I like metaphors.  I use them too much, to the point I should probably go into some kind of program.  But since I’m still firmly in denial, there’s no sense in stopping now.  I’ll begin by saying I have several iPods, the iPhone and a MacBook.  To use the worst and most disturbing metaphor I’ve heard bantered around the corporate world these days…I’ve drunk the Kool-Aid.  And I’m not alone.  Apple iPods are nearly as pervasive as cell phones where I live.  When they came out in 2001, they changed portable music forever and became the best selling digital audio player in history.   My two year old can actually slot my iPod into the home stereo and, using the track wheel, find Lupe Fiasco (his current favorite) by the album cover art.  I’d say you can’t beat that for usability.  I knew there were similar players out there, but sort of assumed they would go the way of betamax tapes and HD DVD…sorry, you lose, thanks for playing.  There was no need for me to pay attention to the other guys because, well, I was already dating the rock star.  But the other day, someone called my attention to some data we’re seeing on Buzzillions right now with regards to the Zune and audiophiles’ opinions of them.  We know this because when someone writes a review we ask people how they describe themselves. In this case the choices are: “Casual Listener”, “Avid Listener” and “Audiophile”.  Turns out the Zune is not only liked by those who select “Audiophile”, but liked enough to be number one in this group of people.  Which means of course that the revered iPod is in second place.

Why is this?  Do these audiophiles know something I don’t, or is the New York Times onto something when they hypothesize that some people are simply buying the Zune because it is NOT the iPhone?  While there do seem to be anti-Apple zealots out there (though they hardly outweigh the rampant Microsoft-is-the-devil’s-spawn sentiment) surely there are people buying them for more than the satisfaction of knowing there’s one less iPod on the planet.  So I took a look at the reviews and specifically what the audiophiles liked about the Zune. Reviewers point to a few features as being stand outs.  Among these are the included headphones, which they say are higher quality than the standard issue iPod headphones.  In addition, users point to the integrated FM radio, the durability, the excellent sound quality, the large screen and larger font sizes making the display easier to read, especially when using in a car.  CNET’s Zune vs. iPod Prizefight gives the face off between the two a tie, which they themselves seem genuinely surprised by given iPod’s overwhelming popularity.  Most intriguing to me, it sounds from the reviews like my kids would find it equally as easy to use as the iPod. All this has me thinking (brace yourself for another metaphor) that the rock star I’m dating…maybe he’s not so great after all.  Maybe, like those tedious and formulaic teen movies, I should take a closer look at the less popular outcast - the one who could really win me over, if only I’d give him the chance.