Review by E. Yasi:

Between me and my husband we’ve owned more MP3 players over the years than I can count, including Sansas, iRivers, iPods (classic & touch), the Ibiza Rhapsody, etc. But, the last few years I’ve settled down to one line of players. Why? Because I was happy to discover how well-designed and fun to use the underappreciated (and widely mocked) Zunes are.

I’ll gear this review to 2 types of people: current Zune owners who are considering an upgrade, and people trying to decide between a Zune and an iPod. (There are other players worth considering out there, like the Sony Walkman X, but I hope this gives you enough info to make an informed decision of the Zune vs players other than the iPod line as well.)

Zune and iPod: Most people compare the Zune to the Touch, but after seeing how slim and surprisingly small and light it is, I consider it to be a rather unique hybrid that combines qualities of both the Touch and the Nano. It’s very colorful and lovely OLED screen is slightly smaller than the touch screen, but the player itself feels quite a bit smaller and lighter. It weighs about 2/3 as much, and is noticeably smaller in width and height, while being just a hair thicker.

Points of comparison:

- Brighter OLED screen with more vivid color and better contrast

OLED screens can wash out in direct sunlight more than others, but in almost any other situation they are clearly preferable, and have a marvelous eye-catching picture that needs to be seen to be appreciated. The screen has slighly lower resolution than the iPod Touch, but is also slightly smaller, so in the end video looks a little less pixellated when viewed closely, and very vivid.

- HD Radio

If you live within the reception area of some HD radio stations this can be a surprisingly nice feature. For me it’s not so much the slightly better sound quality as it is the additional streams of content that make this fun. For example, if you tune into an FM station, then it’s playing what you here, and if you don’t like it too bad. With an HD station, you may tune in and it will be shown with up to three signals to chose from labeled HD1, HD2, and HD3. HD1 may have whatever is playing on the FM version, HD2 may be news, and HD3 might be some alternative music w/ a different theme. For example one of our oldies station in the Boston area broadcasts a love-song themed selection on HD3. One caveat: if you don’t have a strong enough signal, these HD versions can cut in and out, making them frustrating to listen to. But, when the signal is strong enough it’s very enjoyable.

- 720p video output via (an over-priced) dock. When transferring video content to the Zune you can specify if it should be sized appropriately for playback on the Zune or TV, so if you do plan to just watch on your Zune you won’t have the video taking up huge amounts of storage.

- Zune Pass subscription service

This is my favorite feature that will keep me using a Zune until it’s pried from my my desperate grasp. For a month I get 10 DRM-free MP3 songs to keep, and unlimited access to millions of songs. As long as you would have bought at least 10 songs anyways that means you’re paying only for that access. It’s better than Pandora, Slacker, LastFM or other services because you can listen to full CDs, specify playlists and tracks in the exact order you want, AND can either stream this music or store it on your Zune to listen to later, even if out of wifi range. Lots of people present subscription services as something you do INSTEAD of owning music, but at this cheap a price there’s no reason you can’t use this as a supplement to whatever purchases you make. It’s not either/or, it’s a wonderful “AND”, especially if you’re the type who likes to explore and enjoy a broad range of music.

Apple now has Rhapsody as an app, which is a great start, but it is currently hampered by the inability to store locally on your iPod, and has a dismal 64kbps bit rate. If this changes, then it will somewhat negate this advantage for the Zune, but the 10 songs per month will still be a big plus in Zune Pass’ favor.

- Wireless sync

In addition to wireless net access, you can sync your Zune to your PC wirelessly, which can be quite convenient on occasion. The new Zune HD seems to have better wireless reception than my prior Zunes.

- Smart DJ

Rhapsody first popularized a playlist construction service with its ‘Channels’ feature, and Apple followed with its ‘Genius’ feature. The idea is that you specify a song or artist, and the service will construct a playlist of similar music of both familiar and new artists for you to enjoy. The prior Zunes had a ‘Channel’ feature too, but I found it lacking in sophistication and accuracy. The 4.0 Zune Marketplace upgrade (the Zune equivalent of iTunes) now has a ‘Smart DJ’ feature that is a much improved version of the old Channels. I actually find it very useful now, and what’s even better is that if you have Zune Pass you can specify whether it should pull music exclusive from your collection, from the Zune Pass selection, or from a combination of both. It’s wonderfully flexible and lots of fun.

- Web Browsing

The new Zune browser is surprisingly good, but not as good as the iPod’s. It works well, but isn’t as fast as Safari, and has a clunkier interface. If you occasionally plan on using the web browser that’s not an issue, but if you’re planning to browse the web alot from your PMP then the iPod’s larger screen and better browser may be important.

- App Store

Hands down, Apple’s app store wins by a mile. It’s a huge selection of all sorts of apps vs a rather sad selection of a handful for Zune. Microsoft has plans, especially in the realm of games, but I’m not sure I’d want to bet on the future if this aspect is important to you. The iPod is a much better choice in that case.

- Zune Marketplace and iTunes

This is getting a bit more subjective, but I much prefer the Zune Marketplace. The interface is colorful, has more flair, and some cool features like ‘Mixview’ that let you quickly see related albums, songs, or other users related to what you’re listening to. Clicking on one of those will center on that item, and another set of “neighbors” will come into view, allowing you to navigate around exploring by similar artists, songs, or users. Speaking of users, the Zune “Social” is also great fun, letting you find others with shared tastes and becoming friends with them. You then can listen to a playlist created based on an amalgamation of what all your friends are listening to, which is also enjoyable. Those concerned with privacy will be relieved to know you can prevent the public from seeing your personal listening habits if you so choose.

- UI

The HD’s UI was a bold move that paid off. It may look cluttered and overly busy in screenshots, but to see it in action is to appreciate the design. It isn’t always obvious, and the provided documentation is sparse, but a little experimentation will show you a UI with lots of flexibility, like a menu of favorites, newly added music, and a user-definable set of shortcuts to your favorite playlists, artists, HD Radio stations, etc. One quibble: it takes one too many clicks and touches to bring up the now playing screen after the display has ‘gone to sleep’ while you’re listening to it. Other than that, the UI is delightful.

- Summary

The Zune concentrates on being a Portable Media Player. Not a web browser. Not a game machine. Maybe in the future it’ll do even better in those areas, but for now it’s a fantastic way to organize and listen to your music and videos, and is without peer in that regard. The iPod’s strengths are its web browsing and apps. If those sound more compelling, perhaps it is your best choice.

If you’re still on the fence: grab your favorite earphones, head down to a Best Buy and ask to plug them into a Zune then an iPod and see which one sounds better to you, and which interface makes you smile more. Then you’ll know which is right for you.

- Current Zune Owners

(See, I didn’t forget you!) I think owners of any of the older flash players will be delighted at the upgrade, as long as money isn’t an issue. Don’t hesitate. Those who value the higher capacity of the 80gb or a 120gb will have a tougher choice. If you can’t afford both, then you’ll have to weigh the ability to be able to have all (or at least most) of your music stored on the device vs the HD radio, better display, and sleeker than a seal UI. As I said before, this new Zune is surprisingly small and light, and you should find one to get a feel for in person too, because then you can really evaluate how compelling those new features are to you. Oh, and don’t forget it has an Equalizer if that matters!

Keep in mind: Microsoft has made it clear that the HD line is the future. They were great about giving new features to the older models in the past, but we’re seeing a clear signal with the 4.0 Marketplace. Most of the cool new stuff is only going to the new kid on the block, and I think that will continue to be the case. They won’t cut you out entirely, but if they’re going to concentrate on making the HD succeed, then I suspect that is where most if not all of their future focus and effort will go.

Sorry for the huge review, but I’m really loving the new Zune, and hope this, as well as the excellent reviews some other people have written, will help you decide if it’s the right choice for you.

Review by enders4you:

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2MCY118RZQL1H Here is a simple video on the features and what the Zune HD player can do . . .

Review by E. Yasi:

Between me and my husband we’ve owned more MP3 players over the years than I can count, including Sansas, iRivers, iPods (classic & touch), the Ibiza Rhapsody, etc. But, the last few years I’ve settled down to one line of players. Why? Because I was happy to discover how well-designed and fun to use the underappreciated (and widely mocked) Zunes are.

I’ll gear this review to 2 types of people: current Zune owners who are considering an upgrade, and people trying to decide between a Zune and an iPod. (There are other players worth considering out there, like the Sony Walkman X, but I hope this gives you enough info to make an informed decision of the Zune vs players other than the iPod line as well.)

Zune and iPod: Most people compare the Zune to the Touch, but after seeing how slim and surprisingly small and light it is, I consider it to be a rather unique hybrid that combines qualities of both the Touch and the Nano. It’s very colorful and lovely OLED screen is slightly smaller than the touch screen, but the player itself feels quite a bit smaller and lighter. It weighs about 2/3 as much, and is noticeably smaller in width and height, while being just a hair thicker.

Points of comparison:

- Brighter OLED screen with more vivid color and better contrast

OLED screens can wash out in direct sunlight more than others, but in almost any other situation they are clearly preferable, and have a marvelous eye-catching picture that needs to be seen to be appreciated. The screen has slighly lower resolution than the iPod Touch, but is also slightly smaller, so in the end video looks a little less pixellated when viewed closely, and very vivid.

- HD Radio

If you live within the reception area of some HD radio stations this can be a surprisingly nice feature. For me it’s not so much the slightly better sound quality as it is the additional streams of content that make this fun. For example, if you tune into an FM station, then it’s playing what you here, and if you don’t like it too bad. With an HD station, you may tune in and it will be shown with up to three signals to chose from labeled HD1, HD2, and HD3. HD1 may have whatever is playing on the FM version, HD2 may be news, and HD3 might be some alternative music w/ a different theme. For example one of our oldies station in the Boston area broadcasts a love-song themed selection on HD3. One caveat: if you don’t have a strong enough signal, these HD versions can cut in and out, making them frustrating to listen to. But, when the signal is strong enough it’s very enjoyable.

- 720p video output via (an over-priced) dock. When transferring video content to the Zune you can specify if it should be sized appropriately for playback on the Zune or TV, so if you do plan to just watch on your Zune you won’t have the video taking up huge amounts of storage.

- Zune Pass subscription service

This is my favorite feature that will keep me using a Zune until it’s pried from my my desperate grasp. For a month I get 10 DRM-free MP3 songs to keep, and unlimited access to millions of songs. As long as you would have bought at least 10 songs anyways that means you’re paying only for that access. It’s better than Pandora, Slacker, LastFM or other services because you can listen to full CDs, specify playlists and tracks in the exact order you want, AND can either stream this music or store it on your Zune to listen to later, even if out of wifi range. Lots of people present subscription services as something you do INSTEAD of owning music, but at this cheap a price there’s no reason you can’t use this as a supplement to whatever purchases you make. It’s not either/or, it’s a wonderful “AND”, especially if you’re the type who likes to explore and enjoy a broad range of music.

Apple now has Rhapsody as an app, which is a great start, but it is currently hampered by the inability to store locally on your iPod, and has a dismal 64kbps bit rate. If this changes, then it will somewhat negate this advantage for the Zune, but the 10 songs per month will still be a big plus in Zune Pass’ favor.

- Wireless sync

In addition to wireless net access, you can sync your Zune to your PC wirelessly, which can be quite convenient on occasion. The new Zune HD seems to have better wireless reception than my prior Zunes.

- Smart DJ

Rhapsody first popularized a playlist construction service with its ‘Channels’ feature, and Apple followed with its ‘Genius’ feature. The idea is that you specify a song or artist, and the service will construct a playlist of similar music of both familiar and new artists for you to enjoy. The prior Zunes had a ‘Channel’ feature too, but I found it lacking in sophistication and accuracy. The 4.0 Zune Marketplace upgrade (the Zune equivalent of iTunes) now has a ‘Smart DJ’ feature that is a much improved version of the old Channels. I actually find it very useful now, and what’s even better is that if you have Zune Pass you can specify whether it should pull music exclusive from your collection, from the Zune Pass selection, or from a combination of both. It’s wonderfully flexible and lots of fun.

- Web Browsing

The new Zune browser is surprisingly good, but not as good as the iPod’s. It works well, but isn’t as fast as Safari, and has a clunkier interface. If you occasionally plan on using the web browser that’s not an issue, but if you’re planning to browse the web alot from your PMP then the iPod’s larger screen and better browser may be important.

- App Store

Hands down, Apple’s app store wins by a mile. It’s a huge selection of all sorts of apps vs a rather sad selection of a handful for Zune. Microsoft has plans, especially in the realm of games, but I’m not sure I’d want to bet on the future if this aspect is important to you. The iPod is a much better choice in that case.

- Zune Marketplace and iTunes

This is getting a bit more subjective, but I much prefer the Zune Marketplace. The interface is colorful, has more flair, and some cool features like ‘Mixview’ that let you quickly see related albums, songs, or other users related to what you’re listening to. Clicking on one of those will center on that item, and another set of “neighbors” will come into view, allowing you to navigate around exploring by similar artists, songs, or users. Speaking of users, the Zune “Social” is also great fun, letting you find others with shared tastes and becoming friends with them. You then can listen to a playlist created based on an amalgamation of what all your friends are listening to, which is also enjoyable. Those concerned with privacy will be relieved to know you can prevent the public from seeing your personal listening habits if you so choose.

- UI

The HD’s UI was a bold move that paid off. It may look cluttered and overly busy in screenshots, but to see it in action is to appreciate the design. It isn’t always obvious, and the provided documentation is sparse, but a little experimentation will show you a UI with lots of flexibility, like a menu of favorites, newly added music, and a user-definable set of shortcuts to your favorite playlists, artists, HD Radio stations, etc. One quibble: it takes one too many clicks and touches to bring up the now playing screen after the display has ‘gone to sleep’ while you’re listening to it. Other than that, the UI is delightful.

- Summary

The Zune concentrates on being a Portable Media Player. Not a web browser. Not a game machine. Maybe in the future it’ll do even better in those areas, but for now it’s a fantastic way to organize and listen to your music and videos, and is without peer in that regard. The iPod’s strengths are its web browsing and apps. If those sound more compelling, perhaps it is your best choice.

If you’re still on the fence: grab your favorite earphones, head down to a Best Buy and ask to plug them into a Zune then an iPod and see which one sounds better to you, and which interface makes you smile more. Then you’ll know which is right for you.

- Current Zune Owners

(See, I didn’t forget you!) I think owners of any of the older flash players will be delighted at the upgrade, as long as money isn’t an issue. Don’t hesitate. Those who value the higher capacity of the 80gb or a 120gb will have a tougher choice. If you can’t afford both, then you’ll have to weigh the ability to be able to have all (or at least most) of your music stored on the device vs the HD radio, better display, and sleeker than a seal UI. As I said before, this new Zune is surprisingly small and light, and you should find one to get a feel for in person too, because then you can really evaluate how compelling those new features are to you. Oh, and don’t forget it has an Equalizer if that matters!

Keep in mind: Microsoft has made it clear that the HD line is the future. They were great about giving new features to the older models in the past, but we’re seeing a clear signal with the 4.0 Marketplace. Most of the cool new stuff is only going to the new kid on the block, and I think that will continue to be the case. They won’t cut you out entirely, but if they’re going to concentrate on making the HD succeed, then I suspect that is where most if not all of their future focus and effort will go.

Sorry for the huge review, but I’m really loving the new Zune, and hope this, as well as the excellent reviews some other people have written, will help you decide if it’s the right choice for you.

Review by enders4you:

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2MCY118RZQL1H Here is a simple video on the features and what the Zune HD player can do . . .

Review by Super Mum:

No matter your opinion on Microsoft, the amazing fact remains that every time they update a Zune they include a free software update for all past Zunes making them nearly identical as the new Zunes. I am sure one day this may stop due to the fact that the new hardware will require a different type of OS that won’t work on the old Zunes (i.e. a Zune Touch or something). Until then, I am have been a very happy past/present Zune owner for this reason.

I owned a Zune 30 for 2 1/2 years prior to buying the Zune 120. My old Zune worked perfectly and was not a factor in my decision to upgrade. Did I need the extra space? Not really… but I wanted to try out the touch/click “squircle” before the new Zune games were launched. I read that some games may not work (or work as intended) with the Zune 30 since it does not have the touch sensitive pad. We’ll see how true that is when games are put on to the Marketplace.

My opinion after owning the Zune 120 for a couple weeks:

The Good:

-I am a rabid/avid fan of the Zune Pass. I don’t mind renting music, in fact I LOVE it. It really opens me up to new bands without wasting -20 on an album I may hate. For .99 a month [for unlimited downloads on up to 3 Zunes and 3 Computers] I can download from more songs than I can fathom and not be upset if I pick a few tone-deaf artists along the way. If I love an album enough to keep it I can buy it from Zune or Amazon or whomever. If you think about it, the Zune Pass could save you money by allowing you to test out bands before committing to a purchase. Also, if throwing a house party or having guests over, you can download music for your guests that you might never consider buying for yourself.

-Audible support now available. Not sure how much I will use this feature yet but for now I like it and am happy I am not closed off from this option.

-WiFi: the options are now amazingly more advanced and now having WiFi on the Zune makes sense. Being able to download songs over a WiFi connection is huge. McDonald’s is teaming up with Zune and will be offering their WiFi connection to Zune owners in the near future. While iPod does this with Starbucks, there are many more McDonalds than Starbucks in the U.S. Though not sure if this is a good thing

-Channels!!!: I love the new channels built into the software. As a Zune Pass subscriber I love taking advantage of this. The software makes a “channel” once a week of songs it thinks I will like based on a genre (I have a “My Classic Rock” channel, “My Rock” channel, and since I share my Zune Pass with family members a “My R&B” channel). I choose which, if any, channels I want to subscribe to (so I can skip the R&B one if I desire) and it downloads a playlist of sorts that changes every week. Also, I can subscribe to other generic channels (i.e. “Rock” Channel, “Punk/Ska” Channel etc.) not tailored directly to me if I so desire. This has been a great way to sample new bands/music that have relevance to my music style. Of course if you love a song/artist you can always permanently download the songs. If you are an avid gym buff or runner there are some very cool channels titled “Walk” “Jog” and “Run” that have songs which consist of the same range of beats per minute to keep you moving at a constant speed. Very cool.

-Mixview: Much better looking than “Genius” on iTunes since Mixview uses album art and artists pictures rather than plain old text and Mixview’s suggestions seem more relevant to me than Apple’s “Genius.” This can always change in the future as each product develops and I am excited that there is competition in this arena since it can only make this better and better. If you don’t know what Mixview is, it is Zune’s way of gathering data based on your music preferences (and the preferences of others) to recommend new music to you. Pandora (the Internet Radio website) does a BEAUTIFUL job at this. It’s free and I would check it out if you have never used it before. Amazing.

-Battery Life: Much better than the Zune 30 which is a nice surprise. Leave WiFi off for a longer battery life.

-Accessory Compatibility: the charger, dock, remote, car charger, etc. from the Zune 30/80/120 all work together wonderfully. If you have the version 1 dock you will need to remove the plastic insert in order to have the 80/120 fit. It only takes a few seconds and is very painless. I would add a link to websites that show video/pictures on how to do this but Amazon removed two posts in the Zune forum where I did this. Do a search, it’s out there. The cases for the Zune 30 do not work with the 120 but the 80 is the same size and both use the same cases. Heard there are problems with older FM transmitters working with the newer Zunes. Not sure how prevalent this problem is as I use an AUX jack in the car.

-The Squircle: This is the only “big” difference between the Zune 30 and the 80/120. It did not take long for me to get used to using this but my learning curve may be shorter than others as I am used to swiping on my iPhone and now clicking seems more difficult for me. (You can turn this feature off if you just want to use the squircle as a click pad.) When I went to buy a case I found that most cases covered the squircle and was concerned it would mess with functionality. I want to report that it did not take away the ability of the Zune to notice my movements. However, the case makes it not as smooth of an action as the bare squircle (I have a silicone cover that makes my finger “stickier” against the case so the glide isn’t as smooth). Something to think about when purchasing a case (which I would recommend.. see “The Bad”)

The Bad:

-I LOVED the Zune 30 casing. That was one beautiful thing that the Zune had over the iPod. The iPods scratched and showed wear very quickly and the Zune 30′s casing was virtually indestructible. With the new casing (party in the front/business in the back… the reverse mullet) it seems that the possibility for scratching is now higher. The shiny front is a fingerprint magnet and the matte black back has a silver/gold metal underneath (as evidenced by Microsoft’s Zune Originals website where you can have your Zune engraved professionally.. they “scratch” [engrave] a design and the gold/silver color appears). Not sure how deep you would have to scratch to get to that color and I won’t volunteer to be a guinea pig. Sorry!

I highly recommend getting a case and I am a sucker for buying a screen protector as the Zune is nearly all screen on the front and should remain beautiful and scratch-free.

The “I don’t care”/ “No opinion”:

-The Clock: There is a clock now.. and I don’t care. Many did so they will be happy. No alarm built-in, so beware clock lovers. (Microsoft updates the firmware and software quite a bit so you never know if this could be added soon.)

-Buy from FM: I hate the radio in my smallish town. There are only a couple decent stations but they aren’t good enough for me to stop listening to MP3s and tune in. For those who have better stations and are in to Top 40 or what is new on the charts this may be an amazing option for you. Getting artist and album info over Zune’s FM radio could be helpful if your DJ never states the name of an artist (like so many don’t) and, if you really like the song, you can download it immediately or tag it for download later (depending if you are in a WiFi hotspot or at home with plug in hand).

-Headphones: the Zune 30 came with “run of the mill” headphones, the Zune 80 came with “premium” headphones and the Zune 120 went back to the “run of the mill” headphones. I use third-party headphones (0+) so I don’t care what comes in the package. Others might so here it is.

-Games: as of today’s date, there are no games available for download on the Zune Marketplace. This is supposed to change soon and I sure hope it does. However, there are two games that come loaded on the Zune when you plug it in to the computer and update (Hexic and Texas Hold ‘Em). Apple has the upper hand here and has done wonders with the App store. I hope Microsoft takes note and does something like it with the Zune. Heck, I hope the do something even better so then Apple steps up their game even more… and around and around we go. Competition is great for consumers.

I think here is a good place to mention that I love my iPhone 3G AND my Zune and I need to have both in my life to be happy (in the materialistic sense). I don’t listen to music on my iPhone due to limited space (after adding apps, photos, podcasts, etc. there isn’t much room for music) and also because Apple does not have a subscription music “rental” service. Ideally I would like to see Zune make a phone similar to the iPhone or the iPhone to have a subscription based music service (both phones would need a large capacity drive) so I could carry around just one device (either iPhone or ZunePhone depending on the offerings). Until that day I live in harmony with my Zune 120 and my iPhone 3G.

Review by Travis Brown:

I love my Zune. After 4 iPods (in a span of 10 years), I decided to try something different. I never really had an issue with my pods, but I was curious about the Zune. I decided to purchase the Zune 30 a year after it was released. The player [Zune 30] was extremely durable, and I loved the device interface; although hated how I had to click in order to scroll down. There was much to be improved.

Fast forward two years and several major Microsoft updates later, I now own the Zune 120. I absolutely love it. The capacity is enough for me at the moment; although I’m a music junkie. The playback quality of the songs is noticeably better than the quality my iPod’s. The features, such as wireless sync, song sharing over the air, and the Zune Pass are wonderful. I lended the Zune to my girlfriend for an entire week so she could discover some new music (over 8000 tracks on my Zune), and she came back wanting to purchase one herself.

Pros:

- Great interface

- Wonderful sound quality

- FM radio + buying songs from FM

- Wireless syncing

- Sharing music over the air with other Zunes

- Improved software (more usable than iTunes, in my opinion)

- Support for podcasts and audiobooks

- Zune Pass

- Purchasing and streaming songs off Wifi

- Free updates every few months; they recently added games.

Cons:

- Battery life could be better

- Included headphones are good but not great.

- That’s all I could think of.

Final word:

I still use my iPod nano and video from time to time, but I love my Zune more. There’s nothing wrong with iPod’s, but if you’d like to give something different a try, by all means give this a try. You can’t go wrong with purchasing one.

Extra:

Living in a populated city like NY and taking the train to school every monrning, and coming back in the afternoon, there’s always at least one other person on the train with a Zune. Sometimes I get random “let me send you a song” request. Totally discovered a few new artists from random people with the ‘send’ feature.

Review by SmellsLikeScamSpirit:

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 /month. Granted most of my music is ripped from CDs but 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 0 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.

Review by Glen Appleton:

I got my Zune just after Christmas this year when everyone was showing up at work with their new iPods, Creative Zens, and other personal media players. Feeling left out, I decided to go check out the market to see if I could find a product that would meet my needs as a consumer. After a week of research and checking out the store displays, I decided to purchase the Zune player and I’ve been very satisfied with the product overall.

During my research, I found some bad reviews about syncing issues and battery life for the Zune player. However, as I researched further into other products I found this was not uncommon for almost every player on the market, especially the iPod. Although it stands to reason that the iPod would have more issues posted on the internet since it is the most popular personal media player.

So it came down to 3 players from which I decided to choose: Apple iPod (30 gig), Creative Zen Vision M, and the Zune. Each of these products had the feature set I was looking for and each was within a few dollars of the others in price. So now it was time for the “taste test”.

I went to my local electronics store where all 3 products were displayed and asked a sales associate to assist me. As I handled each of the players, my first impression was that the Zune felt sturdy and well made. It’s thicker than the iPod and not quite as wide as the Zen, which felt just right in my hand. I also preferred the flat black finish on the Zune player to the glossy black Zen or the “kitchen appliance” white of the iPod.

The OS and navigation on all of the players was easy to figure out with only a few differences between them. While I like the wheel control of the iPod (probably it’s best feature), both the Zune and Zen offered compensatory navigation methods to locate media within a large list of files. The display on the iPod was a bit small compared to the other 2 players, but it was still quite readable.

Finally, with all things being even, it came down to the sound. I plugged in a set of of inexpensive lightweight Sony headphones that I had brought to the store with me and listened to each product with the sample content on different preset EQ settings. To me, the Zune had the best sound overall, which was the selling point. The high end was crisp and clear while the low end was deep and rich, even on my cheap headphones.

Final thoughts:

So far I’ve been quite happy with the Zune player. The battery life is good when listening to music but a bit short when viewing video content. I like the album art display when browsing my music content and when playing. The picture slide show features are a nice touch as well and provide a way for me to share my photos in a portable manner.

Also, Microsoft is working to update the features of the Zune through firmware updates. So the feature set you see now could well get better as the product development progresses. I’m personally hoping that Microsoft decides to support their own Plays-For-Sure technology to open the available online content and make it more competitive with the Zen.

Finally, if you purchase a Zune player, get a decent set of headphones. The headphones shipped with the product do not do it justice. This is Especially true if you’re like me and you rip your CD collection to your player at a quality bit rate.

Pros:

- Full rich sound

- Easy content navigation

- Large display

- Photo slide show feature

- Good battery life for playing music

Cons:

- Headphones shipped with the product are substandard

- Battery life severely shortened when viewing video content

- Not currently Plays-For-Sure compatible

Review by E. Yasi:

Between me and my husband we’ve owned more MP3 players over the years than I can count, including Sansas, iRivers, iPods (classic & touch), the Ibiza Rhapsody, etc. But, the last few years I’ve settled down to one line of players. Why? Because I was happy to discover how well-designed and fun to use the underappreciated (and widely mocked) Zunes are.

I’ll gear this review to 2 types of people: current Zune owners who are considering an upgrade, and people trying to decide between a Zune and an iPod. (There are other players worth considering out there, like the Sony Walkman X, but I hope this gives you enough info to make an informed decision of the Zune vs players other than the iPod line as well.)

Zune and iPod: Most people compare the Zune to the Touch, but after seeing how slim and surprisingly small and light it is, I consider it to be a rather unique hybrid that combines qualities of both the Touch and the Nano. It’s very colorful and lovely OLED screen is slightly smaller than the touch screen, but the player itself feels quite a bit smaller and lighter. It weighs about 2/3 as much, and is noticeably smaller in width and height, while being just a hair thicker.

Points of comparison:

- Brighter OLED screen with more vivid color and better contrast

OLED screens can wash out in direct sunlight more than others, but in almost any other situation they are clearly preferable, and have a marvelous eye-catching picture that needs to be seen to be appreciated. The screen has slighly lower resolution than the iPod Touch, but is also slightly smaller, so in the end video looks a little less pixellated when viewed closely, and very vivid.

- HD Radio

If you live within the reception area of some HD radio stations this can be a surprisingly nice feature. For me it’s not so much the slightly better sound quality as it is the additional streams of content that make this fun. For example, if you tune into an FM station, then it’s playing what you here, and if you don’t like it too bad. With an HD station, you may tune in and it will be shown with up to three signals to chose from labeled HD1, HD2, and HD3. HD1 may have whatever is playing on the FM version, HD2 may be news, and HD3 might be some alternative music w/ a different theme. For example one of our oldies station in the Boston area broadcasts a love-song themed selection on HD3. One caveat: if you don’t have a strong enough signal, these HD versions can cut in and out, making them frustrating to listen to. But, when the signal is strong enough it’s very enjoyable.

- 720p video output via (an over-priced) dock. When transferring video content to the Zune you can specify if it should be sized appropriately for playback on the Zune or TV, so if you do plan to just watch on your Zune you won’t have the video taking up huge amounts of storage.

- Zune Pass subscription service

This is my favorite feature that will keep me using a Zune until it’s pried from my my desperate grasp. For a month I get 10 DRM-free MP3 songs to keep, and unlimited access to millions of songs. As long as you would have bought at least 10 songs anyways that means you’re paying only for that access. It’s better than Pandora, Slacker, LastFM or other services because you can listen to full CDs, specify playlists and tracks in the exact order you want, AND can either stream this music or store it on your Zune to listen to later, even if out of wifi range. Lots of people present subscription services as something you do INSTEAD of owning music, but at this cheap a price there’s no reason you can’t use this as a supplement to whatever purchases you make. It’s not either/or, it’s a wonderful “AND”, especially if you’re the type who likes to explore and enjoy a broad range of music.

Apple now has Rhapsody as an app, which is a great start, but it is currently hampered by the inability to store locally on your iPod, and has a dismal 64kbps bit rate. If this changes, then it will somewhat negate this advantage for the Zune, but the 10 songs per month will still be a big plus in Zune Pass’ favor.

- Wireless sync

In addition to wireless net access, you can sync your Zune to your PC wirelessly, which can be quite convenient on occasion. The new Zune HD seems to have better wireless reception than my prior Zunes.

- Smart DJ

Rhapsody first popularized a playlist construction service with its ‘Channels’ feature, and Apple followed with its ‘Genius’ feature. The idea is that you specify a song or artist, and the service will construct a playlist of similar music of both familiar and new artists for you to enjoy. The prior Zunes had a ‘Channel’ feature too, but I found it lacking in sophistication and accuracy. The 4.0 Zune Marketplace upgrade (the Zune equivalent of iTunes) now has a ‘Smart DJ’ feature that is a much improved version of the old Channels. I actually find it very useful now, and what’s even better is that if you have Zune Pass you can specify whether it should pull music exclusive from your collection, from the Zune Pass selection, or from a combination of both. It’s wonderfully flexible and lots of fun.

- Web Browsing

The new Zune browser is surprisingly good, but not as good as the iPod’s. It works well, but isn’t as fast as Safari, and has a clunkier interface. If you occasionally plan on using the web browser that’s not an issue, but if you’re planning to browse the web alot from your PMP then the iPod’s larger screen and better browser may be important.

- App Store

Hands down, Apple’s app store wins by a mile. It’s a huge selection of all sorts of apps vs a rather sad selection of a handful for Zune. Microsoft has plans, especially in the realm of games, but I’m not sure I’d want to bet on the future if this aspect is important to you. The iPod is a much better choice in that case.

- Zune Marketplace and iTunes

This is getting a bit more subjective, but I much prefer the Zune Marketplace. The interface is colorful, has more flair, and some cool features like ‘Mixview’ that let you quickly see related albums, songs, or other users related to what you’re listening to. Clicking on one of those will center on that item, and another set of “neighbors” will come into view, allowing you to navigate around exploring by similar artists, songs, or users. Speaking of users, the Zune “Social” is also great fun, letting you find others with shared tastes and becoming friends with them. You then can listen to a playlist created based on an amalgamation of what all your friends are listening to, which is also enjoyable. Those concerned with privacy will be relieved to know you can prevent the public from seeing your personal listening habits if you so choose.

- UI

The HD’s UI was a bold move that paid off. It may look cluttered and overly busy in screenshots, but to see it in action is to appreciate the design. It isn’t always obvious, and the provided documentation is sparse, but a little experimentation will show you a UI with lots of flexibility, like a menu of favorites, newly added music, and a user-definable set of shortcuts to your favorite playlists, artists, HD Radio stations, etc. One quibble: it takes one too many clicks and touches to bring up the now playing screen after the display has ‘gone to sleep’ while you’re listening to it. Other than that, the UI is delightful.

- Summary

The Zune concentrates on being a Portable Media Player. Not a web browser. Not a game machine. Maybe in the future it’ll do even better in those areas, but for now it’s a fantastic way to organize and listen to your music and videos, and is without peer in that regard. The iPod’s strengths are its web browsing and apps. If those sound more compelling, perhaps it is your best choice.

If you’re still on the fence: grab your favorite earphones, head down to a Best Buy and ask to plug them into a Zune then an iPod and see which one sounds better to you, and which interface makes you smile more. Then you’ll know which is right for you.

- Current Zune Owners

(See, I didn’t forget you!) I think owners of any of the older flash players will be delighted at the upgrade, as long as money isn’t an issue. Don’t hesitate. Those who value the higher capacity of the 80gb or a 120gb will have a tougher choice. If you can’t afford both, then you’ll have to weigh the ability to be able to have all (or at least most) of your music stored on the device vs the HD radio, better display, and sleeker than a seal UI. As I said before, this new Zune is surprisingly small and light, and you should find one to get a feel for in person too, because then you can really evaluate how compelling those new features are to you. Oh, and don’t forget it has an Equalizer if that matters!

Keep in mind: Microsoft has made it clear that the HD line is the future. They were great about giving new features to the older models in the past, but we’re seeing a clear signal with the 4.0 Marketplace. Most of the cool new stuff is only going to the new kid on the block, and I think that will continue to be the case. They won’t cut you out entirely, but if they’re going to concentrate on making the HD succeed, then I suspect that is where most if not all of their future focus and effort will go.

Sorry for the huge review, but I’m really loving the new Zune, and hope this, as well as the excellent reviews some other people have written, will help you decide if it’s the right choice for you.

Review by enders4you:

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2MCY118RZQL1H Here is a simple video on the features and what the Zune HD player can do . . .

Review by catalyst:

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.

Review by R. L. Lewis:

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.

Review by catalyst:

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.

Review by R. L. Lewis:

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.

Review by catalyst:

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.

Review by R. L. Lewis:

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.

Review by Stan Johnson:

*TAKE NOTE: Don’t turn your radio on UNTIL you have found a clear FM station with the Zune Car Pack 2. Turning your radio on FIRST seems to prevent the device from finding any clear FM station.

*Some people have had luck tuning with the radio on. The important thing to remember is you are tuning a radio and just like a real radio it may take a little effort to tune it.

None of the harsh negative reviews are accurate IMHO and with respect to these people. It really makes me wonder of their validity in every single claim. The reviews greatly differ from the excellent and flawless product I just received and used. It could be that these well meaning people simply missing something on how to use this very simple and EXTREMELY effective device. My experience was a 100% POSITIVE with ZERO trouble! The Zune Car Pack 2 actually shocked the hell out of me because of the negative above reviews (I was already prepared to send it back). Like most everyone I read the user comments before I buy anything. I called Amazon to verify I could send this product back before I bought because of the horrid reviews above. Sometimes I will gamble anyway with a product purchase like this and this time and it paid off BIG. I got exactly what was advertised and what I wanted in my car.

1) I live in a VERY URBAN area. Nearly every single radio frequency is occupied. I plugged in the adapter hooked up the Zune used the auto-tune to find a clear station. Turned on the radio, tuned it to match the clear frequency and the sound was flawless. I honestly could not tell any significant difference from direct input. No kidding it works that well and that easy. There are also online resources that can locate some good clear FM frequencies by zip code if you should need extra help. The Zune Car Pack 2 finds the clearest stations for me everytime.

2) No static at all! Believe me I tried to get it. I shook my Zune like a nut, I shook the transmitter like an ape, I even placed metal objects on the cord and put the transmitter in every weird place I could think of. Perfect no static. I could not make static no matter how I tried (Man, I forgot to wrap everything in aluminum foil…now that may have a chance)! I tried my hardest to make this accessory sound bad and hear the static claims in the previous posted reviews. But the Zune Car Park v2 remained superb.

3) The Zune pad the is designed to hold the Zune on the dash or somewhere flat. Now I had my doubts about this set-up because I drive rather aggressively. I dusted off my dash and place the Zune on the pad. The thing is rock solid and I would trust it in almost all driving circumstances with confidence except for a hard hitting accident. A fender bender won’t move that Zune a bit.

Try it out for yourself. You can always send it back to Amazon if you do not like the way it functions.

Plug in the adapter in the cigarette lighter, plug in the Zune, use auto-tune to find a clear station, turn on the radio, tune it to match the clear fequency and WOW!

The Zune Car Pack 2 is easy, static free, and movement DOES NOT effect the sound at all. As I said before I TRIED my hardest to get static but could not (with the exception of wrapping everything in aluminum foil).

The Zune Car Pack 2 is an excellent product in every respect.

That is what my real-world URBAN experience PROVED to me. I also learned you cannot always trust the reviews you read. Though I would not like to shop without them.

Give it a try as there is really nothing to loose—-

I think that the problem is the device is so simple that people are not following the correct process for the device work properly (and the instructions could be better).

Remember to get the clear station tuned with the Zune Car Pack 1st and then turn on your radio and tune to the clear frequency.

Review by William Cuthbertson:

After being a bit hesitant to pick this up considering the density of the city where I live, I’m really pleased with the quality of the build and the sound of the v2 Zune Car Pack.

It was a bit finicky in bad weather, but the sound quality overall is comparable to any strong radio station broadcast. I also like the that this car pack seems to be made of durable, attractive materials. There’s attractive backlighting on both the plug (to indicate power), and the small tuner that indicates the station, and the tuner is very visible for night driving should you need to read the station.

The rubber pad to prevent your Zune from sliding around works terrifically. Despite speed bumps and sharp turns, the Zune stays on the rubber pad.

Again, I’m very pleased with the Car Pack – especially considering the price has dropped now to about dollars. Well worth it, in my opinion, even in a city as large as Chicago.

Review by Eaglecook:

I picked this skin due to the low cost so I was expecting a cheap thing that I could use until I got a better one. As it turns out, this is a better quality, better fitting skin than some that I have seen for twice the price. When I saw that there was no opening for the on/off button or the volume button I thought that it was negative. After using it, I now think it’s acctually better because it’s easy to push the buttons through the gel, and it’s one less place for it to rip or tear. The cut-out on the bottom is nicely done with no jagged edges to catch on things as I have seen in other skins. This fits my Zune HD perfectly. Well done, excellent value for money!!

Review by Christopher Hallum:

For the price nothing can compare, there is no cut out for the side rocker button or the power button on the top, they are however marked. Frankly if you cant remember where they are located I don’t know how you operate your zune. This doesn’t hamper functionality at all, absolutely no complaints for the prcepoint. The skin is even a mold imitation of the lines of the player so it retains much of its look and adds very little bulk. If you just psent all your fun money on the zune, get this inexpensive case to protect it.