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| Brand: Zune
Category: CE
List Price: $199.00
Buy New: $110.00
You Save: $89.00 (45%)
New (22) Used (8) Refurbished (1) from $100.00
Rating:  243 reviews
Sales Rank: 421
Color: Black
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Display Size: 1.8
Size: 8 GB
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 5.5 x 2.8 x 1.8
Warranty: 1
MPN: HVA-00001
Model: HVA-00001
UPC: 882224747035
EAN: 0882224519977
ASIN: B000WFZSBE
Release Date: November 13, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Better than the new Nano October 18, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I will admit that I generally hold some kind of bias against apple products, but it is not unfounded. One example of why I chose Microsoft over apple can be seen in their hardware lines. Apple creates new ipods every 6 months to a year and basically counts on your current one to somehow fail so you keep buying the newer model. Meanwhile, since launching the Zune, Microsoft has stuck with the same hardware platform and instead upgraded the firmware (for all Zunes) between launches. This means that even if you were an early adopter, you now get the benefits of FM radio tagging, XNA games, accessing the marketplace over wifi, and much more.
Now to talk about the product itself: the flash Zunes are practically identical to the new ipod nanos in terms of size, storage, battery life, and price. Allow me to talk about the few differences here:
FM radio tuner: This is one of those things I would have expected to be standard in mp3 players. While I only occasionally use it, it's a nice feature to have. One interesting use I thought of is plugging an FM transmitter into some other product (cd player, friends mp3 player, home entertainment system,) and using your Zune as a wireless receiver. Zune 3.0 software also added FM song tagging, which displays song info and allows you to add songs to your "cart," queueing them for purchase/ download.
The Controls: as the scroll wheel (which is a wonderful concept) has been patented by Apple, Microsoft needed a different approach for the Zune. it settled on on a square pad that allows you to control two axes by either pushing the sides of the pad down or sliding your finger vertically or horizontally across the pad. This form of navigation becomes very easy to adopt and allows you to quickly navigate through your library. This also becomes useful for XNA games, which can now make use of a trackball-like control system.
Wifi: This is definitely a feature that some people will use more than others. The first of two main uses for the wifi is connecting to other zunes. Doing so allows you to trade songs with eachother (the other person will get 3 plays out of your song for legality's sake.) In addition, you can simply see nearby Zunes and what others are playing, if they choose to enable that feature. This would be great features if more people actually had Zunes around me... as a result, I usually leave the wireless turned off to conserve battery life. In addition to this, you can connect to wireless networks (which don't require web logon pages) and access the Zune social network and download songs from the marketplace directly to your Zune. This becomes especially useful with the Zune Pass, which I'll talk about now.
The Zune pass is a subscription music service which charges $15 a month for the opportunity to legally download any amount of songs from a very vast library. It is NOT necessary to use a Zune, and Microsoft also allows you to buy songs with one dollars' worth of Microsoft points, similar to itunes. Music you get with the zune pass is DRM'ed, and will only play on your computer and Zune (no cd's/ file sharing.) In addition, if you cancel your subscription, the music becomes no longer playable. Some may be wary of a system where you're renting your music and do not actually own any of it, but it liberates you to try many bands and genres that you wouldn't otherwise consider and pays off if you consistently buy 1-2 CD's per month. I would at least recommend trying it for a month or two, in which time you can greatly expand your musical tastes and then if you wish, cancel the services and buy any of the CD's you've discovered from your trial. Microsoft is actually currently offering a free 14 day trial, so it doesn't hurt to give it a shot.
One last thing I want to mention is the new XNA games system that released with the 3.0 firmware. This is the same platform that Microsoft has for the XBOX 360 (constrained to 2d games though) and allows developers or even your average Joe to make a game and put it on Zunes or share/sell. The Zune comes bundled with Hexic and a Texas Hold'em game, but I'm sure many more games will come out soon. Microsoft has additionally announced support for multiplayer games over wifi, which seems promising.
In conclusion, I agree with many others who have called the Zune a viable Ipod contender. While you may not use some of its features very often, they are still nice to have. In addition to the great hardware platform, their record of updating the firmware and the XNA game system offer plenty of new potential for your device over time.
Good Switch from an IPod October 18, 2008
I was using an IPod touch before switching to the Zune. I'm glad I made the switch as the simpler controls make it much more convenient. I only decided to switch after reading many articles on the improvements made with the 3rd generation player and software. The included radio tuner, functionality with Audible, the available subscription service, and an available 8GB flash drive model is what prompted me to finally switch. Perhaps if I were traveling more, the touch would have more functionality, but this is a much more convenient and functional music player for me. The sound quality is excellent combined with the included headset and I was glad to find that it had a progressive fast forward feature for my podcasts and audio books. The display can seem a little dark at times and probably the one featue I would like to see them add would be an easier way to flip thru the tracks of an album as it plays. I'm very happy with this player and I don't miss ITunes in the least. A few of my coworkers, after having seen my new player and heard about the improvements have told me they plan to buy one for themselves soon.
I really hope to see MS do well with this player as better competition in this market will only be good news for us as consumers. I think what MS has done with this generation Zune is good step forward and I look forward to their version 4 software.
Zune Differences October 15, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Some of the differences over many MP3 Players:
Custom Background
Wireless Sync
Wireless Download of Music (any hotspot)
Touch Pad Navigation
Games
Radio
Wireless Sharing with Other Zunes
Zune Review October 12, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
I got my zune from Amazon at an amazing price and it was brand new. the music plays and adds into the zune great very fast also. i used to own a IPod mini with the little gray screen LOL. now my screen has color its smaller in size i even added my own background the zune is a great product.
Great Buy October 1, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Im very satisfied with my purchase. It works great, its the perfect size and fits my needs just as I hoped.
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