Even though Apple never made an “I’m an a Mac, and I’m a PC” commercial about Microsoft’s portable Zune player, the iPod is leaving the Zune in the dust.Microsoft announced it may discontinue its portable Zune mp3 player because of poor sales, according to reports by the Financial Times.Steve Ballmer, chief executive of Microsoft, announced at the Consumer Electronics Show on Jan. 8 that the Zune has been struggling to get significant sales compared to Apple’s iPod.Microsoft premiered the Zune in August 2006 hoping to compete with the iPod. The Zune boasted Wi-Fi capabilities, FM radio and wireless transfer with other Zune players, capabilities absent from the iPod.But the Zune failed to catch on with the development of “general purpose” devices such as the iPhone and iPod touch having similar capabilities. Also, a leap year bug causing the Zune to freeze Dec. 31 further damaged its sales and reputation.Many students never bought a Zune because of the convenience of an iPod. Cory Boudreaux, communication studies junior, said having an iPod just seemed practical to him.”All of my friends always had an iPod — it’s really simple,” Boudreaux said. “I have tons of music, so having the 80 [gigabyte iPod] just worked for me.”Mohammed Altammar, petroleum engineering junior, said the iPod’s features and marketing give it a big advantage over the Zune.”I’ve seen one or two people who’ve had a Zune, and it was discounted or something,” Altammar said. “They’ve never had good marketing for [the Zune].”Lauren Hernandez, biological sciences freshman, said she does not know many people with a Zune and heard they are unreliable.”My little brother has a Zune, and he likes it,” Hernandez said. “I think it broke on him a couple of times.”Others are fond of their Zune players, but they see why it is not holding up against the iPod.”Apple’s just ridiculous with their marketing, and the scope of people that buy their products is so large you can’t go up against it,” said Nick Gambino, English senior.——Contact Ben Bourgeois at [email protected]