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Nadine Mather and Chloë Loubser
Zune zooms off online retailers' shelves
The second generation of Microsoft's line of portable media players is apparently showing signs of life. The 80GB version of the device appears to have sold out at online retailers like Amazon. Microsoft said it emphasised production of smaller versions of the device, but added that more full-sized Zunes would make their way to shelves and retail Web sites within the next two weeks.
The 80GB Zune media player Microsoft launched Tuesday has sold out across the Web, to the dismay of online shoppers and delight of the world's largest software maker.
"Anyone know where I can get a Cabbage Patch Doll ... er ... I mean Zune?" asks an Amazon.com customer listed as Paul Taylor on the Web retailer's message board for the product.
Amazon told Taylor and others that their preordered devices for 13 November shipping would not be sent for 10 more days, according to the message board.
While Web retailers have 4GB and 8GB versions of the second-generation Zunes in stock, the 80GB music player is not available on Amazon, Best Buy or Circuit City's Web sites.
Microsoft said it prioritized the manufacture of the smaller Zune 4 and Zune 8 devices, and that more of the 80GB version should be on shelves, physical and virtual, in the next 10 to 14 days.
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