Microsoft misjudges demand for new Zunes

The Redmond company has apparently overestimated the demand for some of its players, leaving high stocks of one model on shelves while others are difficult -- if not impossible -- to find.

Microsoft launched both new flash-based players in 4 and 8GB versions, as well as an 80GB hard-drive based model. A quick check of retailers showed ample stocks of the smaller players, but the 80GB was out of stock.

The company explained that they had made production of the flash models a priority over its larger capacity sister player. Such a move is not all that unexpected -- flash players have long been outselling their bigger counterparts for several years.

It is not clear if the company did in fact have manufacturing problems as rumored by several consumer electronics blogs last week. However, Microsoft promised to have more stock at most retailers within two weeks.

Amazon will only offer that it had shipped a "significant number" of the players and was receiving limited shipments each week of the Zune.