Zune 16 GB Video MP3 Player (Black) Reviews

• Zune- bye, bye Zen and Windows Media too

  
  By ALWNVBP10WKJN on 2007-11-14
  I have a couple of Zen MP3 players that have worked well for me for a couple of years now, but both have begun to have problems and I decided to take a chance on the new V2 Zune. It was a good decision. This is a great product. All that comes in the box is the Zune, a sync cord, earphones, and brief documentation. You need to go online and download the Zune software to a PC and then hook up the player before you can get it to do anything. This doesn't take too long and the Zune will provide you with some sample content to try out as part of this process. The Zune sounds great, with plenty of volume and a decent set of earphones. The click wheel is intuitive and masterable in just a few minutes use.
  
  As nice as the Zune is, a pleasant surprise is the Zune software. This is really more than just a tool to sync your tunes with your Zune. It is an attractive, intuitive, easy to use full fledged media player as well. It can easily replace Windows Media Player and is better looking than any other offering out there- Apple included.
  
  

• This is a great device

  
  By ARRL1B1KSJFED on 2007-11-21
  This is my first mp3 player. I'd always thought I might like a small device that could be used while exercising, but I've hesitated to buy one because I wasn't sure how much I'd actually use it. The Zune feature that pushed me over the edge is the FM radio, which made the device too attractive not to try out. I'm extremely happy that I made the plunge and bought the Zune. I now take it everywhere and listen to music or the radio at work, on the bus, at the gym, everywhere. It has easily surpassed my bar of usefulness and utility. I'm not a big gadget person and I don't like the time and energy it takes to figure out how to use a new program or game, but the Zune user experience has been everything that I could have hoped for. The controls are simple and a pleasure to use. Right out of the box I was able to get it figured out and working. This is a great device.
  
  

• Music To My Ears

  
  By A3KKM0T1KY42HA on 2008-04-11
  I opened my new 8GB Zune to the pleasant surprise of what amounted to 3 pretty simple steps to getting started:
  
  1) Download the Zune software (required from the Zune web site). However, while a pretty simple step, it takes about 20 minutes or so to get through if you include signing up for a Zune account.
  
  2) Load the songs you want.
  
  3) Let the unit fully charge.
  
  And that's it. You're ready to rock and roll. Or at least that's it for me. For now I don't see myself using the Zune for anything but music. But it should be noted that the Zune also plays videos, pictures, podcasts, FM radio and can also network with other Zune owners in your direct vicinity.
  
  The Zune charges on any USB connection, but you won't be able to get it to do anything else until you download the cruddy software package. Did I say "cruddy" software? Let me share a few gripes:
  
  All of the music stored in my PC library from CDs that I've ripped is Windows Audio Lossless...apx 30mb per song. With other media devices like the iPod, Zen or Walkman they automatically convert to much smaller mp3 files (like 3mb per song) when syncing. But the 8GB Zune syncs my collection at the full file size allowing me to put on only about 250 songs instead of thousands. I spoke with Zune customer support and they confirmed that the Zune won't convert my WMA Lossless library to MP3s on the Zune. I'm really disappointed that the Microsoft Zune won't do this with my Microsoft WMA lossless files but my Creative Zen, Apple iPod and Sony Walkman all WILL!!!! The customer support person did hint that an update that includes the capability could be on the near horizon, but she wasn't making any promises.
  
  {5-7-2008 UPDATE! A PATCH HAS BEEN RELEASED THAT ALLOWS CONVERSION OF ALL MUSIC TO "DEVICE QUALITY"; hence, WMA Lossless audio on your PC can now be converted to apx 10 MB or less...whew!} (However, after all my complaining, I find it strange that the Zune now will not allow transfer of music at any higher than "device quality"; in other words, I could now not transfer songs at the full WMA Lossless file size even if I wanted to.)
  
  If you're used to the Windows Media Player's 5-star rating system, that's out the "Window" with the Zune. With the Zune all you get to do is rate a song "I like it" or "I don't like it". Who has songs that they "don't like" in their library? All I wanted on my Zune was my 4 & 5 star rated songs from Windows Media Player. Since the Zune didn't identify with that system, I had to go through hundreds of songs and either rate them or tell the device not to sync with a certain song, BECAUSE....
  
  The device will automatically sync with every song in the folder(s) that you tell it to monitor on your PC whenever you connect the device. You can tell the Zune not to sync with a song by right clicking on the song in your Zune Library and selecting "never sync with my Zune", or with the 5/7/2008 you can now tell the Zune not to sync with songs that you "don't like". You can also choose the option that stops the Zune from auto-syncing and make it sync to songs only when you do it manually.
  
  Finally, the unit comes pretty bare bones: it includes some fair-at-best headphones and a USB connection...no AC Adapter.
  
  So all in all, is it a decent music player?...sure. Is it as good as it could be?...It could still use some patches, but hearing that the patch that fixes the sync conversion is available was music to my ears.
  
  5/12/08 update - Since the Zune Version 2.5 update was released, I bought a second Zune for my son. The second Zune had an issue recognizing the new update prior to being fully charged, because Zune's that are being shipped at the time of this writing are still version 2.3. Therefore, the fix for this is (at least for me) was changing the order of my 3-step instruction above to:
  
  1) Let the unit fully charge.
  
  2) Download the Zune software. However, while a pretty simple step, it takes about 20 minutes or so to get through if you include signing up for a Zune account.
  
  3) Connect the Zune; it may then tell you that you need to upgrade the device to version 2.5 which takes only a few more minutes.
  
  4) Load the songs you want.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Zune vs. Nano?

  
  By A3TCMJ6GKZJFBQ on 2007-11-17
  I've owned the 4 & 8 GB Nanos...and today I picked up the 8 GB 2nd Gen Zune. The Zune hardware is much better where it counts for me (sound quality, screen). The new touch area takes a little getting used to. My main HUGE dissapointment is the simple and VERY limited Zune software. Secondary dissapointments include the lack of an EQ (although with better earphones than the iPod, it's not as important), lack of customizable menus, and lack of a...CLOCK and calendar. With XP and an older 2.0 GHz computer, the Zune software install took nearly an hour (without adding music). Uploading music to the Zune seems slower than with the Nano. Time will tell is the positives outweight the negatives over the Nano. Sure wish it had come in 16 GB!
  
  Update 05/21/08: Forgot to mention the stellar FM tuner. The sound quality actually seems to trump that of a $1500 Den_n receiver! Last, and largest complaint: ~30% of imported album art doesn't match the artist / album.....
  
  

• The One

  
  By A1ZM56PXU7O6PV on 2007-12-19
  Before I start talking about the Zune I have to say that I've had several mp3 players in the past, from flash-based to HD-based. My newest one is this 8GB Zune. I got my Zune about a week ago, after getting rid of my 3G 8GB Nano, that I was not happy with. So this is why I'm more satisfied with the Zune vs. the Nano...
  
  Hardware
  -Shape is easier to hold and use than WS Nano
  -LCD is glass, more durable and sharper than plastic on Nano
  -Zune Touch Pad is more responsive and precise vs. click wheel
  -Wireless sharing/syncing option
  -Built-in FM Tuner
  -Better sound quality even without EQ...I just hated how bad the Nano sounds even with Shure headphones
  
  
  Software
  -Very simple and easy
  -Asthetically better than iTunes
  
  User Interface
  -No Coverflow but interface is more organized and intuitive
  -Customizable background, not an option on Nano
  -Easier to read
  
  I have not tested the battery life but it's rated close to the Nano so I'll live with whatever it really is. One thing I haven't checked on but someone else wrote about was the Zune not being a UMS Device when plugged in. Hopefully that's something Microsoft can/will change so that you can store other files on it. Overall, I'm must more satisfied with this player than the Nano.
  
  
  
  
  
• Excellent media player
  By A2AS6QIM60E4G3 on 2007-11-14
  Although the Zune software isn't as user friendly as itunes, the media player itself is awesome and much more useful to me because of the radio. The last 2 gyms I've gone to broadcast tv sound through fm radio. Ipods radio headphones really suck. The new 8gb zune is like an oversized nano or a mini. The form factor is cool & most importantly I don't need 2 programs to get podcasts on the media player. I can't wait to get a cablecard media center pc to get episodes of hbo shows and colbert report to watch on the metro.
  
  
• Terrific Product
  By A2IQPWBUH9X0O2 on 2007-11-17
  I purchased the black 8GB Zune and couldn't be happier. The 2nd generation Zune has everything I'm looking for in an PMP and more. The device is light, easy to operate, and loaded with functionality.
  
  - Although my 1st generation Zune's software had a few installation quirks, the new Zune software installed perfectly. The installation time took a total of five minutes and worked without any problems.
  -The Zune marketplace has been totally redone and has a slick new interface. Microsoft has added podcasts and music video downloads to the marketplace.
  -The new touchpad is easy to use and actually fun to play with. There is still a 4-way directional pad, but it feels much sturdier than its predecessor's.
  -Setting up wireless syncing with my laptop took less than a minute and works perfectly. I'm using a D-Link router with WEP and I didn't have to modify anything on my network, or enter my wireless key for this to work. I was pretty surprised by that.
  -Although slower than tethering, wireless syncing is a great feature. I lose cables on occasion and like the fact that I'm no longer required to have one. If you're syncing 500 songs, this may not be very practical; but, if you're syncing an album, this is a convenient feature.
  -Transferring songs between Zunes works flawlessly. You can send an entire album to a friend in a minute or so and it's as simple as hitting "send".
  -Video looks surprising sharp on the Zune's screen. Although it's not very big, the image is crisp and very colorful. I wouldn't recommend watching Star Wars--or any full length movies--on the tiny screen, but video podcasts or an episode of Family Guy would be fine.
  
  
  Overall, if you're looking for a PMP, you won't be disappointed with the Zune. It's light, well styled, easy to operate, and has features you won't find in other PMPs like wireless syncing/sharing, and a subscription music service with 3,000,000+ songs. When you combine the Zune with Zune Marketplace, it's a truly amazing product. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys music.
  
  
• New to Zune
  By A1LAIKBULXTELZ on 2007-11-23
  This is my first attempt at MP3 technology. I wanted something compact, powerful, and easy to use. Zune met those requirements. It is sleek, very lightweight, and extremely easy to use. Unfortunately the ZuneMarketPlace leaves a LOT to be desired. Adequate music sampling, very view video's, no movies. Why have the feature on the unit, if the material isn't available via their own marketplace? That brings us to product quality. After one week I am now on my second unit. The identical problem with both units. The ear phones simply do not function unless the jack is precisely positioned in the unit. So you have to manipulate the jack, not too far in, not too far out, wiggle it a bit, and do not move it or you will simply loose sound altogether. Mind you I'm not at the gym or jogging. I am sitting in my office with the Zune in my shirt pocket. And I still loose sound. I am returning my 2nd (and last) Zune tomorrow. I will not be getting another one. BUYER BEWARE.
  
  
• Great MP3 player
  By A2Q56HUF46QQX9 on 2007-11-22
  I got this Zune last week and am very impressed. The thing that really impressed me was the vivid screen & the Zune software. The software was easy to download and within a short period of time, I was up and running with music. I also really appreciated the fact that this player had an FM radio tuner. I used to have an ipod before, but wanted to be able to listen to the radio too. I am glad I switched and this product rocks! BTW - The red color is beautiful.
  
  
• I Would Give the Zune 0 Stars if I Could! Don't Buy It!
  By A2NK3PX0BLER6M on 2007-12-13
  DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT! I bought a Zune for my husband because all of our music files are in .WMA format, which is a Microsoft format. I have downloaded ALL of my music legally over the years in a .WMA format. The ONLY REASON I bought the Zune was so that my Microsoft-formatted songs would be easily loaded onto the Microsoft Zune. Imagine my surprise and distress when I discovered, after purchasing the Zune and attempting to load my LEGALLY purchased music, that it will not play ANY songs downloaded from any site OTHER than the Zune marketplace! In fact, when I called the Zune support line for support, they graciously offered to sell me all the songs that I have already LEGALLY downloaded and purchased from other sources! Isn't that generous of them?
  
  SAVE YOURSELF HEARTACHE AND FRUSTRATION AND DO NOT BUY A ZUNE!
  
  
• good player!!
  By A1T73HK4XI158L on 2007-12-21
  I just got this player today. Previously I owned a 2nd generation ipod classic. Zune looks pretty nice though I wish the screen was a little bigger. It takes time to get used to the Zune software and player controls because they are quite different than Itunes and ipod. Unlike the last reviewer, I found it extremely easy to install the softwares and set up the player. Overall I am satisfied. However, I have found the following negatives:
  
  1. No equalizer, as many mentioned before
  2. Can't find how to play the file at any time I want. It may not be a problem for songs. But for some podcasts, I want to fast forward or get back to an earlier segment.
  3. Can't preset the radio frequences.
  4. Doesn't display song names in chinese (it is just my problem)
  
  update:
  It turns out that 2, 3 are not problems any more. I should have read the user's guide first. The control is as good as apple ipod. The software is better than Itunes. I guess I should play for a few days before I give reviews.. How can I change my rating to 5 stars?!!
  
  
  
  
  
• love it
  By A1MF5INTG6IZEL on 2007-11-15
  i traded in my ipod nano for the zune and am incredibly pleased. the touch pad was easier for me to get used to than the clickwheel of the ipod and the display is worlds better. i also prefer the zune software to itunes, easy to use and much better looking. this makes my nano seem boring and primitive. i would definitely recommend the zune!
  
  
• zune / nano
  By ABNESB5I7XRZ5 on 2007-12-01
  Have used both the new nano and the 4gb zune. Gave up the nano because iTunes does not support 64bit Windows (XP or Vista).
  
  The zune software that is installed on the computer is good. Like it better than iTunes. Don't have any use for the iTunes store or the Zune Marketplace. So they are not an issue with me.
  
  The zune feel solid and well constructed. Screen is very good, images clean and sharp. Sound better than the nano. Radio simple to use. Sync between device and computer easy. Podcasts simple to find and to subscribe too (although wish that you could create a playlist for Podcasts).
  
  
  
• Might be nice, if you can overcome the bugginess and software incompatibility
  By A2T322E12VUB3H on 2007-12-20
  It never ceases to amaze me that Microsoft fails, time and time again, to make its own products work well together. Before getting into specifics, I will say I'm not an Apple "fanboy" by any stretch of the imagination. I had actually gotten the Zune in hope of finding an alternative to the ipod, but it looks like the Zune is going back and I'm going back to Apple...
  
  I picked up a Zune this past weekend. This was my fifth audio player in the last ~9 years, having owned a Creative Zen, a Gen 4 ipod (20 GB, HD Based) and a pair of Gen 2 nanos. The ipods, while great devices, seemed to bring me bad luck, as I had gone through 3 in 4 years. I had heard good things about the Zune and, now that a flash-based version existed, I figured I'd give it a shot. It's a very nice looking device, feels great in the hand and has remarkable video quality for a player of this size (I haven't seen video on the Gen 3 nanos and as such, can't compare the 2 objectively). The sound quality is right up there with my old ipods (I never use the stock earbuds, but used the same pair of Shure e2c buds that I used with the nano)
  
  Unfortunately, that is where the positives end. I'll preface this by saying that I'm fairly computer savvy and have done plenty with software, hardware and peripherals in my day.
  
  A week before buying the Zune, I picked up a new, Vista-based laptop. I was unable to start using it until I got the Zune, and figured it would be a great opportunity to "launch" both of my new toys. I booted and updated the laptop, then downloaded the Zune software. Hooked the Zune up and as soon as it was detected, the software crashed. Tried a few more times with the same result. Uninstall and reinstall of the software caused the same problem. Growing frustrated, I broke out my old, Celeron-based XP laptop and tried the Zune on there - wouldn't even detect the device and wouldn't let me install the drivers manually. 3 hours on the phone with Zune support (nice enough folks) were wasted with no solution. I had one more computer in the house - a 5 year old Dell desktop (Pentium 4, running XP) and was able to get everything working on there. Not wanting to be tied to that dinosaur (especially given that its best days are behind it), I continued trying to get it running on the Vista laptop to no avail. Another 4 hours with tech support over the next 2 days provided nothing more than additional frustration, apologies and a few compliments (nice to have an L2 tech tell you that you seem to be well versed in the technology they're paid to deal with). Continuing to play with it on my own, I FINALLY got the software to run, with the Zune connected, and was even able to sync music (another problem is the way in which the Zune software organizes and re-tags everything). At that point, my last nerve was touched. I had a few TV shows I had downloaded and converted to MP4 using cucusoft's Zune video converted (a great program, BTW). I moved the files onto the Zune software and it crashed (DLL error). I searched for a fix and thought I found one, which I put in. At that point, I was able to launch the software and get the videos to show up, but the minute I tried moving one of them to the device, it crashed again...and again...and again.
  
  I give up - looks like it's back to ipod-land for me.
  
  The amazing thing is that, somehow, Microsoft's own device fails to work with its operating system...
  
  
• Horrible priority software !!! Do not purchase
  By A3BVBPSV6VKC0A on 2008-02-11
  I must preface my comments by saying that I am a professional videographer and producer for 15 years. I had no problems with calculus at 15 years old. For the most part I am fairly adept at getting around what most would consider problems on the computer.
  
  The good: The design itself is excellent and attractive.
  
  The bad: Almost everything else
  
  The software is by download only. Don't buy this as a present for a friend in a country where high speed internet is uncommon. I spent hours trying to upload my very rare collection of classical CD's that I spent thousands on. I tried every trick I could think of to organize the files. Originally I bought a Samsung K3 for a friend and had no problem upload the music. I believe the K3 can even operate without the Samsung software. I thought I could not go wrong with a Microsoft player that was second generation and offered 8 gigs of storage. I could not have been more wrong. Unless you are satisfied with music downloads only you are wasting your money on this device. If you are so lucky as to be able to get your files into this player you will then find out that both the software and the player have minds of their own. No matter how painstaking you may label you files they software will rename the music. I may even revert some of the names to things on the web which are often incorrect. I have no idea where it was getting the info from. Originally I wanted to load some Pimsleur language CD's on it and the player failed miserably. it refused to recognize my WMA files that were burned from my personal discs on windows media player. After an extended effort I got "most" of them to be seen but they were placed in a very odd order. it is unacceptable to be forced to go through anything close to the procedures I went through. It should not be a requirement to trick the player to get the music on. It is obvious that Microsoft wants you to spend the extra money to buy their music. It was only after the fact by going on line at the Zune site with a problem that they state how resistant the player is to any file that is not one of theirs. Check this out for yourself. Quote from Zune web page: If you buy protected songs from someplace other than Zune Marketplace, for example, they won't work with Zune. If your content is in a format that doesn't work with Zune and it's not protected, you might be able to convert it.
  
  What is up with "might" be able to convert?
  
  I cannot describe the frustration as a result of the hours I wasted trying to make this work. I hate to be defeated but that is not even the point here. The near complete lack of organizational ability in conjunction with the restrictiveness of this unit are nothing less than appalling. this is in no way a "personal" player. It is an unwitting investment in Microsoft. ...and yes, I am a PC user exclusively.
  
  A last note is that it is very susceptible to fingerprints and they are hard to remove from the screen.
  
  
  
• Thank you zune for being the first to kick the corperation call apple with the IPOD in the balls
  By A2L8JBYJ6P4NWD on 2007-11-14
  this thing rocks i got it for my birthday. i was tring to decied between this and the itouch and my friend told me that it suckes compared the zune now i laugh at the crapiness of the itouch ZUNE ROCKS
  
  
• Not all files play
  By A5S7014DMIA58 on 2007-12-25
  I bought this for audiobooks that we download from our local libray. They are WMA format, and the Zune says that it plays WMA files, but when I tried to transfer it wouldn't work. After deeper reasearch I discovered that it will indeed play WMA files, but only if you buy them from the Zune store. It seemed like a good player but I returned it right away, so I didn't get a chance to explore it. I bought a Creative Zen and it is sweet and played all my files perfectly, including the audiobooks.
  
  
• Superb alternative to the iPod
  By A327C63JBTSEVX on 2007-12-28
  This second generation Zune is a lot of fun to use. In my opinion, the the touch-sensitive Zunepad is easier and more intuitive to use than the Ipod's scroll wheel. The Zunepad allows you to "swipe" to scroll, which makes it a breeze to manage long song lists. I also prefer the Zune's snazzy interface to the iPod's, which is getting a bit boring. The Zune software is also a pleasure to use, and makes it fun to explore new music (especially if you use ZunePass, the [...] monthly music subscription service).
  
  On the downside, the Zune does not play nice with [...]: it's currently not possible to play Audible files on the Zune. A Zune-friendly alternative is audiobooks.com, which offers their titles in universally compatible mp3 files, but they do not seem to have as many titles as audible.com, so if you're an avid audiobook listener, this may be an issue for you.
  
  The Zune 8GB is well-designed and feels solid in your hand. It's a very worthy alternative to the aging iPod line.
  
  
• Too static sensitive
  By A37BM3Y32I1HLX on 2008-01-10
  I purchased the Zune 8 Gb 2nd Generation in January of 2008. I loved the product's features, particularly the FM radio with station and song identification. The Zune software is well designed, and the wireless is OK, however, it's really just an "invisible" USB cable. You still have to choose songs, etc., using your computer.
  My Zune immediately started rebooting itself, randomly, once or twice per hour. Web reviews said the problem is common, and is the result of static electricity. I tried everything ... housing it in protective covers, and so on, but no result. Microsoft tech support did not help either, and did not admit to any static electricity problems.
  So ... I returned it. If it had worked, this would have been a 5 star review.
  
  
• microsofts 4 gig paper weight
  By A11C0ZY59GFJZK on 2008-03-14
  Bought this over an iPod for a handful of reasons. I bought the Zune Originals for the bangin' Sam Flores artwork, the FM tuner, and the whole sharing concept. Also, I loathe iTunes and Quicktime and have grown rather found of the Zune Marketplace.
  However, all these features are for naught when the player can't continuously stay on. From the first time I powered it on and played music I had bought from the Zune Marketplace, the player has the nagging problem of resetting itself. Usually it's within the first song but I have been "lucky" enough to go about a half hour before the restart. I've been to the Zune message boards and there is currently a post in its 60th or so page of similiar complaints. To my knowledge, an admin for MS has yet to post in there to help resolve the issue.
  If you're looking for an iPod alternative, then I'd suggest you move along. If this player would function normally, I would absolutely love it. I'm all good with accepting caveats of certain products, so long as they aren't device crippling. You've been warned...
  
  
• 3rd Generation Zune 16GB rocks!
  By A238WA18BQAU8A on 2008-09-17
  I just picked this up yesterday and I am very impressed. Move over Apple!
  Pros:
  - Great user interface. It's elegantly designed and very easy to navigate. I like the button touch volume control which allows me to change volume through a cover or through my pockets (something you can't do on the ipod). The player itself is beautiful too.
  - Lightweight and easy to use device. The actual device is basically the same as the 4GB and 8GB 2nd generation models. LCD, weight, and hardware functionality is basically identical as far as I can tell. Of course, here you get 16GB of memory.
  - Love the FM radio and new Zune 3.0 features. You can easily add songs you like while listening to the radio to your cart (on your device) and then download them either when you connect to your computer later or immediately through a wifi network. You also have the wifi marketplace which allows easy download of songs with Zunepass and I like now that there is a clock on the device.
  - The software PC interface is slick and intuitive. You can easily drag and drop songs to reorganize them and I the interface is far more slick than iTunes. There are helpful features to get album art or even missing tag information on music as well. MixView is a very cool feature that enables you to see related artists with a simple click of the mouse. There's also a user rating system for songs though the classification is binary - either like or don't like.
  - Great sound fidelity, although there is again no equalizer
  - Superfast download/sync speeds. Downloaded about 3,000 songs in minutes!
  Cons:
  - You need Zunepass to get the most out of the marketplace, and it's expensive at $15/ month. But for that, you can wirelessly (through wifi) preview songs and download them (and most songs/artists are available on Zunepass). And if you ever stop your subscription, you lose your music. If that's unappealing, you can always download and pay for songs individually.
  - Online marketplace interface can be a little vexing and still a work in progress. The music is there, but not the easiest to get to it.
  - Earbuds that come with the device are so so. To get full sound fidelity, probably will need to upgrade them.
  - 1.8" screen is great for navigation and music, but only adequate for video. If you want primarily a video device, I'd get the 120GB 3rd generation video player. The screen is much bigger (3.2") though the overall device is bigger and heavier (4.5 ounces vs. 1.7 for the 16GB)
  - 16GB model only available in black and like previous versions, scratches/smudges show up easily.
  
  All in all, I am psyched they came up with a 16GB version without increasing the size. I primarily use this as a music player and couldn't be happier with my purchase!
  
  
• terrible product for audio books
  By A3QNNU7N3WC7GO on 2008-01-09
  I bought this product to mainly listen to audio mp3/mp4 books. ie. foreign language lessons. The device will not sync all the lessons, will not tell you why. However, you can play all the mp3 lessons on your computer, so the format must be correct. Also the zune software on your computer which you use to navigate playlists or manage the device is poorly designed and doesn't work properly. Once you spend time to organize your playlists after syncing the device, the audio mp3's have been re-arranged from the playlists in the actual device. You can not re-organize your playlist on the device without doing it through the software. Another terrible product from Microsoft!!
  
  
• Good Portable Media Player , but lacks expected WMP 11 integration
  By A2I9EPR6WWN4DV on 2007-12-29
  First, I will admit that the Zune, by itself, is a pretty impressive PMP. I like how I can customize the background, subscribe to podcasts, and the high quality of audio output. I received this as a Christmas gift from my wife, and I had expected that it would easily integrate with Windows Media Player (WMP) 11--wrong! WMP can't even see the Zune but it can see my brother-in-law's lower-priced no-name media player. I expected that Microsoft would, AT A MINIMUM, allow users the option to sync directly with their Zunes from WMP. Honestly, I'm quite disappointed in that fact. When I get electronic hardware/peripherals that come from the same company, I expect it to seamlessly integrate into what is already established on everything else I have. I shouldn't be required to download software that stands alone from what I'm used to/enjoy using to use peripherals from the same company. On another note, I didn't have to experience this fortunately, since I hadn't ripped my CDs onto my computer yet or purchased a large amount of music online, but I'm going to echo a caveat from another fellow consumer that stated she had problems with synching her songs that she legally purchased previously. To sum it all up, it's a nice player, but integration truly stinks.
  
  
• My Favorite Mp3 Player
  By A38OCDJQOAQ2XG on 2008-04-28
  I've used several iPods (2nd-3rd gen), I've borrowed my friend's iPod nanos, and I have used the first Zune (30GB). So I expected a lot from this little device.
  
  Installation of the Zune software was a lot easier than I remembered it with the first generation Zune. Getting everything setup took around 3 minutes. Very easy!
  
  Getting my music to the Zune took a little longer. The Zune marketplace did not allow me to easily copy Windows Mediaplayer playlists or copy/paste folders to specific playlists.
  
  The sound is perfect... I have a set of Grado-60 headphones and Ultimate Ears fi-5 EBs. No complaints on the sound. The volume is plenty loud - I can hear everything nicely at 6 in a quiet room and 10-12 in a car doing 70mph.
  
  The main reason I got the Zune 2nd gen was the podcasts. It is everything I dreamed of... CNN, The Economist, NPR - ALL automatically downloads to my Zune everyday and old podcasts are automatically removed. All I have to do is plug it in and it goes to work! I've got over 2GB of podcasts on my Zune right now.
  
  The screen quality is seriously impressive. Even though it is super small my co-workers watched several of the movies that came with the Zune - they were really impressed (so am I). It is REALLY sharp for such a small screen.
  
  Battery life - I always have this plugged into my computer whether at work or at home so I've never gone below the first "bar" of battery life.
  
  Sorry, haven't used the wireless feature - my family is getting a few Zune 8GBs so I will try and report back.
  
  Definitely recommend this over the iPod. Why? I've had enough iPod vs Zune wars with my co-workers to last me years... I think Zune Marketplace is easier to use, I like the feel/look of the Zune better, and the ability to listen to the radio has always been a big plus for me (when I get tired of my music). Never understood why the iPod didn't get FM... I really hate iTunes - though it does have tv shows. The iPod can also be used like a USB drive - something you can't do with the Zune (WHY???).
  
  EDIT:
  My sister got an 8GB Zune as well. So I turned on wireless and sent her a song. It is so easy anyone can do it - the transfer rate is pretty fast too. I was even able to do it from 3 rooms away (wow). However, any song you receive from a wireless zune - you can only play 3 times. AND I noticed the Zune sometime hangs when it detects wireless networks/zunes. So I usually keep wireless off by default.
  
  
• Cool as an iPod? No way. More loved? Yes!
  By AW4GC20Q3F1ZA on 2008-07-10
  We have 4 in our family (myself, my wife and 2 kids). Over the years we've had several iPods and recently we have a mix of Zunes and iPods.
  
  IPods are great. My wife has an iPod Touch and we've had several previous iPods over the years. However, our Zunes get far more use than the iPods these days.
  
  Here's why:
  
  1) Subscription Service - Microsoft's all you can eat subscription service costs about $16/month. It supports up to three devices. That covers, me and my kids (my wife insists on using only her iPod). The kids and I get gobs a new music as it comes out.
  
  2) Easier to use software - Surprisingly, the Zune software is easier to use than iTunes. Hard to believe, but my wife has no end of problems syncing her iPod and finding stuff she wants to download. My kids (11 and 7) don't have this problem with the Zune software.
  
  3) It works with Tivo2Go. If you have a Series 2 or 3 Tivo connected to a home network you can download TV shows to the Zune. Yes, this is also true for the iPod, but it works very will with the Zune too. My kids have been watching old movies (The Adventures of Robin Hood w/Errol Flynn and Captains Courageous w/Spencer Tracy are their favorites from the TiVo - not to mention Mythbusters).
  
  4) Microsoft has good customer service with the Zunes. I had a HD version die and they replaced it promptly after providing proof of purchase. The warranty is for 1 year I believe.
  
  The big wins at our house is the subscription service. Lot's of great choices (including currently released albums) for 3 devices for about the price of one CD a month. That's hard to bet and makes us very happy.
  
  This particular Zune model is especially nice. It's nice and small, but with the same interface as the large Zunes. Movies play very well on this device. The battery life seems quite a bit better than the HD Zune I have, especially when playing movies. Hopefully it will be a bit more robust than the HD media players. I had problems with both iPod and Zune HD units dying (or is it wearing out). I'm very happy to make the transition to solid state storage with this unit. 8G seems reasonably large for my needs - I don't really need to store my entire music collection on my media player. I currently have 4 full length movies, about 30 albums and several Zune recommended playlists with room to spare.
  
  Granted it's not a iPod Touch, but to be frank, all my wife does is fiddle with her iPod Touch. She doesn't really use it to watch video's or listen to music. I think the iPod Touch is really targeted to folks with a short attention span -folks who'd rather be reading their email or browsing the web than enjoying good music or a classic movie.
  
  This Zune might not be as cool as an iPod Touch (or an iPhone for that matter). But it's an excellent media player with a great subscription service. That makes the Zunes far more used in our house than our iPods.
  
  So don't let your smug iPod owning friends tell you their iPods are better. Just smile and enjoy all of the new music you've downloaded legally for a pittance.
  
  
  
• Great interface; semi-good player (3.5 rather than 3 stars)
  By A2FMSKFMPAY9BP on 2007-12-17
  I completely skipped Zune's first outing but thought the redesign was worth a shot. I upgraded from a Sony NW-S205F wanting something with more space and more features.
  
  The best thing about this player is the interface - it's extremely intuitive and looks great (especially if you've downloaded the album art). The 'squircicle' gives you the option to flick your thumb to scroll left/right and up/down OR simply press and hold the edges. I liked the touch function, although I found it a little too sensitive and turned it off. I also found it didn't always respond to button presses and occassionally i had to press a button more than once, but it never became annoying. The software was pretty good, although I feel ALL mp3 players should offer drag-and-drop functionality.
  
  Now for the bad stuff: where is the EQ??? To me this was the biggest problem. Coming from the sony player (their mp3 players are notorious for their sound quality!), the music felt sort of plain - although I'm a fan of bass so this may not be an issue for you. Also, there's no mass storage function so you can't move files - music or otherwise - which seems silly to me since its got 8G to play with. And I found the battery life merely adequate (I got about 15-18 hours without WiFi).
  
  **Speaking of the battery, I should note that on my third day of use, the battery completely drained itself without my knowledge (i had used it for 30 min, turned it off, and it wouldn't restart later). There are a few noted cases of this which you can google or find on Engadget. It didn't happen again, but it definitely took away my confidence**
  
  Overall, I thought the Zune 8 was good, but not great and I ended up returning it. However, if you don't need a lot of bass or a long battery life, it's definitely a good choice.
  
  
• Random Reboot-Fest
  By A2DP9VQJSBIY23 on 2008-05-08
  This product is a decent music player... when it isn't interrupting your favorite song with one of it's random reboots.
  
  You'll be blissfully jamming along to your favorite song and then--bam--the Zune goes silent and a moment later the boot-up screen shows.
  Not only does the device reboot while playing songs downloaded from the Zune marketplace, but it also reboots frequently while simply playing the FM radio!
  
  My red Zune 8 GB started with this behavior within the first day.
  
  I'm so frustrated with the darned thing. I've tried wiping it and reinstalling the firmware, etc. but nothing seems to work as the random-reboots inevitably resurface no matter what.
  
  Don't buy this!
  
  
• Best MP3/MP4 player i've ever had!
  By A1D6UCCI4Z87I7 on 2008-09-30
  As a former iPOD nano user, I bought this player just to test it and see the difference between my ipod and the Zune. The winner stays with me, and the other goes to my sister. After testing the player out, Zune stays with me :)
  
  Zune is more of your "music enjoyment device". If you dont need a calendar (which you can get in your mobile phones), games (which are better on PSP), PIM (which your organizer does best), or tend to forget your player cables often, then Zune is just for you. I got my hands on the Zune, the first thing that attracted me was the packaging! Not just a transparent cheap looking transparent plastic which many China players have imitated, but rather an elegant black box with a nice Zune logo embedded on it. I opened it and the player, earphones and USB cable are separated with smaller boxes. Very neat indeed! Above all, amusing but rather fashionable, Zune came with three pairs of earphone sponges with three different colors to suit your current style!
  
  After charging the player, the Zune loaded and I just loved every second I discovered the new features in it. What it has and iPod doesnt have, is the Wireless sync which enables you to sync your player with your laptop without cables. Although syncing 8GB is slow and battery consuming, wireless syncing comes handy after you have added your favourite tunes for the first time! Another thing I love about Zune is the background changing feature. Trust me, I really dont like the root menu of iPOD. Even before I had my Zune. The idea of having the screen always splitted into two for iPOD just didnt attract me. Also, I love the quick playlist feature! I mean, I just uploaded all of my music from my hard disk to my Zune. BUT, not all of the songs are my favourites. Hence, as you are listening, shuffle all the songs, skip the ones you dont like, listen the one you like and add them to the quick playlist. You dont have to make a playlist from your computer anymore! I guess Zune's "Now Playing" screen is awesome! Why? Because the new iPOD nano has a similar interface for their Now Playing like that of Zune's! ;)
  
  I know I'm sounding bias here. I'm not saying that iPOD is a flop. IN fact, iPOD ranks second among all other players (iRiver, Sony, Creative, etc) and that is why I have not used the term "loser" for iPOD at all :) Its just that Zune has won me over iPOD. And took the first place which once blonged to iPOD :)
  
  Regards,
  shahz
  
  
• It's awesome!
  By A5MEPW9UW0XTR on 2007-11-17
  I have the 30GB Zune and I thought that was great, but it's so big. I'm so glad that they came out with the 4GB and 8GB. I recently purchased the 8GB, which I pretty much just use when I'm working out. What I really like is that I can download an unlimited amount of music for just $14.99 a month. I can't wait until them come out with more accessories for the 2nd Generation Zunes.
  
  
• Fantastic MP3 Player
  By A1FF1MELB3GHOR on 2007-12-05
  I wanted an MP3 player primarily to use while I'm working out and I wanted to be able to easily switch between radio and music and the Zune seemed to fit the bill perfectly for me. One of the first things that I tried doing was to preset radio stations; but, I couldn't figure out how to manually select radio stations. The manual stated that you would need to turn the 'peek' function off, but it didn't explain how to do it. After much frustration, I called Microsoft support. After much explaining about what I was trying to do and the support person asking me several times to hold on, I was told that the 'seek' function could not be turned off because of the frequencies. I told him that the documentation stated that stations could be manually selected. They still insisted that it can't be done. The next day, I went to Best Buy, the Sales Person there showed me in 1 second how to turn peek off and select stations manually. So I give Microsoft Support zero stars.
  Overall, I am very, very pleased with my Zune. I simply love the way the Software works in handling of creation/deletion of music. I had been looking for several years for an MP3 player. Up until now, I was not pleased with what was available on the market. This fits the bill perfectly for me.
  
  

• Zune Home AV Pack v2
• Zune Cable Pack v2
• Zune Dock Pack v2
• Zune Leather Case for Zune 4/8/16 GB (Brown)
• Zune AC Adapter v2

• Microsoft Zune 30gb Travel Combo Set - Ac Wall Charger + Auto Car Charger + USB Data Cable (3 Pcs)
• Belkin Neoprene Armband for Zune 4/8/16 GB (Black/Gray)
• Zune Leather Case for Zune 4/8/16 GB (Brown)
• Zune Premium Headphones v2
• Zune Car Pack v2