The Microsoft Zune starts slow -- where is the audience?

So, what is going on with the Microsoft Zune these days (yawn)? Not much, according to many accounts, though I reserve my harsh words or praise for when Microsoft's sales numbers are released to the public. Even then, I will still hold those words the next quarter's results.

Now, I am not down on Microsoft. As I've said a few times, the marketplace needs to give the Redmond software giant time to market this digital media player, build up the ecosystem and content partners, create marketing buzz (if it can) and *try* to create or take marketshare from Apple's iPod. If Microsoft thinks this will be easy even a year to 18 months from now, it is sorely mistaken. It will take a while for anyone to see whether ole' Softie fails or triumphs with the Zune. The media and the market, on the other hand, want results yesterday and are impatient. Nothing to see here, so let's move ahead.

This take from a recent Cnet article is a nice description of the "un-Zune-ness" that is currently in progress. The wireless WiFi capability of the unit is a major feature being pushed by Microsoft, yet creating that type of ecosystem won't be easy. Why? Because it's device-to-device sharing with limitations that many users -- who put up with the iPod's restrictions -- will scoff at.

I've seen a Zune in person and the device is very nice and looks fantastic (it needs an aluminum housing, though!), but the battle has just begun. Hey, ole' Softie pushed through the dark times with the Xbox -- why not here? Just don't burn money on a fruitless effort -- make it bear fruit. Just not Apples.

[Disclosure: I own MSFT shares as of 12-11-06]