Zune Thoughts: ABI Research Survey: 58% of iPod Owners Planning Another MP3 Player Purchase Will Consider Microsoft's Zune

"A new survey conducted by ABI Research has shown that many prospective MP3 player buyers-even owners of iPods-would be likely to choose Microsoft's Zune player. 1725 teenage and adult US residents were asked whether they planned to buy an MP3 player in the next 12 months. Of those responding that they were likely to do so, 58% of those identifying themselves as existing iPod owners and 59% of those who owned other brands said they would be "somewhat likely" or "extremely likely" to choose a Microsoft Zune player over an iPod or another brand of MP3 player. "Our conclusion," says principal analyst Steve Wilson, "is that iPod users don't display the same passionate loyalty to iPods that Macintosh users have historically shown for their Apple products." Only 15% of iPod owners said they were "not very likely" or "not at all likely" to choose Zune."



Now that's some surprising information! I've always assumed that because the iPod has such massive control in the marketplace, and people kept buying iPod after iPod, that the Zune would have a tough time with current iPod owners (which is a good chunk of the market). The iPod fanboy sites would certainly have you believe that anyway, but this survey calls that into question. Assuming that the survey is an accurate gauge of the overall buying population, this is great news for the Zune. What do you think - are you a current iPod owner, and are you considering a Zune?

[Bonus points: can anyone point out why I used the above photo?]