Zune 30 GB Digital Media Player (White) Reviews

• I really wanted to like this!

  
  By A2EZ0LNM0THWZO on 2006-11-17
  I got my Zune two days ago and exchanged it for a black 5.5 gen iPod today (I had sold my white 5 gen iPod to buy the Zune).
  
  I was really excited about the Zune, and really wanted to enjoy it. I was looking forward to the large screen, and connecting it up to my 360. But alas, it was not meant to be. The device itself is great, I loved the design, it felt great in my hand (despite being a bit thicker than I would have liked), the screen is beautiful, and the menu system seemed very easy to use. The software loaded fine on my computer, but when I connected my Zune, that's where things went shady.
  
  I disconnected and reconnected my Zune many many times, and got varying results (but never the desired ones). Sometimes niether the Zune nor the software would do anything...sometimes the Zune would start charging, but nothing else...sometimes the the Zune would say "Connected" but nothing would happen on the software side. Once (once!), it actually worked...the Zune said "Connected" and the device showed up in the software and started to update the Zune firmware...then it froze. I even tried removing the software a few times and reinstalling it, to no avail.
  
  I wasted six hours over two evenings trying to get this thing to work, and I had enough. At least I got a new iPod out of the ordeal.
  
  My advice:
  - If you own an iPod, keep it! Maybe upgrade to the 6 gen when they come out, as they'll likely feature the few things about the Zune that make it appealing.
  - If you're looking for your first media player, consider the iPod or Creative Zen before even thinking about the Zune.
  
  

• Good jumping off point for Microsoft

  
  By A1VUU6T9TRMAEB on 2006-11-14
  It's impossible to not compare the Zune to the iPod so I'm not even going to try, but let's get one thing out of the way right quick: Anyone who calls the Zune an iPod killer needs to have their head examined. Let's not forget that there are many people who have invested hundreds or thousands of dollars into iTunes music, so they're pretty much iPod customers for life(as Zune customers will be if they choose to use the Zune marketplace, but more on that later). And in case you haven't noticed, the iPod is a pretty darn good device. The Zune doesn't really offer anything that should have iPod+iTunes users jumping ship, but it does offer a compelling option for those looking to purchase a product like this for the first time or iPod users who have chosen to continue to buy CDs instead of digital albums.
  
  The first thing you'll notice after purchasing the Zune is that if they ever gave away some type of award for product packaging, the Zune would probably win it. The brown portion of the Zune box slips off to reveal a compartmentalized box inside that includes the Zune, the docking cable, stock earbuds, the Zune software, the token cheap felt case, and the documentation.
  
  Onto the Zune itself. Even at 30 gigs it's a bit longer and thicker than the 80 gig iPod. It is substantially heavier but not to a fault. Those looking to use an MP3 player for active use will probably want a flash player anyway. Where the Zune holds a big advantage over the iPod however is the rubbery-plastic finish. Whereas the iPod's glossy finish is a magnet for fingerprints, the Zune's rubbery plastic feel attracts virtually no fingerprints, and when it does they simply wipe off. The screen accumulates them quickly, and while a thin plastic film coating is included, it has some large text on it, so you might have to invest in a third-party screen protector. Bummer. The control pad has been often maligned for not being a scroll wheel, but I don't understand why. Is moving your thumb around in circles really THAT intuitive?
  
  Onto the software. It's a bit dissapointing that the Zune doesn't simply intergrate seamlessly with Windows Media Player 11 like most MP3 players now do. Instead you'll have to install the dedicated Zune software, which is essentially Windows Media Player 11 in some new clothing and with the Zune Marketplace built in. There have been many reports of hiccups installing the new software, so beware. It seems I was lucky. Once you do get the software going, syncing your music library to your player is a breeze, with a transfer speed of about two seconds per song.
  
  As I said, the Zune software is essentially WMP11 with the Zune Marketplace included. The first time you enter the marketplace the software will ask you for your Windows Live ID. This is where one very cool perk comes into play if you are an XBox Live user. When you login with your ID, your Zune Marketplace account automatically links up with your XBox Live account, so you can share your Microsoft Points you already have across both services! Very very convienent.
  
  Unfortunately, that may be the highlight of the Zune Marketplace. Graphically, it can't hold a candle to iTunes and is pretty darn ugly. Users can't review albums, and it as of yet doesn't offer anything besides music(this is probably going to change very very soon). I don't even use an iPod and I like browsing the iTunes store to see what's new and read user reviews. I couldn't imagine using the Zune Marketplace for anything except buying an album. But even that wouldn't be advisable, since the music you purchase on the Zune marketplace will work ONLY on the Microsoft Zune and nothing else. So until it starts offering TV Shows and movies, the Zune Marketplace is a major dud.
  
  This is where the real treat comes in, once you get your music onto the Zune and fire it up for the first time, many of your initial doubts will vanish. The screen is large, bright, and the background is fully customizable. The interface is a huge breath of fresh air after using the stale Artist>Album>Song system on iPods and Creative players for so many years. Instead, Artist, Album, and Song are listed horizontally at the top of the screen, and as you move the cursor over each option all of the items spill out down the substantial screen, with thumbnail album art included! When you do choose a song, the album art for that song dominates the screen, and the sound quality is excellent. You can easily adjust the volume by pressing up-and-down on the control pad, and scroll through the song by pushing left and right.
  
  So music playback is a huge "hit", but how about the video? The format support is pretty limited, and while the Zune software will convert just about anything, the playback format of converted videos is pretty poor. It was also a puzzling move for the Zune to have a 16x9 screen but only support 4:3 resolution. The stretching of the picture doesn't really take that much away, but it seems a bit pointless. One handy feature is that the control pad will re-orient the controls for the Zune when you hold the player sideways.
  
  One last thing, you might have noticed I haven't even mentioned the much-hyped wi-fi feature. Why? Because it's practically useless. Songs received via wi-fi transfer can only be played three times within a three day period, and songs by some artists(such as the Rolling Stones) won't even transfer at all! The wi-fi capabilities of the Zune certainly offers exciting possibilities for future firmware updates, but they're certainly not present now.
  
  So that's it. The Zune offers nothing that will have seasoned iPod+iTunes users jumping ship, and it certainly' won't kill the iPod, but the exceptional physical design, vastly superior user interface, and wi-fi possiblities in the future warrant a serious look by shoppers.
  
  

• Not as good as I hoped

  
  By A1F50KG7O9A0JD on 2006-11-19
  I'm a serious gadget junkie. I have more mp3 players than I care to admit - iPod, iRiver, even a Rio. You name a player, I probably have it. I was very interested in Zune, and the fact that I now have one here in Switzerland where it officially can't be bought yet shows to what length I was prepared to go to get it.
  
  First the good:
  + Zune's sound quality is good (I did not use the earphones that come with it, though),
  + Browsing your music is simple. The transitions between menus is slick, and the user interface is quite intuitive.
  + It feels solid, and does not pick up scratches or fingerprints as easy as it's direct competitor, the iPod.
  + Purchasing songs is simple, and can be done worldwide.
  + Large color display is bright, colors are vivid. Good playback of videos. So-so display of images.
  + Plays my unencrypted (DRM'd) WMA, MP3, AAC files
  
  The bad:
  - Zune's software (the part you install on your PC) was a mess to install, and did not install on the Vista beta (This will hopefully change with the final release of Vista).
  - It looks nice, but the marketplace experience does not hold a candle against iTunes Music Store (neither does the selection). Also, you purchase using 'MS points' that can only be purchased in chunks of 5 USD or more, and it's not easy to convert the points to my local currency. There currently is no video selection, nor can you easily subscribe to podcasts
  - Zune can't load my previously purchased (DRM'd) WMA files (Plays-for-Sure). Zune, from MS does not conform to 'Plays for sure' by MS. This means you must re-purchase all your songs.
  - Zune songs can't be played by other players. In this regard Zune is as bad (a closed system) as the iPod. Wasn't Bill Gates on the record saying that 'People want choice'? Well, not if you own Zune - at least for now.
  - Does not play video formats other than WMV (i.e. no m4v, mov)
  - You can't use Zune as an external hard drive. I couldn't believe it myself either. Why???
  - I must physically connect Zune to my PC to load songs - Zune currently can't sync wirelessly.
  - You can't use Windows media player to manager your Zune's content
  - For some reason I am unable to listen to Zune while it's charging. This may be a fault of mine, though.
  - The scroll wheel is not a scroll wheel. It integrates well with Zune's interface, but is not as efficient as the iPod's wheel it obviously resembles
  - The color display's resolution is the same as the iPod's, just bigger. Side-to-side comparison between a video played on the iPod and Zune shows a distinct advantage for the iPod, because the image (even though smaller) looks much sharper. It would have been better if Zune had a higher resolution.
  
  I was unable to try the song sharing feature (for obvious reasons - no-one else has it here).
  
  All in all I am seriously disappointed by Zune. The player itself is nice - the whole package (player, software, experience), however, is riddled with half-baked features, or intentional restrictions that make no sense. Comparing it directly to the other closed-system competitor, the iPod, shows that Zune has a long way to go just to catch up. It fares OK when compared with other mp3-players - until you realize that you'll have to re-purchase your music. If you are prepared to take that step you might as well go with the iPod, which is clearly the better package.
  
  

• Review by Actual Zune and IPod owner

  
  By A3RGM228Z1P4Z9 on 2006-12-10
  I own a 5th generation iPod and bought a Zune last week. Why? Primarily because I am a gadget-freak and I like the idea of a bigger screen and WiFi sharing of songs.
  The Zune comes in a very nice package and with clear installation instructions. I didn't run into any problems on Windows XP SP2 so I cannot comment on some of the problems other people have encountered.
  
  After using it for a week this is how the Zune stacks up against the iPod:
  
  iPod has the advantage in:
  -Size: Zune is slightly longer and thicker than the iPod but it's not that noticable. Slight advantage for iPod.
  -Software: Zune software is nice and works but iPod's software is more straightforward and easier to use. Yes, even my iPod software occasionally crashes but overall I like it better.
  -Applications & Games: no games and apps on Zune yet, some nice apps on the iPod but the games on iPod are pathetic. That's what my Nintendo DS is for.
  -Many more accessories! It took me a while to find a nice case for the Zune but I assume this will get better over time. Still iPod rules the accessory market.
  -External USB Device: I can use my iPod as a giant "memory stick", the Zune has this function disabled - although there is way to enable that (do a Google search).
  
  Zune and iPod are even:
  -Battery Life: Zune (WiFi turned off) and iPod are about the same, 13 1/2 to 14 hours with screen off.
  -Interface: I liked Zune's menu structure much better than iPod's but I miss the iPod's great click-wheel. Also interface responds quicker on the Zune.
  -Sound Quality: listening to music with my Sony headphones I could not hear any difference in sound quality.
  -Headphones: the included headphones with the iPod and the Zune are equally crappy. The first accessory you buy should be new headphones.
  
  Zune has the advantage in:
  -Screen: ZUNE WINS by a huge margin, screen is bigger and brighter, absolutely stunning!
  -Materials: iPod's sensitive chrome shell always bugged me and the screen on my iPod is horribly scratched despite a protective case, Zune's black/blue shell looks very nice and it seems to be impervious to finger prints, Zune's screen seems much more scratch resistent too.
  -Video: Forget the iPod! I converted some DVDs to WM9 and watched them on my Zune, it's a delight! The screen, the landscape mode, the brightness - wonderful. On a high quality setting I was able to fit around 60h of video onto the Zune.
  -Pictures: again thanks to the screen the Zune beats the iPod. Finally I can show off some baby pictures without people squinting.
  -WiFi: yeah, I like it. Granted the 3-day/3-play limitation is annoying but I have received a few cool songs so far. Problem is: there aren't too many Zune owners yet.
  -Radio: HUGE advantage for the Zune. I am at the gym, watching TV and tuning in to the sounds on my Zune. Why Apple hasn't included this yet in the iPod is beyond me.
  -Song purchase: I love the option of the "all you can eat" for $15/month. Granted most of my music is ripped from CDs but $15 per month for all the music I want is pretty compelling.
  
  OVERALL VERDICT: I love my iPod, I LOVE MY ZUNE EVEN MORE. If Microsoft can write some applications and games and improve the Zune PC software they'll have a perfect consumer device.
  
  To be fair: if you already have an iPod and have no need for radio and better video capabilities then there is no need to upgrade to a Zune. If you want better video, like the idea of radio and WiFi then the Zune is the way to go. If you are in the market for a new MP3 player in the $250 price range the Zune should be on the top of your shopping research list.
  
  Most important: ignore all the fanboy garbage of "Microsoft is evil" and "Apple sucks" and stick with the facts. Reading some of the very loud "reviews" below I can only wonder how many of these writers actually own any of these devices.
  
  
  

• Great Performance, But Lack of Support and other Problems Plague this "iPod Killer"

  
  By A1KSO56UWS2R7I on 2006-11-16
  First off, I do not work for Microsoft, I do not work for Apple. This is a competely unbiased review, and I do actually own the product.
  
  PROS:
  -Bright, vivid screen - A 3" Screen makes it the largest screen of a device this size. Can be viewed in portait or landscape, this very clear screen has good viewing angles and rivals very nicely with the iPod.
  -Great Sound - This is what REALLY matters right?
  -Design - With a durable rubberized surface, no fingerprints or scratches will be obvious, and feels safer to carry around in more rugged locations. Also, all three colors look really great.
  -Wi-Fi - Connect to fellow Zunesters to view what their listening to, share music, and all while not drastically reducing battery life.
  -Great Interface - The internal software interface of the Zune is great. It is actually built on the Windows Mobile CE OS, and the PC Software is built on the Windows Media Player 11 Software. Great performance and quick menus.
  -Plays Movies: H.264 (Quicktime/HD), MPEG-4, and WMV (native)
  -Plays Music: MP3, AAC, and WMA (native)
  -Views JPEGS
  
  CONS:
  -Mediocre Battery - Music ranges from 10-13 hours, and video ranges from 2.5-3.5 hours. Very poor compared to the iPod.
  -3 Plays, 3 Days - Absolute bull. When you transfer a song, it only plays 3 times, or you only get 3 days (whatever comes first). That is not near long enough to enjoy a song.
  -LACK OF SUPPORT: DivX and Xvid don't play, Lossless music doesn't play, and only JPEGs are viewable. Everything else has to be converted in some form of the other. Previous subscription and protected music won't work on this device, and you are restricted to the Zune Marketplace for music.
  -Zune Marketplace - Although a great start, you can't buy movies on it yet, and you have to buy everything in points, which is a pain, because 79 points is $.99.
  -Wi-Fi restrictions - No wireless computer synching, transfering, or web browsing.
  -5 Click Wheel - Nothing innovative. Quite annoying actually; although responsive, it is nothing like the iPod.
  -Propietary USB - USB to USB-A(Mini USB) cords won't fly, you have to use what comes in the box to connect. It does charge relatively quickly though.
  
  BOTTOM LINE: No, iPod killer, but a great step in the right direction. Microsoft's transition from Software to Hardware will continue to improve and this might be a tough competitor for the iPod this holiday season due to its large amount of hype. Unless you are really keen on getting the device, wait until the next generation. As an MP3 player, it is great; at the top of its class in sound, but still pails in comparison to the might iPod.
  
  
• Death by a Thousand Cuts
  By ASLDO4FXEB6L9 on 2006-11-16
  With Apple having sold 60 million iPods in the last 5 years, it's no wonder Microsoft felt it was necessary to go head-to-head with the iPod. Unfortunately, Zune is largely a tentative, half-baked effort. Despite the vast marketing campaign, prospective buyers should realize several important points about the Zune that isn't readily apparent in the advertisements.
  
  1) Zune does not work with music bought from other Microsoft-backed stores like Napster and MTV's Urge.
  
  2) The Zune's screen is physically larger, but has exactly the same resolution as the iPod: 320x240 pixels. You don't see more of anything - everything is just blown up to a larger size which can result in a larger but fuzzier image.
  
  3) A lot of reviews like to quote how the Zune's battery life is "comparable" to the iPod. Unfortunately for Zune, it's only comparable when you compare it to the 30 GB iPod, which is significantly smaller and lighter than the Zune. The Zune's 14 hours of music playback doesn't look so impressive when compared to the 80 GB iPod, which is still physically smaller and lighter than the Zune. The 80 GB iPod plays 20 hours of music on a full charge and 6 hours of video, vastly outlasting the Zune.
  
  You could play the 80 GB iPod at work almost a full work day (minus lunch) and still have about the same battery life as a fully charged Zune.
  
  4) The Zune doesn't contain a lot of extras that are standard fare on the iPod. There's no Contacts, no Calendar, no Alarm Clock, no Sleep Timer, no Games (Tetris, Texas Hold 'Em Poker, PacMan, etc), no Screen Lock to prevent others from accessing your iPod's information without knowing your combination.
  
  5) Zune does not support Audible Audiobooks.
  
  6) You cannot share videos with Zune, only music.
  
  7) There is no bookmarking feature - Zune will not remember if you stopped playing a song in the middle. The iPod will resume playing songs or audiobooks (see #5) at the point you stopped them.
  
  8) Zune cannot be used as a external hard disk. The iPod can be used as a portable hard drive, which is handy for storing Word documents or other data (even application installers).
  
  9) Songs purchased in the Zune marketplace involves buying Microsoft "points" at the rate of 400 points for $5.00. Since songs cost 79 points (not $0.99 cents), if you buy 1 song, Microsoft gets to hold 321 points or $4.01 of your money in an interest-bearing account until you decide to use them. In effect, consumers are giving Microsoft thousands of interest-free micro loans.
  
  And with songs costing 79 points (a prime number), it is practically impossible to buy songs in a way where you can use up all your points. The system is designed to ALWAYS result in left-over points, which is basically unredeemed cash that Microsoft can take to the bank. It's not enough for Microsoft to make money by actually selling you a song - they need to make money off the money you don't (i.e. can't) spend at the Zune store because they priced songs at such a uneven number like 79 points.
  
  10) Microsoft is giving Universal Music a cut for every Zune sold, on the premise that owners of MP3 players have tons of stolen music that Universal will never get paid for. Basically, even if all your music comes legally purchased from the Zune music store or ripped from music CDs that you bought, you are basically agreeing to pay a "stolen music" tax to Universal.
  
  Given all these compromises, does a Zune's wireless sharing really seem all that appealing to you? After all, in order to share songs, you need to find another Zune user. I suspect that event will occur only slightly more frequently than winning the lottery for quite a while, which basically makes the wireless feature worthless.
  
  To put it another way, it might be cool to be the first person on the block with a telephone, but the excitement will die quickly when you realize there's no one to call.
  
  
• Accompanying software won't work and wiped out preloaded content
  By A2529H5004XNA on 2006-11-18
  When I opened the box I was excited, and after playing with the device I thought Microsoft might have gotten it right for once.
  But when I tried to load the accompanying software, it wouldn't install fully -- it just hung at "Installing software". When I connected the device to the PC, it started the software and the software said "Your device needs to be updated from v1.0 to 1.1 - click Next" -- I clicked Next, and I got "No updates could be found." Wtf? At that point the software wouldn't recognize the device had been connected, so I couldn't sync any content.
  Tried MSFT support, but they couldn't help.
  The next morning I thought I'd reconnect and try again. When I connected the device I got a screen that said "Removing content" and ALL THE PRELOADED CONTENT GOT ERASED, but it still wouldn't update the device. I could not have been more horked.
  
  Does not increase my confidence in MSFT's ability to develop software. Liked the form factor of the device, but now I'm returning it due to its dysfunctional content-erasing software. Buyer beware.
  
  
• Microsoft does it again with buggy software
  By A2INMWNENC0RYO on 2006-11-26
  
  After ripping CDs for 6 hours Zume software deleted about half of my files from the Zume AND my hard disk and didn't even put the deleted files in the recycle bin. After spending a couple of hours trying to figure out how the poorly documented Zune PC software works (I have provided you with almost as much documentation as Microsoft does and I haven't really documented anything), I began ripping CDs. I moved about 1.5 GBs to the Zune and all went ok. I ripped another 2 GB and moved the music to the Zune. When I looked at the Zune, I was missing about half of the first load and over half of the second load. I figured I would just reload the missing files, but they were missing from the PC hard disk also. I tried more down loads, reloaded the software and nothing improved. It seems about a third of the time some files get deleted. There doesn't seem to be any pattern as to which files get deleted. The hardware is BEAUTIFUL and the graphics are second to none, but the software is about as bad as I have seen and I have been this business for 40 years. I got my first RCA MP3 player 10 years ago so I am no spring chicken. Wait for the next release. My mistake was buying ANY thing on the first release.
  
  
  
  
• Great Performance, But Lack of Support and other Problems Plague this "iPod Killer"
  By A1KSO56UWS2R7I on 2006-11-16
  First off, I do not work for Microsoft, I do not work for Apple. This is a competely unbiased review, and I do actually own the product.
  
  PROS:
  -Bright, vivid screen - A 3" Screen makes it the largest screen of a device this size. Can be viewed in portait or landscape, this very clear screen has good viewing angles and rivals very nicely with the iPod.
  -Great Sound - This is what REALLY matters right?
  -Design - With a durable rubberized surface, no fingerprints or scratches will be obvious, and feels safer to carry around in more rugged locations. Also, all three colors look really great.
  -Wi-Fi - Connect to fellow Zunesters to view what their listening to, share music, and all while not drastically reducing battery life.
  -Great Interface - The internal software interface of the Zune is great. It is actually built on the Windows Mobile CE OS, and the PC Software is built on the Windows Media Player 11 Software. Great performance and quick menus.
  -Plays Movies: H.264 (Quicktime/HD), MPEG-4, and WMV (native)
  -Plays Music: MP3, AAC, and WMA (native)
  -Views JPEGS
  
  CONS:
  -Mediocre Battery - Music ranges from 10-13 hours, and video ranges from 2.5-3.5 hours. Very poor compared to the iPod.
  -3 Plays, 3 Days - Absolute bull. When you transfer a song, it only plays 3 times, or you only get 3 days (whatever comes first). That is not near long enough to enjoy a song.
  -LACK OF SUPPORT: DivX and Xvid don't play, Lossless music doesn't play, and only JPEGs are viewable. Everything else has to be converted in some form of the other. Previous subscription and protected music won't work on this device, and you are restricted to the Zune Marketplace for music.
  -Zune Marketplace - Although a great start, you can't buy movies on it yet, and you have to buy everything in points, which is a pain, because 79 points is $.99.
  -Wi-Fi restrictions - No wireless computer synching, transfering, or web browsing.
  -5 Click Wheel - Nothing innovative. Quite annoying actually; although responsive, it is nothing like the iPod.
  -Propietary USB - USB to USB-A(Mini USB) cords won't fly, you have to use what comes in the box to connect. It does charge relatively quickly though.
  
  BOTTOM LINE: No, iPod killer, but a great step in the right direction. Microsoft's transition from Software to Hardware will continue to improve and this might be a tough competitor for the iPod this holiday season due to its large amount of hype. Unless you are really keen on getting the device, wait until the next generation. As an MP3 player, it is great; at the top of its class in sound, but still pails in comparison to the might iPod.
  
  
• Excited... but then...
  By A2LUJ7HIK09GEU on 2006-11-27
  I was really excited to see the newest gen player on the market. I was shure it has to be better then any other, I mean there is big MS behind it and they have so much money for research and could probably do the best job possible. So I got it to try as soon as possible. But then came the facts: It feels heavier as its competitors, is bigger and looks pretty ugly. The screen looks great, but then the interface is so lousy and absolutely not intuitiv. But the big problems came when trying to connect it to the computer, it did not appear despite the software was correctly installed, I tried for hours to make it work. then a friend who wanted to help me commented he purchased several songs from the MSN music shop under that Plays for shure license, and now he stays in the rain because MS did not have success with that and terminated the whole program. His songs would not even play on that Zune, so I decided to bring this device back to the store and get an iPod instead. Because you can be shure, the Zune will have no sucess and they will have to terminate that song licenses too, so you spend money for songs you will end up not beeing allowed to hear them on new players.
  
  
• Zune: very disappointing!
  By A1CIAATH533HAI on 2006-11-18
  Just like a lot of us I bought one of these, thinking that it would be better than the Ipod (bigger screen etc.). I use Microsoft Vista, and first of all the device is not recognized, so I try to download the drivers and no luck, it simply doesn't work under Vista. So I go to my wife's windows XP machine and I start fiddling with it, after few unsuccessful tries (hours!) I am finally able to listen to my own songs from Zune.
  
  Zune's interface is clearly not as good as the Ipod, the Ipod does make sense and it's a no brainer, the creators of Zune probably focussed on getting the Zune as cheap as they could so they can hope to make a few sales so they didn't focus on the interface, and/or computer support. After hours wasted I understood that the Zune is completely unusable and I will not wait 6 months that Microsoft releases a patch for it to somewhat make it work. I am returning it to the store today to get an Ipod, it's a no brainer, the Ipod is the same price and WORKS.
  
  If you are thinking about buying one of these, then don't. Get an Ipod.
  
  
• D.O.A.
  By A234UAJFRCRISZ on 2006-11-26
  How could a company with as much software experience as Microsoft make such a terrible user experience? The Zune as a device is OK. The Zune experience (music store, points, ridiculous wi-fi/DRM garbage, etc) is so, so bad it's almost unbelievable.
  
  Why not just copy Apples model exactly? Or better yet why not just buy an iPod?
  
  
• This is the worst thing I have ever bought
  By A1X7LRC8ASUM7F on 2006-11-28
  What a terrible product, don't waste your valuable time and money. I bought it on the release date, took it home, spent the next 24 hours just trying to load the software. Despite all attempts to load the software on my Dell with all the proper MSFT package, never even got the software loaded.Took it back the day after the release. The unkindest cut was, while I was trying to load the software, I watched a news release announcing Bill Gates' sale of millions of shares of MSFT. What an irony: he is making billions while I waste my time with his lousy products. What a joke; the world's leading software company with all the money and resources and time, can't make a plug and play consumer item if their life depended on it. My Apple Ipod friends chided me, "a consumer unfriendly Microsoft product, what a surprise." I can't believe I waited all this time. What am I asking for in my stocking, an Ipod of course. This is the last MSFT item I will ever willingly own.
  
  
• Lots of problems
  By A3UJVH7WB0OO3C on 2006-11-15
  I've had he chance to use one for a few hours now, and in that time I've still not gotten used to the lack of a real scroll wheel. The unit really shows its weakness when compared directly hand to hand with the 30GB iPod...though that's not my iPod of choice.
  
  It sucks that it doesn't work with the Windows Media Player, but requires yet an additional application to be installed. I knew it was incompatible with iTunes and Microsoft's own Plays for Sure...so all other major stores and subscription services don't work with it, but not being integrated with Windows Media Player is just mind bogglingly lame.
  
  The possible advantages over the iPod in theory weren't that was in reality. I found none of my favorite radio stations where able to get any decent reception, and even those stations with reception had static when I moved with the unit.
  
  Wireless has no purpose whatsoever other than letting someone else with Zune sample a song before buying...this of course requires finding someone with a Zune, negotiating the transfer, and then waiting for it to occur. I'd prefer to let someone simply jack into my iPod, burn them a CD or point them to the iTunes Store.
  
  Yes, the unit is ugly. Get over it. I don't care how it looks when it's in my pocket cranking out tunes. One nice feature that I'd give it is that the display is mirror like enough to actually use as such when turned off. This is like using the back of an iPod as a mirror.
  
  
• What Is Brown And Stinks?
  By A2MIVVLNYXT6J7 on 2006-11-24
  ....a DOA brown Zune.
  
  I was given a Zune as a gift and was excited to own my first MP3 player. Unfortunately it was the brown one but oh well, it was free. It took awhile to figure out the software as it was confusing. I have Windows XP Pro and am no slouch with the computer but it was still confusing. They really need to make everything a bit easier to get up and running. Finally I loaded some songs onto it. Decent sound. Ok, maybe this is gonna work out. Then I turned it off. 30 minutes later I went to turn it back on and NOTHING. It would not turn on. Where is the QC from MS?
  
  I called a friend of mine who is a bit of a MacDroid. One of the reasons I never considered the iPod is because he constantly raves about it and sometimes he drives me nuts. He always says he likes to reward innovation, not imitation. I was hoping I could "one up him" with something new.
  
  So I called him and he brought his iPod over and we put the players side by side. Then he showed me iTunes. The Zune did seem clunky and awkward after sitting next to the iPod. And that software, MS has a long way to go to catch up with iTunes. Yea, it was impressive and looked easy to use.
  
  At this point I am done with the Zune. I gave it a shot and it died out of the gate. I am taking it back (hope there is a warranty) and buying an iPod.
  
  I have no choice but to give anything DOA one star.
  
  Without the backing of the corporate world it will be interesting to see if the Zune sinks or swims.
  
  
• Terrible Product
  By A1IEIWUCTWZ59M on 2006-11-15
  I tried this last night and it's horrible! The scroll wheel doesn't work as well as the iPod's. It's a cheap immitation. It's basically just 4-directional arrows underneath a wheel! The iPod blows this away. Also...the sharing feature is useless! Nobody else has one. Every time I turn it on there is nobody to share with. The social isn't so social afterall.
  
  Now the major gripe...This thing is "chunky." It's ginormous! The iPod is so much more elegant.
  
  In addition, I had major problems installing the software. None of my iTunes songs would transfer to the player after all the problems installing.
  
  I'm returning my Zune and getting another iPod. I highly suggest if you are looking for an mp3 player that you sing another Zune and get the iPod as well. There just isn't a better player!
  
  
• How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Zune
  By ATBGLE7W333EH on 2006-12-09
  First off, I own a Zune. Yes. Imagine that. Someone reviewing a product that they actually own.
  
  Have I owned an iPod? No. Have I used one? Yes. On many occassions. So, I will admit, I don't have as much experience with the iPod as I do the Zune. I had a Rio Carbon before the Zune. It just so happened to stop charging a few days after the Zunes came out. I was really debating on which one to go for as a replacement.
  
  To be honest, they are both about the same. Regardless of what you may have read, the differences aren't really that big. I'll try to go over my observations here:
  
  Size: A lot has been made of the size differences. By reading some peoples reviews, you'd think the Zune were the size of a brick and weighed as much as a car battery. I feel sorry for those who can't handle carrying an extra .8 ounces and are shocked that it is .3 inches bigger in height and .13 inches bigger in depth. The size differences are miniscule.
  
  Sound quality: Isn't this what MP3 players are all about? Well, I can't tell any difference in sound quality between the two. So, that wasn't a decision decider for me.
  
  Durability: Zune wins this one hands down. The iPods I've used of some co-workers look like they have been to Iraq and back. Several times. The Zune actually seems to be pretty good at resisting scratches and any fingerprints on the case actually disappear right before your eyes.
  
  Video: Here is another thing people really slam on the Zune. A lot of people say, "Yeah, the Zunes screen is 3 inches compared to iPod's 2.5 inches, but they both are at the same resolution." So what? First off, I use the video portion when I'm on an airplane. Lets me not have to drag out my laptop during trips and the video quality is great (depending on how much you compress the video). I never thought half an inch would make that much of a difference to me when watching movies, but it does. It feels like going from watching a 13 inch to at least a 21 inch tv. The resolution doesn't really effect how well the video looks at this size. But the larger screen does. Zuen wins this one easily.
  
  Accessories: iPod wins this one, no problem. But of course it would. It has been out a lot longer than Zune, but I have to say, the Zune accessories are coming out pretty quick. When I bought mine a few weeks ago, all I saw were the official accessories. Now, I'm seeing a lot of companies releasing cases, chargers, etc. So, it's only a matter of time before these two are comparable.
  
  Software: I hate both to be honest. iTunes is a massive resource hog. When I open it, my computer slows down dramatically. Zunes software doesn't seem to do this that often, but it has it's own problems. Both irritate the hell out of me by placing restrictions on the music you buy (yes, I've bought with both). I understand why they do this, but it still doesn't mean I like it. iTunes seems a bit more stable then the Zune Marketplace, but not by much. And people have protested the fact that you can't use iTunes music on the Zune and vice versa. Not a big deal if you know how to get around it (which I do). So, the few songs I have from iTunes are playing just fine on my Zune. And another common gripe with Zune is, it has fewer songs available than iTunes. Again, not a big deal. They will both even out eventually and I'd have to say that about 95% of the songs I've looked for are available for Zune. So, maybe I can't get Yanni's Greatest Hits (just kidding), but I can live with that.
  
  Wi-Fi: iPod doesn't have it, and Zune does. So, Zune wins, regardless of what you think of the 3days/3plays rule. While it isn't a huge decider in buying it, it does have future potential. And some are saying the 3/3 rule is applied to pictures as well. Not true. You can't transfer movies yet, but I expect either Microsoft will change that in the future or some wise Zune owner will. Just a matter of time.
  
  Podcast: 3rd party software allows for easy podcasting, so this isn't an issue anymore.
  
  Battery life: about the same
  
  FM radio: Again, iPod doesn't have it, and Zune does. While I don't use this feature that much, it is good. My Zune gets better reception than my stereo in my SUV does. Not a big deal, but nice to have.
  
  Customization: Zune is the champ here. Nice feature allowing you to use your own custom background image, but again, not a major decider.
  
  Click wheel: This seems to be a big deal for a lot of iPod owners. I could care less. The click wheel shaped buttons on the Zune are just as easy to use. Want to scroll through your albums? Just press and hold the down button. That wasn't too hard.
  
  So, with that, I chose the Zune. To put it bluntly, it has everything iPod has and a little extra. While the little extra isn't dramatic (yet), it is still extra. So, if I couldn't see paying the same price for something else that didn't offer anything I couldn't get with the Zune. iPod killer? No. Healthy competition? Yes. And that is good for us, the consumers. All I can recommend is doing what I did. Go into the store with an open mind. Try them both out. Pick the one that you like most. Don't let the Apple lovers and Microsoft haters decide for you. Same goes for the Apple haters and Microsoft lovers (are there any of those?).
  
  I hope my experience has helped someone out there, but don't rely on my review either. Decide for yourself. If you have any questions, feel free to post them in the comments on my review. I'll try to answer them as soon as I can.
  
  
• CNN describes it as "klunky"; no ecosystem built around it
  By A3FM2HAV42XUB5 on 2006-11-19
  This 30 GB system is even bigger than Apple's 80 GB video iPod.
  
  Hardly any accessories are built for the Zune, no airplanes are installing video adaptors and power adaptors for the Zune, but they are for the iPod. Same with cars.
  
  Wireless function is severely hampered. You can get a song "squirted" to you only if the other person gives you permission. Even then, you can only listen to the song three times or for three days, whichever comes first.
  
  DRM is even more strict than Apple's Fairplay.
  
  Why bother with the Zune?
  
  
• It's no IPOD.
  By A1BRVU6DDOCY5L on 2006-11-27
  Save your time, save your money look at an IPod or SanDisk instead.
  
  
• Wait For The Next Generation
  By A2R7GIFQBDSECW on 2006-11-15
  I have owned 2 iPods and now a Zune. I have always refused to buy the first year/generation of any product. First year/generation models are always buggy. I broke that rule and bought the Zune. I should have waited. The tonal quality does not approach that of a 5th generation iPod. The battery life on an iPod is far superior as well. The wheel does not work nearly as smoothly as an iPod either. The Zune was a good idea but it was not ready to go to market. I assume that if Christmas were not fast approaching they would have waited and improved the Zune a bit more before releasing it. They should have anyway. I gave mine to my sister yesterday and went back to my old iPod. When I can afford a new purchase I will get a 60 or 80 gig iPod video. Buyer beware.
  
  
• Waste of money
  By A108TSS06UWF1 on 2006-11-22
  1. For every Zune you buy, $1 goes to Universal (why?).
  2. Confusing method of points to purchase music.
  3. Thick and heavy.
  4. The wheel is fake. Apple owns the patent for the click wheel.
  5. WiFi only for songs, not for PC Sync, downloading music, etc.
  6. WiFI transferred songs will delete after 3 plays or three days,
  whichever first. Even songs ripped from CD's or songs from
  Kazaa,etc.
  7. Songs with any DRM (other than zune-drm), even MSN-DRM (playforsure) will not work on the
  Zune.
  8. Short battery life (you get less than 8 hours of audio playback).
  9. Has plenty of problems when you sync to PC.
  10. Even though the Zune's screen is depicted in press photos as being sharper than the iPod's, both have a resolution of 320x240. The Bigger screen with the same resolution means FUZZIER resolution. The Ipod delivers a crispier image.
  
  *** And oh yes, I do have both here, an Ipod G5 and a brown brick zune, which I won in a bet. I am giving it away though. I do feel responsible to tell other people that if you are going to get one, watch out. At least I did not pay to use this garbage.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Was gonna buy but....
  By A3Q7JBKSJON0E3 on 2006-11-15
  Had a chance to go through a Zune software install with a friend. OOOOOOOPS, he was running Vista. ZUNE IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH VISTA. Do not buy a Zune if you are running the Vista beta unless you have another PC or you must reinstall XP.
  
  He had another PC with XP and loaded the Zune software on it. Install went OK after a couple of crashes, it appeared as if it had something to do with being a Guest. (Microsoft really should rethink the goofy pictures and Social references used in the install process.)
  
  He moved some of his music over from the Vista machine to XP machine. OOOOOOPS, ZUNE ISN'T COMPATIBLE WITH MUSIC HE PREVIOUSLY PURCHASED THROUGH MICROSOFT PLAYSFORSURE FOR HIS HIS DELL DJ (That was a showstopper for him).
  
  As far as the Zune player. MP3's he had ripped at 160mhz sounded fine. The volume control is not very linear though, tough to adjust it to the exact volume you want. The larger screen is nice but not as crisp as the iPod. They are the same resolution so that makes sense. The unit is a bit clunky compared to the iPod but overall it felt pretty sturdy. The software on the unit is nice. Easy to search and album art fills the screen.
  
  FWIW - He is returning this Zune and will wait for Zune 2.
  
  
• Microsoft's first attempt, lame, lame, lame
  By A2Z52QAAWK047R on 2006-11-26
  My technology illiterate step-dad bought one of these because somebody at Best Buy told him it was the next greatest thing.
  
  I will not rehash most points some posters have already made. I will, however, share four observations. First, Windows XP crashed twice while trying to install the included software. Second, although Zune has a few so called features my Video iPod does not, it is also lacking a few. For instance, I cannot use it as a hard drive, alarm clock, or to view videos or photos on a television (unless you own an x-box, which my step father does not). The inability to use it as a hard drive is unforgivable, and likely will be the reason it gets returned. I will also point out, I really dislike Fm tuners built into the MP3 player. The reason is the reception always seems to be poor, and it eats up battery. The Zune's FM tuner was a bit better then others I have tried, but the reception was still poor. Moreover, I do not see the use for it. I already have a radio in my house, work and car. These work good. I will not use the MP3 player as a radio.
  
  Third, Microsoft had five years to work on this thing, and should be ashamed of itself. My buddies Dell DJ was better. Moreover, Microsoft's product is being considered to Apple' s soon to be outdated iPod.
  
  Finally, the have to buy five dollars worth of points stinks and is a bit confusing. I understand Microsoft wants to save on credit card fees, but Apple does not do this. Microsoft is the world's richest company, surely it could suck up the extra cost if Apple can.
  
  
• iPod user gone Zune!
  By AMAVK49SLX0B5 on 2006-12-02
  I have had my Zune now for just over two weeks now and am really enjoying it. Here are some of my thoughts. I am a PC user and have had an iPod mini for over two years now that I used constantly. Many of you are probably considering upgrading from an iPod to a Zune so I'll compare my experience of the two. To be fair, I realize that the iPod mini is old technology now and not comparable to the Zune.
  
  Brown Color: You either love or hate the brown zune. I love it. The green double shot is really attractive and the dark metal border around the screen and center button offer beautiful contrast.
  
  Screen: The screen is absolutely gorgeous! It is very big, very bright, and the first thing everyone asks me about when they see it.
  
  Controls: The center wheel is a four direction button with a center button and not a touch wheel like the iPod. My first instinct was to spin the wheel like apple devices and the lack of response was a bit of a let down... at first. iPod users will no doubt be familiar with trying to navigate menus with the spin wheel and way overshooting what you're looking for or endlessly spinning the wheel to get to the end of your list. Within an hour or so, I was very much enjoying the simplicity of changing volume and tracks by a single button instead of sliding.
  
  MP3s: Sound great as you would expect. Great organization. Love the cover art!
  
  Radio: I actually find myself using it quite a bit. The tuner picks up digital information from many stations and lists the station name, genre, and song artist and title. It's a really nice feature.
  
  Video: The Zune comes preloaded with some videos which are fun. My digital camera (Fuji V10) takes beautiful video that looks great on the Zune. I have been using free Microsoft software (PhotoStory and MovieMaker) to splice music, video, and pictures into videos that I can carry around in my Zune. This promises to be huge fun in the future. Also, with a bit of searching, you can find great products that let you put DVDs and Tivo recordings on your player as well.
  
  Zune Navigation: The menus take a few seconds to get used to, but are very intuitive and easy to navigate. I love that I can put one of my pictures and make it my background. It looks very personal.
  
  WIFI: I can't find any other Zunes out there to share with yet. I'll be searching for them at the gym and work after Christmas.
  
  Battery Life: They say 14 hours, I think it's closer to 12. Definitly last more than a full day of use. If you are watching video, it will be less of course. No complaints here.
  
  Zune Software: Wow, does it feel like a beta version! Install required a reboot and managed to crash what I thought was a fairly crash proof PC. The software seems to want to be the only thing running. Any other software seems to make it hang for long periods of time. It looks and feels very much like Windows Media Player 11 which also tends to hang a bit on my computer. As for usability, it has a lot of good features: auto playlists (right click on `create playlist'), stacked album cover display, video and picture tabs, built in burning, etc. Hopefully, they will get this thing running better with updates in the very near future.
  
  Zune Marketplace: I find it a joke to buy MP3s from services like this. DRM (digital rights management) protected music is quickly showing its limitations. Microsoft is a terrible example of the problem and here is why. The Microsoft Zune will NOT play Microsoft `Plays for Sure' files purchased in the past! Nor, will it play iTunes purchased files or anything other than Zune Marketplace DRM files. I WILL NOT purchase DRM music. All of my music is ripped directly from CDs. It sounds better, can be used however I want and I will never be locked into a specific media provider for my music. You get a free 14 day pass with your Zune, but I wont' be trying it.
  
  Carrying case: While not often in the description, the Zune comes with a soft form fitting faux-suede pouch for your Zune. I love it! It looks great, lets the player slide smoothly into my pocket, protects the screen and allows me to feel and operate the buttons through the case. I know already that I will eventually lose it, but that will be a sad day.
  
  Headphones: They are magnetic to try and prevent tangles, but the magnets aren't strong enough to keep them connected. They are earbuds which many people don't like, but they happen to nestle perfectly in my ears and I'll use them for the time being.
  
  Size and Weight: It's a little bigger and a little heavier than my iPod mini, but the added features easily make up for the slight increase in size. I use it at the gym, slide it in the pocket of my jeans at work and sometimes just hold it to watch videos. Its smaller than it looks in pictures.
  
  What I miss from the iPod: In general, not much. I'm giving my mini to my little brother. One thing is podcasts. You can put podcasts on the Zune, but right now, it's a pain in the rear.
  
  The future: Microsoft will no doubt be releasing upgrades for the Zune player and software in the very near future. This was a feature sorely lacking from my iPod. It did the same thing from the day I got it out of the box to today. There are a tons of possibilities that promise to make the Zune grow better with age. Wireless syncing over your home network, internet radio, podcasting, radio recording, contacts and calendar options, better synchronizing options, and much more.
  
  The Zune has been a great upgrade for my needs and I can't wait to see how Microsoft makes it better in the future.
  
  
  
• Wait for next gen or buy an iPod
  By A1338EQD0SJWZF on 2006-11-15
  I've used an iPod and Sony MP3 players for as long as they existed. My first impressions with the Zune:
  
  I hated Sony for cornering me into using their own crappy software and compression, I guess you get that too with the Zune. The interface and software (iTunes) on the iPod is way more polished. iTMS offers incomparable music purchase experience.
  
  Sound quality is better on the iPod (and even better if you invest in decent ear buds.)
  
  The fact that the battery doesn't run that long on a Zune is a big turn off, I need it to run during my commute, and this is not lasting as long as the iPod 5G.
  
  Screen is bigger on the Zune but same resolution so who cares because the video quality (compression) is what makes a difference and I don't want my videos to take more space!
  
  The HD size is 30GB so there is no choice of 80GB model?
  
  And what's up with the brown model? Yuk!
  
  Wireless is useless: sharing DRM protected songs with other Zunes withing 3 feet is a meh for me. I can't use wireless to sync with my PC, why?
  
  DRM on the Zune is also a big turn off. Play4sure incompatible with new software? What's up with that?
  
  With the iPod, I download songs from iTMS and burn them to CDs. It removes the DRM and I don't get stock with Apple if I don't have to (think long term investment.) I can't do that with the Zune. Microsoft by releasing a DRM that breaks compatibility with previous DRM already showed that we can't rely on them for supporting anything in the future.
  
  
  End of line: Wait for a better model or get an iPod from Christmas.
  
  
• Run Away!
  By A3FB99SVQVSZ9F on 2006-11-28
  Well needless to say Microsoft has done it again, brought out a product to quickly with many issues including major software problems. I have yet to get the software to work properly on my dell latitude or to get my Loony Zune to recognize the device after repeated installing, removing, etc. etc. I have concluded that Microsoft should have let "the paint dry" before shipping the product. Obviously more work needs to be done at their end to make this product remotely successful.
  
  I even went back to Best Buy (where it was purchased) and they could get the unit to work on 2 of their pc's but on others (3), no luck. Their geek squad was stumped. They offered a swap for a comparable iPod or Zen, which I accepted. I went with the iPod. The screen is smaller, but the resolution is the same, just the pixels are smaller. Very crisp and bright. Out of the box, it just worked. Software worked flawlessly.
  
  Oh well, maybe the next generation of it will have the bugs worked out of it, but for now I'll snag a quote Monty Python's The Holy Grail... "Run away, Run away"
  
  
• Do not buy first generation of Zune.
  By A1SGA41VSVCYRR on 2006-11-15
  Well...I know I would regret it and I did. I got myself a Zune and it's going back tomorrow. I wanted to like the Zune because I think Apple needs a nemisis. (competition is good as the saying goes) But, the product feels like a prototype. I placed the Zune next to my IPod. The Ipod looks sleek and elegant and the Zune looks like it's ugly cousin. It's bigger, heavier and chunky.
  
  OK! So it has wireless but so what. How many Zune are you going to find out there. Let's say you want to use it to tape a lecture or a meeting and you want to pass it along with your Zune buddy. Well that lecture or anything you created also dies in 3 play or 3 days. And let's say you play 30 seconds of the song and decide to stop, well counts as 1 play.
  
  The Big screen...Well the screen is bigger but the resolution is the same. The test shot I did didn't look good and the album covers look fuzzier and not as crisp as it did not IPod.
  
  13 hour battery life is not true. If you want 13 hour battery life you have to listen to in default volume and play the same album over and over and turn off the wireless.
  
  It may have an OK interface and the guest sync is good but if you are in the market for a MP3 player, don't go for the Zune. While it has feature Ipod doesn't you won't be sharing anything with anybody because they are not going to be popular. There aren't that many songs, the marketplace doesn't have podcast, tv shows, video and host of other things you can get from Itunes.
  
  In short if you really want a MS product wait for the 4th generation and maybe then you should get it.
  
  
• Terrible software-Return as Zune as possible while you can!
  By A1G984JQOHBGKP on 2006-11-19
  Worst intallation process of any music player device ever.
  Can't deactivate the auto sync process so you can't control what music is transferred to device. When you connect, your entire library syncs automtically. Froze 3 times on syncing and then would not recognize the device upon reconnection.
  
  The selection of songs was good on the Marketplace but the Zune player interface is confusing and the layout unappealing.
  
  I am returning my Zune as Zune as possible to Best Buy.
  
  
• God I wanted to love this...
  By A85M1Q1TS9Q2W on 2006-12-01
  It's more or less of a laundry list of features I wanted in an mp3 player. Wireless transmitting? FM Radio? Count me in!
  
  Three hours - yes, you read that right, actual time and no exaggeration - after sitting at my computer (half of the time it was frozen) I returned the device. Absolutely horrible. Once I did get songs onto it the ZUNE ITSELF FROZE!
  
  I took it back to the store and came home with an iPod. I know iPods are huge and people hate the popular product but they really can't be compared. The iPod oblitherates the Zune - and this is coming from an anti-Apple guy!
  
  I want Microsoft to give me back those wasted hours and the restocking fee. What a waste.
  
  
• Worst mp3 player I have ever owned
  By ALAHG90HVVG37 on 2006-11-30
  The best things about the this mp3 player, is that it looks pretty.
  
  Everything else about the player is horrible. This mp3 player is made by Microsoft, but is completely incompatible with any of Microsofts media (i.e. PlayForSure, Windows Media Player). Not to mention, the online service to buy music is horrible compared to the iPod. I feel that they make it uneccesarily more difficult to purchase a song.
  
  To buy music, you have to purchase "Zune points". You are forced to buy points in "chunks" so that Microsoft can save themselves credit card processing fees. Microsoft already has been giving in to the music industry, and is likely to start charging more for popular songs. So instead of paying an equivalent of $1.00 per song, you will likely be paying $2-$3 per song.
  
  What does this mean for you?
  What this means is that you can spend money buying points, and because the songs are not flat amounts, you will end up with left-over music points from your "chunks" of points that don't add up to enough points to spend. You essentially have money floating in limbo!
  
  It would be much better if you can could just be charged for what you want, and not be forced to have wasted points laying around.
  
  This mp3 player DOES NOT support podcasts! This is terrible, as there is absolutely no reason to pick this mp3 player over any other mp3 player.
  
  The WIFI IS NOT WHAT YOU THINK! You might think "Cool. So I can sync files from my computer's mp3 library without having to plug in a USB cable, right?" WRONG! All this allows you to do it transfer a song to another Zune, which will only be playable on another Zune for 3 plays!!!!
  
  After that the songs erases itself. And then the Zune asks you to purchase the copy. This is really annoying, because it will do this to songs that are already free! It's a mid-advertised feature. This is not WIFI, it is a self-advertising mp3 player.
  
  Horrible mp3 player. My money $250 would have been far better spent on a Nintendo Wii.
  
  

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• Incipio Leather Wallet Case for Zune 4/8 GB (Black)

• Microsoft Zune 30gb Travel Combo Set - Ac Wall Charger + Auto Car Charger + USB Data Cable (3 Pcs)
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• Microsoft Zune Silicone Case Deluxe Package Silicon Skin for Zune 30GB, Zune 4GB, Zune 8GB, Zune 80GB, Zune 2nd Generation includes Armband and LCD Protector