped Apple’s iPod on Amazon's bestsellers list last week.
But it looks like it wasn't the new Zune that attracted shoppers - a steep price discount on the superseded product appears to have inspired bargain-conscious US shoppers to buy Microsoft's so-called 'iPod-killer'.
But now the Zune 80, the Apple competitor's top-of-the-range Zune player, is already sold out and in limited supply across US retail outlets. The 80GB device includes Wi-Fi and an FM radio, but was pretty much unavailable - just in time for Thanksgiving, which took place last Thursday.
See also:
Microsoft Zune 80GB Media Player review
From Apple's standpoint, even if demand for Zunes is strong, it would likely take share from other hopefuls, not Apple, Shannon Cross, analyst at Cross Research told USA Today. "No one is going to touch" Apple, she said.
Comments
Cher said: The new Zune looks really awesome I saw a commercial for them during the Cowboys game this Thanksgiving Im hoping for some money for Christmas so I can put toward buying a Zune80 Im startin to save up nowhopefully theyll be some stock in stored by then
Josh VR said: Although it has taken sometime for Microsoft to get into the MP3 market with its own piece of harware the Zune is a delightful device to use in terms of software it surpasses the Ipod im looking forward to a european release of the productGenerally speaking the guys at redmond have done it right this time with the 2nd generation of devices Remember that when Microsoft enters a market it keeps at it despite what people say and generally becomes a top competitoreg xbox 360