Name That Zune

On Friday, I scoured online stores looking for a Zune 80, but I found none in stock at online retailers. Plenty of online retailers had Zune 4 and Zune 8 models, but not even Amazon had the elusive Zune 80.

A day earlier, I called Microsoft's PR agency responsible for Zune, asking for a list of retailers that carried which models in stores. I was promised a list, but never got it. There had been rumors of Zune 80 production delays. I wanted to know: Was Microsoft's Zune launch a false start? With Black Friday just a week away, no Zune 80s would be bad news for Microsoft.

Friday night, I started the hard chase, going to Best Buy and Target stores in the Mission Valley area of San Diego. The Target had 4GB black Zunes. The Best Buy had Zune 4s in two colors, black and green. Neither store had ever had a Zune 80.

Saturday night, while my daughter attended choir practice, I looked for Zune 80 elsewhere—the Grossmont area about 12 miles north of my apartment. The Circuit City actually had a Zune 80 on display, but none for sale. The MP3 player sales associate said the store had sold a few 80GB Zunes, so they had been in stock. One black 30GB device was stowed away in the back, if I wanted to buy it. He recommended against it.

"No one ever complains about too much capacity," the sales associate said. He reasoned that for $50 more, 50GB more was the better value. I couldn't disagree. The store also had Zune 4s available in four colors, including pink, and Zune 8 in black. He still recommended waiting for the 80GB model.

The sales associate already owned a 4GB Zune, which he got as temporary replacement for his 30GB first-gen device. Someone stole it. Why would anyone steal a brown Zune? I wondered out loud. The sales associate didn't understand the question. He liked the brown color, in part because of the green accents. He also praised the styling of the boxy, older model over the Zune 4, 8 or 80. I'm with him. There was something distinctive about the weathered appearance and rugged design. The newer Zunes aren't as original looking.

This guy was a real fan, or claimed to be. He complained about having an iPod nano scratch up the first time he took it out—but not so his brown Zune, even after an accidental drop on the pavement. As for Zune v2, he preferred the new device user interface, music software and online store to iTunes/iPod. Dare I say: The sales associate used "better" to describe Zune v2 in comparison to iTunes/iPod.

With a recommendation to "wait," I left the Circuit City and drove about a mile away to a nearby CompUSA. During February, March and April, CompUSA shuttered about half its stores, remaining open in secondary markets. I easily found the CompUSA by the lighted sign on a plaza. Given CompUSA's troubles, I reasoned that if the store ever had Zune 80s there might be some in stock. But when I drove `round to the backside of the plaza, a darkened store and empty parking lot waited. Will someone please take down that lighted street sign?

Distraught but not defeated, I drove a half mile back to a nearby Target. I really didn't expect to score a Zune 80, having come up short the previous night at a sister store. The Target didn't not disappoint (yeah, yeah, double negative). The store had no Zune 30s or 80s in stock. But there was a great selection of 4GB and 8GB colors—and red for the Zune 8.

But I walked out of the store with a red Zune 4 instead because Target had something else: a free $25 gift card with the purchase of any 4GB model. So I settled for less and got something more. Now why didn't the other Target offer such a deal, I wonder? Why was there any such deal at all?

All four of the stores I checked had plenty of 4GB Zunes. Could the Target be clearing out overstock inventory already? I'm skeptical. Maybe the offer was a co-marketing deal with Microsoft to generate sales. Regardless, Microsoft must have shipped heavy on the 4GB and 8GB Zunes for a reason. My two guesses: appeal of smaller devices and to fill the sales vacuum left by the iPod nano.

The latter guess isn't insignificant, if right. Apple's move to the squat (what I call "the chub") nano left a void where the gum-stick-shaped iPod filled. Apple may have moved on, but there is probably a good market for the gum-stick-shaped form factor. I certainly wouldn't buy a chub nano.

The real quandary now for Zune is Black Friday. Will Microsoft get the Zune 80 on store shelves, in large enough quantities? Microsoft might as well have done a Windows Vista and launched Zune in January, if the 80GB models miss the start of the Christmas buying season. Zune isn't Xbox 360. Shortages will mean lost sales, not pent-up demand fulfilled later on.

The bigger question: What deals will retailers offer to sell Zune? If Target is giving away a $25 gift card before Black Friday, what better sales incentives will come later?

As for the Zune 80, I'm still looking but willing to wait longer. An engraved model would be just right for Christmas. Santa, are you making a list?

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