Microsoft News Tracker

Amazon reports good news for Apple’s iPod and bad news for Microsoft’s Zune:

Apple Computer Inc.’s line of iPod music players was the most popular electronic device sold online over the Thanksgiving shopping-intense weekend.

Cupertino-based Apple’s iPods took five of Amazon.com’s top 10 spots of most-purchased consumer electronic items, and 10 of the top 25 spots.

Redmond, Wash-based Microsoft Corp.’s rival Zune product was left far behind, with even an iPod accessory outselling the Microsoft media player.

Even worse, the blogospheric buzz of the long Thanksgiving weekend was over Andy Ihnatko’s review at the Chicago Sun Times - Avoid the loony Zune:

Yes, Microsoft’s new Zune digital music player is just plain dreadful. I’ve spent a week setting this thing up and using it, and the overall experience is about as pleasant as having an airbag deploy in your face.

“Avoid,” is my general message. The Zune is a square wheel, a product that’s so absurd and so obviously immune to success that it evokes something akin to a sense of pity.

Ouch! As I mentioned last week, the Zune can certainly survive the occasional poison pen review and the more general lukewarm reactions, but what it won’t survive is a descent into Edsel territory where it becomes the butt of jokes. It hasn’t reached that stage - yet. Related: whoever decided that “squirting” was the appropriate term for the Zune Wi-Fi sharing should immediately don an dunce cap.