March 19, 2008 10:06 AM PDT
Red Zune 80, no Valentine required
Want a red Zune 80 without all the lovey-dovey sentiment? They're now on sale at Zune Originals.
(Credit: Microsoft)After appearing briefly as the Valentine edition of the Zune 80, today Microsoft has brought back the red version of the Zune 80 through their Zune Originals online store. Unlike the fumbled Valentine's edition, however, these red Zunes won't come cheap. In fact, Zune Originals is now charging an extra $15 for the artwork engraving service that they initially offered free of charge.
Still, for those of you who really want to fly your Zune freak flag high, the red Zune 80 definitely looks like it will get some attention.
Donald Bell is CNET Reviews' senior editor for MP3 players and portable audio, and one half of the MP3 Insider blog and weekly podcast. He also likes getting his hands dirty with digital audio tools for musicians and DJs.
-->
good thing the zune sucks,
Yeah, right.
MSFT makes NO pretense about the Zune being associated to (Product) Red promotion, so get off yer high horse. The color existed LONG before anyone considered latching THEIR wagon to it for donation purposes. Thanks to the blitz of (Product) Red, now we inundated with all sorts of rainbow-linked charitable promotions: pink (breast cancer), blue (autism, diabetes, among others), green (cancer, environment, also among others), yellow (Livestrong), etc., etc....bandwagoneering at its shining marketing best (or worst, depending on viewpoint).
There's NO exclusive use of ANY color for any charitable cause, and no manufacturer should feel guilt for using that color. MSFT, or Ferrari for that matter, need not feel compelled to pangs of guilt.
Considering that Apple ONLY sells their (Product) Red devices in their OWN stores, where they DON'T have any of that relatively measly 5% cut into to their already phat margins they normally get on any other color options from other retail outlets...yeah, who's scamming who now?