Microsoft is known for being a software giant, but in recent years it has also ventured into the hardware market with a range of devices that compete with other technology companies. Some of these products are innovative and original, while others are seen as attempts by Microsoft to catch up with trends and copy the success of its rivals. In this blog post, we’ll look at some of Microsoft’s “me too” products and how they compare to their counterparts.
Surface Pro vs. iPad Pro
Surface Pro is Microsoft’s flagship tablet that can also function as a laptop with a detachable keyboard and stylus. It runs on Windows 10 and offers a full desktop experience with powerful performance and support for various software applications. The iPad Pro is Apple’s premium tablet that also supports keyboard and stylus, but runs on iOS, which is more limited in terms of multitasking and productivity. The iPad Pro has a sleeker design, higher resolution display and longer battery life than the Surface Pro, but the Surface Pro has more ports, more storage options and more flexibility in terms of usage scenarios.
Xbox One vs. PlayStation 4
The Xbox One and PlayStation 4 are the two leading consoles in the gaming industry and have been competing for market share and customer loyalty since their launch in 2013. Both consoles offer similar hardware specifications, online services and exclusive games, but they also have some differences that appeal to different types of gamers. The Xbox One has a greater focus on entertainment and integration with other Microsoft devices, such as Windows 10 PCs and smartphones. It is also backward compatible with older versions of Xbox 360 games and has a more advanced controller with haptic feedback. The PlayStation 4 has a more optimized interface, a larger game library and a more powerful graphics processor that enables better performance and resolution. It also supports virtual reality with the PlayStation VR headset and has a more ergonomic controller with touchpad.
Cortana and Siri
Cortana and Siri are the two most popular voice assistants that can help users with a variety of tasks, such as searching the web, setting reminders, playing music and controlling smart home devices. Both assistants use natural language processing and machine learning to understand user queries and provide relevant answers. Cortana is Microsoft’s voice assistant that is available on PCs, smartphones, tablets, Xbox One and other Windows 10 devices. Siri is Apple’s voice assistant that is available on iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple Watch, Apple TV and HomePod. Cortana has a more conversational tone and personality than Siri and can also integrate with third-party apps and services. Siri has a more natural-sounding voice and can handle more complex requests than Cortana. Both assistants have their strengths and weaknesses, but are constantly improving with new features and updates.
The Zune is no more. Microsoft has finally discontinued its music player after four and a half years of futile efforts to gain a foothold in the market. The Zune was always a niche product for the company and its demise came as no surprise to most observers. The Zune was born out of Microsoft’s ambition to challenge Apple’s dominance in the music player industry. Microsoft believed it could offer a viable alternative to the iPod, which had a near monopoly in the market. The Zune got off to a promising start, selling well in the first few weeks, thanks to some consumers who wanted to try something different from the iPod. But the novelty of the Zune soon wore off and it remained stuck at around one to two percent of the U.S. market share (compared to the iPod’s 76 percent).
This is not to say that the Zune was a bad product; on the contrary, it was a well-designed and well-performing device. We’ve given many positive reviews to various Zune models over the years. For example, our audio expert Tim Gideon gave the Zune HD four and a half stars in 2009 (although he also noted that “the Zune HD is the best PMP you can buy, that is, if you live outside the iTunes universe,” which sounded like faint praise).
The Zune was, however, another example of Microsoft’s tendency to follow rather than lead the technology market. The Zune arrived late to an already saturated space. Many analysts have pointed to this pattern as a sign of Microsoft’s lack of innovation.
Microsoft is often accused of being a “me too” company, that is, copying other companies’ ideas and products rather than creating its own. But is that really fair? Microsoft has a long history of innovation and originality, as well as some failures and missteps. Sometimes, Microsoft was ahead of the curve, but failed to capitalize on its own inventions. Other times, Microsoft entered a market late, but managed to offer something different or better than the existing players. And sometimes, Microsoft simply couldn’t compete with the dominant force in the industry, no matter how hard it tried.
One example of a product that was both innovative and failed was the Zune, Microsoft’s attempt to challenge the iPod. The Zune had some features that were ahead of their time, such as wireless syncing, social sharing, and subscription-based music streaming. The Zune also had a sleek design and an easy-to-use interface. However, it was too little too late. The iPod had already established itself as the leader in portable music players, and had a loyal fan base and a huge ecosystem of accessories and content. The Zune never gained enough market share or mindshare to pose a serious threat to Apple.
In this article, we will examine some other examples of Microsoft products that were labeled as “me too” products and see how they fared against the competition. We will examine the factors that contributed to their success or failure and what lessons can be learned from them.