http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071117/ap_on_hi_te/microsoft_zunes_sold_out

Even with factory delays, the fact that the Zune is actually selling enough to sell out at all the major electronics retailers has got to be a good thing for MS.  It seems as though their plan might be working, 1st generation test the waters and learn about the market, 2nd generation make a move to take market share.  We will see how the 3rd generation of products for MS Entertainment will play out, so far though it seems like they are improving generation to generation with both the XBOX and the Zune.

This is ONLINE stores only. Yet I'm sure if we were to look at brick and motar stores we would not be seeing them sold out. This is yet another example of the media viewing the world through MS brand glasses. Just like when the media screamed about zune capturing 3% of the market sales calling it a success. Ignoring the fact that it missed it's sales mark and in the time since the zune launch iPod sales percent actually went up too.

^^^^ Thank you for shedding light on this cause I'm still seeing everyone with their various iPods

I'm actually surprised that the Zune hasn't been selling more. Doesn't it have more interactive features than the other mp3 players?

iPod Ftw!

I see 'em stacked up at the brick'n morters.

I've heard the zune was just riddled with bugs no? Maybe just bad press lol. But yeah I see so many at my local fry's and best buy, I've also never seen a person with one o.o;

I see lots of people with Zunes so I do believe they are catching on. Before you would see either iPod or any other random Mp3 player. Now it's either iPod or Zune. It's like all the iPod haters have jumped on the Zune bandwagon. As for me, I love my 360 but I'll stick with my iPod!

 All portable media players are basically the same. Yes, Zune has "social" features, but they don't amount to much compared to:

a) branding

and b) genericised trademarks 

a) The iPod's image is the best of any product out there, ever, period. Apple's adverts, promotions, the "iEverything" trens and product design have imprinted the iPod on everyone's mind. The iTunes store is the choice for buying online music, and thanks to the lock-in of AAC and the store, people are stuck using it once they've bought it. My parents are technically sound and intelligent, but my dad said the packaging was amazing and totally worth buying. Microsoft, on the other hand, has no branding whatsoever. I have never met anyone who has heard of a Zune, even though a fair number use Hotmail and MSN Messenger, own an Xbox, use Windows and Office and search on msn.com. The association isn't there.

b) This means that people associate media players with iPods to the degree where iPods are the only choice. My teacher says on a Friday afternoon, "Get out your iPods". Not "portable media players". Not even "MP3 players. "iPods". "I want to buy a media player. Therefore I buy an iPod." There is a thriving market in just iPod accessories.

So even if Zune is technically better, it can't compete with the ingrained brand. The iPhone is a rip-off, costing several thousand dollars with four hundred upfront on the cheapest plan, with very few minutes and texts. Therefore, the iPod brand is the only thing making it sell.

As an enlighened consumer, I can't buy a Zune even to show my defiance of brand marketing because:

a) I don't like music with words in.

b) I wish Microsoft's Windows and Office divisions were razed to the ground.

and c) I'm getting a Google phone because it's open-source.

offtopic: Game_boy - what do you think of Andriod? I'm certainly going to be deving for it soon (is it released yet?).
/offtopic

The Zune doesn't even exist outside of the US. I know of no-one that has a Zune in the UK, nor can I think of a single place that sells it. I mean, is it even released here?

The only time I've ever seen a Zune was when I was in New York, and I found one avaliable for use in a store. It was frozen. I wasn't surpised.