iPod vs Zen

December 27th of last year, Kelvin and me went to Sim Lim to buy an iPod for himself. We went around asking and amazingly, the iPods 20GB model had all been sold out, not only in the building but the whole of Singapore itself. Talk about hot, that iPod is one scorching Xmas gift.

On the other hand, the Creative Zens (and the soap-look-alike Micros) were found lazing around the display cabinets of most shops that sell MP3 players. Which brings me rather amazed to hear Mr Sim mention this in yesterday's newspapers.

Excerpts

Jan 7, 2005 Straits Times
Zen Micro storms MP3 market
by Ho Kah Wei

To do that, [Sim Wong Hoo] has launched his US$100 million (S$165 million) global marketing campaign in a bid to plant more of his players in new markets, including Turkey, the Middle East and China. One sign of that here at CES: The registration counter at the show's main entrance is dressed up in Creative banners showing all the Zen Micro's 10 colours.

He said: 'In Singapore, we already take about 80 per cent of the market, easily.

'I am confident that with proper marketing, we can have a big part of the global market.'

BTW, did I mention the Zen Micro looks like soap?