Filed under: Flickr Find
Flickr Find: Microsoft Amnesty Bin for iPods
From the entry way at Zune headquarters, we bring you today's Flickr Find: the iPod Amnesty Bin. Yeah sure, it's probably "art" more than it's a real "amnesty bin"--but it says something that upon seeing this picture my heart skipped a beat. It's like seeing adorable puppies in a pound. I instinctively wanted to grab those poor sweet neglected iPods into my arms and give them a proper home. Someone ought to notify the association for the prevention of iPod cruelty.
As one of the posters at the Flickr page points out, this makes you wonder exactly how many of these iPods were bought by the Zune team to seed the bin and make their point--to which I add, I wonder how quickly that bin is emptying as Zune employees wave goodbye for the day.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Damien said 1:36PM on 5-24-2007
Anyone know where the Zune amnesty area is?
the store shelves...
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pixelslut said 1:53PM on 5-24-2007
@Damien:
hahahaha... nice.
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bryan ribas said 1:55PM on 5-24-2007
:)
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Cory G said 1:58PM on 5-24-2007
They are already coming out with a 2nd generation Zune to make those few first generation buyers upset - just wait till the 6G iPods show up later this year - they'll blow the socks off Microsoft's Zune and their little bin. The 2G Zune is going to copy the iPod click wheel - I guess it was/is better because if they copied it, it must have been better. I love how Microsoft and their supporters claim that their stuff is better at the same time they copy someone else's products.
What interface will the 6G iPod use? LOL!!!
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gsol said 2:04PM on 5-24-2007
I'm not an iPod worshipper by any stretch of the imagination, but that is sick. What an odd bunch they must be.
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Dan Bolling said 2:12PM on 5-24-2007
I heard some folks on the Zune team wanted new iPods, so they floated this idea to their management claiming they would have to buy some iPods to put in the bin (since, of course, they don't have any). Now the team member's old iPods are in the bin and their management is none the wiser.
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Chris Williams said 2:24PM on 5-24-2007
RE: #5, gsol - come on, it's a competitive marketplace, this kind of stuff is old news, and tame.
People have been doing this kind of thing since the dawn of man. You don't think people in Detroit smash up Japanese cars? Or Burger King people mock McDonald's? Or Mac people mock "windoze" or "Micro$oft"?
It's all part of the game. I'd be more disappointed if they *didn't* do something like that... it would mean they are lifeless...
And there is nothing like having someone nipping at (or trying to nip at) your heals to keep you ahead of the game. If MS or Samsung or Creative or others weren't pushing Apple we'd arguably still be at iPod 2g.
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Johnny said 2:30PM on 5-24-2007
I do think this is really clever for Microsoft. I mean, if (god help me) I was a Microsoft fan, I would love it. What an obvious anti-Apple slogan. "Bite Me". I love Apple, but I still have to laugh a little.
Damien, LMFAO.
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Otsego said 2:32PM on 5-24-2007
I always enjoy a solid jab at staged photography such as this. Especially when it involves Apple.
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Quix said 2:44PM on 5-24-2007
I'd bet the iPods in this bin are all from Ballmer's kids. And they weren't happy about it.
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punkassjim said 2:44PM on 5-24-2007
I just think it's funny because it's probably been there for six months to a year, and they've only collected like ten iPods. Considering how many ipods are out in the world, and how many go through those doors everyday (I'm sure of it), I'd say the enormous size of that acrylic box was a little optimistic.
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Quix said 2:47PM on 5-24-2007
Oh, and taking off the protective case before throwing it AND the iPod in the bin just to try to fill up more embarrassingly-empty space is pathetic as well.
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wei said 2:57PM on 5-24-2007
to me, microsoft comes off looking childish and silly with this thing. they should hold the ipod as the benchmark that they want to dethrone.. so far they've only crapped out a (literally) brown turd with the zune. just makes them look like sore losers
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Fred said 3:07PM on 5-24-2007
Aw, it's just a joke. It's an internal thing. It's like when I worked at CompUSA (I know) and when we'd go to the bathroom we'd say we're going to Best Buy, or calling Best Buy "Worst Purchase". It's not biggie, everyone does it to their competitors.
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bburns said 3:14PM on 5-24-2007
I count 7 iPods, (I think I have almost that many in my family)...somebody better buy a few more iPods to fill that bin.
Looks like a promo that back fired...only 7 iPods need Amnesty, 7 out of 100 million units on the street!
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Johnny Thrash said 3:16PM on 5-24-2007
Right... someone is actually gonna switch from an iPod to something made by Microsoft... yea... uh huh... I believe it. Sure I do.
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Steve Jobs said 3:28PM on 5-24-2007
If an Apple fanboy speaks in a forest and no Microsoft fanboy is there to listen, does he make a sound?
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Steve Ballmer said 3:45PM on 5-24-2007
If Steve Ballmer speaks with the worldwide press in attendance, does anyone take him seriously anymore?
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Eliot said 4:16PM on 5-24-2007
I think abandoning an iPod full of music counts as illegal distribution.
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tldizard said 4:17PM on 5-24-2007
Almost as pathetic in it's jabs at the competition as "90 hrs/wk and loving it."
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