Yikes, if you read today's Cringely column, you'd think Microsoft would have to be crazy to keep trying to bring the concept (or some variation therein) of derivatives to selling MP3 players. Check it out.

Basically Cringely suggests that Microsoft ultimately expects to make money not on Zune sales (they'd be crazy to do that!), not on music sales (getting warmer), but on location-based marketing. Uh, ok.

I'm not saying that location-based marketing is a non-starter. It's coming and it will make a lot of money for businesses. I'd even go along with the idea that Microsoft will make some money from this concept should they follow through with it.

What I am saying is that Microsoft seems to be making their money in increasingly complicated ways. For example, I just heard on journalist suggest that Microsoft will bundle the Zune with the XBox to grab market share.

If that works, great, but aren't they still losing money on the XBox?

If nothing else, this is one more reason that Apple Computer's keep-evertyhing-simple mantra is a valid reason to invest in Apple over Microsoft.



Don't forget How to Buy a Mac. Save money on your next Apple Computer purchase.

Sample and subscribe to thousands of free podcasts at the iTunes Music Store.