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Gadgets Pricing for Zune HD Leaks
Shane McGlaun (Blog) - August 11, 2009 9:15 AM
Print 77 comment(s) - last by Smilin.. on Aug 12 at 5:33 PM
Screen shots claiming to show pricing and capacities for Zune HD PMP hit the web

Microsoft is set to release its latest Zune model next month and will do battle with a third-generation Apple iPod touch which will be launched at around the same time. DailyTech first reported on the Zune HD in May and now more details are surfacing about the device.

Gizmodo has posted leaked screen shots that are apparently from a Best Buy computer system. The screens show that the Zune HD will be coming in September with 16GB and 32GB models. The 32GB version of the Zune HD will sell for $289.99 and the 16GB version will sell for $219.99.

We already know the specifications for the Zune HD. The device will have a 3.3-inch OLED screen that is touch capable. Initial rumors had pegged the device as coming in 4GB and 8GB capacities as well as the 16GB and 32GB versions shown in the leaked screen shots.

The Zune HD is powered by an NVIDIA Tegra processor and has HDMI out to directly connect to a TV. Other features include a full web browser that can be used in portrait or landscape mode, Wi-Fi, and HD radio tuner.

The Zune HD certainly looks cool and has plenty of features that make it stand out against the iPod touch. However, the iPod touch has access to the biggest app store out there and Apple iPods are currently much more popular than Zune devices.

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Really?
By MrDiSante on 8/11/2009 9:41:42 AM , Rating: 4
quote:
The Zune HD [...] is priced along the lines similar Apple products.


Really? Looks to me like a 16 gig iTouch is $300, and a 32 gig is $400. Yeah they'll probably drop prices, but that's still taking great temporal liberties.




RE: Really?
By Brandon Hill (blog) on 8/11/2009 9:47:33 AM , Rating: 2
Thanks for the note, it has been corrected.


RE: Really?
By Omega215D on 8/11/2009 10:28:32 AM , Rating: 3
I'm actually considering the Zune HD only if the sound quality is up there with Cowon, Samsung and Sony.

I wanted the Sony X-1000 but the 32GB costs $400. The Zune has it beat it that area so screw Sony, they're just as bad as Apple when it comes to pricing.


RE: Really?
By Mitch101 on 8/11/2009 10:35:53 AM , Rating: 2
Im curious if they will run the discount on Zune HD for existing Zune owners. It could certainly jump start sales if they did.


RE: Really?
By Scott66 on 8/11/2009 1:00:03 PM , Rating: 1
Yeah, that's going to happen with MS.


RE: Really?
By Smilin on 8/11/2009 1:45:33 PM , Rating: 3
Or any other company who likes to stay in business.

This is hardware, not software.


RE: Really?
By BPB on 8/11/09, Rating: 0
RE: Really?
By Alexstarfire on 8/11/2009 2:13:33 PM , Rating: 2
But it's not $100 less since on a Zune you don't pay per song, you pay a subscription fee. Not that you couldn't I suppose, but it'd be really foolish I think.


RE: Really?
By BPB on 8/11/2009 3:47:24 PM , Rating: 2
I don't have a Zune, but don't people put their own music on it as well as use the subscrition service? So, assuming people with Zunes also buy music then it is the same. Plus, Slacker has both a free setup and a pay service. The free setup is pretty darn good in and of itself, but the pay service is only $3.99 a month. I believe the Zune's service, which is pay only, is much more money (about $10 or $11 a month more). I'm not saying the Zune HD won't be worth considering (I myself am considering it), I am saying I think the Walkman is a better deal than people think.


RE: Really?
By Alexstarfire on 8/11/2009 4:18:03 PM , Rating: 2
Well, you can put whatever songs you already have onto the Zune, and then with the Zune Pass you pay a monthly fee to listen to whatever you want and on top of that you get to keep a few songs permanently each month. I can't give specifics since I don't have a Zune or use the service, but I think it's far better than what you get with the iTunes service.


RE: Really?
By Smilin on 8/11/2009 4:26:46 PM , Rating: 3
Zunepass =

Put whatever songs you already own on Zune.

Have access to the whole online library in DRM form for free as long as you pay monthly fee.

Buy any song you want permanently (mp3) at 99 cents song (no 1.39 or anything like that)

Get 10 free songs to keep (mp3) each month.

Mind you that's just the pricing scheme. Zune really shines when you go to leverage that Zune pass to actually find new music. When you have access to their whole library the question becomes, "out of anything, what do I want to listen to?" ... well they provide you with great tools to find out.

I've discovered some great music listening to bands that are popular with users who have playlists similar to mine.


RE: Really?
By SilentSin on 8/11/2009 10:53:11 AM , Rating: 4
I've read elsewhere ( http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-12519_7-10303243-49.h... ) that the exact same DAC is used in the ZuneHD that was in the previous Zunes, so you can probably already make any subjective comparisons you need to before the HD is released. Can't say I've listened to all of those players side-by-side, but with audio it's always a user-specific comparison as to what "sounds better". I will say that the Zune always receives high marks from reviewers on sound quality.

Personally, I think it's a plus that they are using the same DAC, the SQ on my Zune 80GB is fantastic. I just hope they implement a proper line out instead of the ridiculous hoops you have to go through to get unadulterated line out on the current Zune line up.


RE: Really?
By clovell on 8/11/2009 11:16:09 AM , Rating: 5
In my experience, my Zune has always sounded better than my g/f's iPod. Both in the dock, the car, and over the earphones.


RE: Really?
By Omega215D on 8/11/2009 3:21:12 PM , Rating: 5
Almost any player out there sounds better than an iPod. I received an iPod Touch as a gift and hooked up some nice headphones to it only to find that the player fuzzes out when the bass boost is on. When moving to another EQ setting the bass is there but far from what I was expecting. Even the $100 SanDisk does better.

I currently use my Cowon S9. I've played with Zunes before and loved the sound quality (even Zunes that took out the EQ). Sony is known to have punchy sound.


RE: Really?
By chrnochime on 8/12/2009 12:04:53 AM , Rating: 1
I stopped reading after you put "sound quality" and "Sony" and the implicit assumption that good sound quality exist in portable players.


RE: Really?
By Smilin on 8/12/2009 1:54:58 PM , Rating: 2
Here, put this in your vocabulary "relative".

..and stop being a tool.


I'm getting one.
By Smilin on 8/11/2009 10:40:35 AM , Rating: 5
Compare all day long about apple and msft if you want but this product has what I'm after:

Music.

I don't care about apps. Seriously. I just want my headphones in my ears and my device in my pocket.

Zunes just sound better than iPods and this one is bringing back a sound processor (EQ) like the Zune 30 had.

Everyone is all "ooh ahh" over album art...Zune has had it since version 1.0. Everyone is also like "I can tag songs on my iTunes aware stereo that I bought separately". This thing has it built in (alongside the HD radio tuner).

Adding artists bios, related artists, influencing artists, photo spreads and all that will be nice port from the online experience to the local one but I'll get the most from this when online at my PC.

Neither model will hold my whole music collection but I haven't seen a flash based device yet that could. If a future refresh gets this to 64gig I'll be good.

Also..unless something earth shattering comes along from apple I'll likely stay zune until it succeedes or dies. Zune (online) just puts iTunes to shame.

To all the apple zealots who refuse to convert I say, "meh. your loss". As long as I'm happy.




RE: I'm getting one.
By clovell on 8/11/2009 11:19:15 AM , Rating: 2
I echo those sentiments.


RE: I'm getting one.
By etherreal777 on 8/11/2009 1:22:40 PM , Rating: 4
I agree whole-heartedly. My whole thought process when buying an MP3 player is centered around "Does it sound good?", and "How much does it hold?". I had a 40GB Creative Zen Touch for five years, and when it finally started to flake after much abuse, the Zune 120 turned out to be the only option for a replacement, simply because it sounds great and can hold all my music (finally!). Podcasts and videos are a neat addition, but hardly central to my purchase. The only thing that I can think of that would make it better is a fully functional browser. If we see a 120GB Zune HD with a browser, it may be a quickly purchased upgrade to my current Zune....


RE: I'm getting one.
By Kibbles on 8/11/2009 4:51:05 PM , Rating: 2
I'm seriously considering getting one. Only reason I don't buy a Zune now is the battery life. The tegra should make it on par with apple or better.


RE: I'm getting one.
By Smilin on 8/11/2009 5:54:11 PM , Rating: 2
I'm not seeing any battery life issues here (2xZune 8, Zune 30) but I've heard this comment enough to figure there is something to it.

I've run my 8gig for a 8 hour flight to Europe along with ~2-3 hours before and after. Is that the use everyone is complaining about?

note: this was purely music playing with very little screen interraction and no videos / network.


RE: I'm getting one.
By Kibbles on 8/11/2009 7:01:41 PM , Rating: 2
Well maybe I shouldn't have used Apple, since I don't have any Apple products, so I'm not sure about iPods (I don't want to buy Apple). But my Sony walkman can play nonstop for almost 2 days. I was put it on play at my usual audio level, hooked it up to speakers, and left it.


RE: I'm getting one.
By Smilin on 8/12/2009 5:33:20 PM , Rating: 2
Ah gotcha. Yeah, two full days is absurd battery life. Very impressive.

No complaints about a full day out of the Zune though.


RE: I'm getting one.
By Sazar on 8/11/2009 4:57:00 PM , Rating: 2
My only issue when I had my Zune 80 was lack of peripherals. That REALLY bugged me and I am hoping Microsoft learnt from their mistakes with the licensing for 3'rd party items.

Also, I wonder if they will release some kind of app store for the Zune, simply to allow it to be a better gaming system as well as media player (what with the Tegra built-in, should have some horsepower).

Having a Pandora App would be fantastic in conjunction with the Zune Pass.


RE: I'm getting one.
By Smilin on 8/11/2009 5:55:30 PM , Rating: 2
I'm hoping they'll just outright merge Zune online and Xbox live.


A true iPod touch rival
By backtomac on 8/11/2009 9:55:04 AM , Rating: 2
These look very nice. The hardware looks impressive and the Zune UI now rivals that of the iPod, perhaps even better.

Still its hard to unseat an deeply entrenched market leader. A reality that Apple knows all to well. But its nice to see MS pushing Apple in the area. We all can benefit.




RE: A true iPod touch rival
By clovell on 8/11/2009 11:17:51 AM , Rating: 4
I've always liked the Zune UI better, but to each his own. The album art layout is just a lot nicer to me.


RE: A true iPod touch rival
By Smilin on 8/11/2009 12:16:25 PM , Rating: 3
Same here. I like how the top menu "flips" as you navigate deeper.

It's trivial, but for those that haven't played with one here is an example:

Select "music"
You get a menu with Artists, albums, playlists that you navigate up and down to.

Select say 'playlists'
You then get a menu with all your playlists that you navigate up and down to while left/right now flip you between items in the previous menu: artists, albums, playlists

Select a playlist. You now get a vertical scrolling list of the songs in the playlist while the left/right now flip you between different playlists from the previous menu.

It's clever and intuitive when you use it. You can really tell this thing was made by a software company familiar with building a UI. It will be interesting to see if they do this or something similar in the HD.


Free music?
By BPB on 8/11/2009 10:29:20 AM , Rating: 2
Does either Apple or MS allow you to cache music on their players the way Sony does with the X Series of Walkman? I have the 32GB Walkman X Series and love the Slacker app which downloads three Slacker channels to the device so I can listen at work without the need for wifi. My understanding is that Apple lets you run Slacker, but only via a wifi connection. Is that correct? And what about MS and the Zune, do they allow caching of music or should I assume you'll need wifi as well? For me having the Slacker app is like getting tons of free music since I can play it anywhere at any time. If the Zune allows something like the Sony setup then I can see myself passing the Walkman to the Misses and getting a Zune HD for myself, otherwise I think I'll get another Walkman for her.




RE: Free music?
By Smilin on 8/11/2009 12:28:49 PM , Rating: 3
I'm not familiar with Slacker but I'll take a shot at answering for you.

Zune has this thing in the online service called "channels" that correspond to different music types, some dedicated dj channles, plus some stuff that is custom picked based on your past preferences. When you subscribe to one of these it will do a "push" to your machine and/or device anytime there is a network sync. You can then listen online or offline...no wireless or usb needed.

As for the caching..not sure what you mean really but I think this arises from confusion around the Zune pass.

With some online services you get to stream/download some content that you don't own so long as it's picked for you. With the Zune pass you can just download any individual track you want. As long as your Zune pass is active you get access to the entire collection.. If you like a song, snag it as a permanent mp3 using one of your 10 monthly freebeis (or just buy for 99cents if you have used up the freebies).

I hope that helped?


RE: Free music?
By BPB on 8/11/2009 4:02:42 PM , Rating: 2
Thanks, that did help. So, on the one hand the Zune pass ain't cheap, I've read it's $15 a month. On the other hand, you get 10 free downloads a month, so you could say that if you use the 10 downloads every month then you are only paying about $5 for the Zune pass. Not too bad. The Slacker app has both free use and subscription. The free does what you say, it chooses the music you get (and you have commercials), but you can skip songs you don't like (up to 6 an hour). The pay service lets you have unlimited skips and no commercials (though the commercials are really short, usually something like "This is Slacker Radio".) The pay service let's you request songs while online using a PC, but I don't know if it lets you do that for portable devices. Probably not, which makes the Zune Pass pretty nice. Still, $15 a month is a lot of money, and the songs only play if your Pass is paid up.

Hmmm, lots to consider. I want to get either another Walkman X Series for my wife, or a Zune HD. Choice is good, can't really lose either way.


One of these...
By 3minence on 8/11/2009 9:48:58 AM , Rating: 5
... may be in my future. I really want an iPod Touch but I will never get one while Apple maintains it's closed system. I realize the loss of one customer means nothing to Mr. Jobs but I feel strongly about choice.




Just wait until next summer...
By mcnabney on 8/11/2009 9:54:20 AM , Rating: 2
... I am looking forward to picking one of these up next summer for $99.99 at Buy.com.




RE: Just wait until next summer...
By Murst on 8/11/2009 11:08:42 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
... I am looking forward to picking one of these up next summer for $99.99 at Buy.com.

Yeah, or maybe this year banks will let us have a choice of getting a Zune or iTouch when opening a checking account w/ direct deposit. So far, they've only been offering iTouches in my area.


Can you hear me now?
By Ebbyman on 8/11/2009 10:10:29 AM , Rating: 3
It is like a lot of things. I like it a lot, but don't have a need to buy it and I think a lot of people feel the same way. My PSP still provides me all the mobile entertainment I need. It may not be the best in class for everything, but it works well enough.

If they really want me to buy this thing, then they need to get the word "Verizon" stamped on it (this is my prediction btw). Then they would have at least one customer for certain (hint hint to Verizon, maybe finally you will get a cool phone for a change).




The only reason I'm interested
By Morphine06 on 8/11/2009 10:19:58 AM , Rating: 2
I installed the Zune player for my desktop collection browsing and was really impressed with it. Very fast even over the network. It's far less customizable than what I was using (foobar2000 and MediaMonkey before that) but as long as the ID3 tags are clean you don't need to customize it. I still use my Cowon X5 60GB (roxbox'd), but it makes me want a device that can sync with that software.

At first I was disappointed in the sizes of the PMP and wanted a larger one. The truth is I have 60GB now and it's just too much for me to browse when I'm on the go. I'd be okay with less storage at this point if I could go home and sync easily with the zune player.




ZuneHD
By sdgserv on 8/11/2009 11:11:50 AM , Rating: 2
I have bought
2 x 8gig
2 x30gig
1 x 80gig
1 x 120gig
Zune players for my family and the only complaint was battery life. Everybody can use the software and they all love the radio feature. Really like to try this new one.




Excellent
By thekdub on 8/11/2009 2:56:53 PM , Rating: 2
That pricing is great, I'm really excited to see what the Zune HD has to offer when it comes out. Even if it ends up sucking, it could still potentially pressure Apple to drop the prices on the iPod Touch.

Although, I'm really hoping MS has plans to implement their own app store. So far, the HD really doesn't offer a whole lot more over my Zune 30 to justify paying $300 for it.




Thats a good start for MS
By bill3 on 8/11/2009 6:41:52 PM , Rating: 2
I've always thought the first zune was a real screwup. Bulky and ugly (and what the hell was with MS pushing the hideous BROWN color model so much? Unbelievable). And I always figured to really compete with Ipod, it had be cheaper.

Well it looks like this model has a couple big things going for it..$100 cheaper than same size iPod, and the OLED screen.

Of course now I'd worry that if this iteration of Zune doesnt take off, MS will kill the Zune, since this seems to be sort of a last hurrah. So that would be a drawback.




Creative Zii
By Zensen on 8/12/2009 11:14:37 AM , Rating: 2
I know the dev version is out and about but I look forward to seeing the consumer version of the zii out soon with pricing details. See how the zune hd and the zii compare...




Yup...
By spartan014 on 8/11/09, Rating: -1
RE: Yup...
By novacthall on 8/11/2009 9:56:46 AM , Rating: 5
Right, I need 73 fart apps on my Zune or it's NO DEAL.


RE: Yup...
By Brandon Hill (blog) on 8/11/09, Rating: -1
RE: Yup...
By novacthall on 8/11/2009 10:07:00 AM , Rating: 5
Whoa, looks like I hit a nerve.

Come on, Brandon, I know you can take a joke.


RE: Yup...
By Brandon Hill (blog) on 8/11/09, Rating: 0
RE: Yup...
By novacthall on 8/11/2009 10:17:23 AM , Rating: 4
No, that makes perfect sense. It's like Apple zealots endlessly harping on Windows for being crash-prone and virus-ridden, or Windows zealots saying "it just works" after something doesn't on a Mac. I see where you're coming from.

All kidding aside, I acknowledge the utility of the app store and there's undeniable a lot of quality programming to be had. Nobody's forcing you to download the trash.

Even still, the app store has a lot of things it could do better. There are pieces Microsoft would do well to emulate, but the mysteriously authoritarian iron gauntlet that Apple uses in its app approval/removal process has to end. At this point Apple's only becoming a parody of its former self.


RE: Yup...
By quiksilvr on 8/11/2009 2:16:10 PM , Rating: 2
I've decided to steer this conversation elsewhere. *clears throat*...

WHY ISN'T THIS THING A PHONE?! D:<


RE: Yup...
By Smilin on 8/12/2009 1:56:38 PM , Rating: 2
because we can't hear our MUSIC when someone is talking to us.


RE: Yup...
By jvillaro on 8/11/2009 2:43:11 PM , Rating: 2
You should also know by now that Microsoft has a store that keeps building up, and with the anounced integration with xbox live for video and surely games. I could bet "apps" should be on the way also.


RE: Yup...
By Spivonious on 8/11/2009 10:22:53 AM , Rating: 5
But how many of those "apps" are just containers for webpages? Your list does seem to be mostly games, but I roll my eyes every time I see an iPhone ad saying that there's an app for finding restaurants. I can find restaurants too, just use Bing or Google and save the $5 app cost.


RE: Yup...
By xsilver on 8/11/2009 10:39:06 AM , Rating: 1
agree - the only thing on that list I see that my ancient nokia phone cant do is wolfenstein 3d.


RE: Yup...
By aebiv on 8/11/2009 11:33:46 AM , Rating: 2
Or WinMo...


RE: Yup...
By Alexstarfire on 8/11/2009 2:09:08 PM , Rating: 2
Is that a joke? Because I'm pretty sure the iPhone can't do WinMo either.


RE: Yup...
By lwright84 on 8/11/09, Rating: -1
RE: Yup...
By MrDiSante on 8/11/2009 2:23:12 PM , Rating: 3
It can do ALL of that? Seriously? You mean like http://www.dine.to/, http://www.toronto.com/restaurants, http://www.torontolife.com/restaurants/, http://www.restaurantguidetoronto.com/ and another dozen websites that are available for each city, province/state and country? No way!

Seriously, it's amazing that there's a program that lets me explore and submit data aggregated on a server using a graphical interface. Oh wait. Welcome to any half-way decent browser and the majority of websites today.

There are a lot of useful/genuinely entertaining programs providing unique functionality on the iPhone/iPod Touch such as the aforementioned IM+, Office on the go, etc. The problem is that idiots like you who don't know how to use browsers, and are more than willing to provide stellar reviews and pay hard-earned cash for applications that are a novelty item at best, which then causes developers to flood the app store with crap like iFart, Phonesaber and your beloved Urbanspoon instead of spending some time to write something that is of actual value.


RE: Yup...
By Spivonious on 8/12/2009 9:35:23 AM , Rating: 2
Or just use Bing. It has reviews, filters, ratings, all that stuff right on the search results page. It might not be a great general purpose search engine, but for things like travel and restaurants it's a step above the others.


RE: Yup...
By Totally on 8/11/2009 11:11:16 AM , Rating: 2
Why are you even comparing an Mp3 player to phone?


RE: Yup...
By monomer on 8/11/2009 11:20:48 AM , Rating: 2
Just replace iPhone with iPod Touch if it really bothers you that much.


RE: Yup...
By Totally on 8/11/2009 2:36:45 PM , Rating: 2
from Brandon's list of apps 'Cyclops (UPC reader)'

unfortunately most apps aren't coded for both.


RE: Yup...
By teldar on 8/11/2009 11:42:44 AM , Rating: 2
Because they're the same piece of hardware except for the cell phone transmission circuitry.


RE: Yup...
By raabscuttle on 8/11/2009 12:09:52 PM , Rating: 2
Um, why are you comparing a telephone to an MP3 player?


RE: Yup...
By Smilin on 8/11/2009 12:31:22 PM , Rating: 3
That's quite a list.

So all those apps make the music sound better right?


RE: Yup...
By Scott66 on 8/11/2009 12:57:20 PM , Rating: 2
Brandon, approx how many of the apps are free. I see mostly games on your list, what do they cost you on average.


RE: Yup...
By Brandon Hill (blog) on 8/11/2009 1:21:25 PM , Rating: 3
The majority of those apps were free. The ones I paid for were mostly between 99 cents and $4.99


RE: Yup...
By Alexstarfire on 8/11/2009 2:06:25 PM , Rating: 2
Sounds more like you need a portable gaming device. Half of those are games and the other half, apart from the UPC reader and the Trapster (of which I would strongly question it's accuracy), seems like they could be done on the web. Though I'm not quite sure what Shazam, Zillow, and Air Sharing are exactly.


RE: Yup...
By mofo3k on 8/11/2009 10:01:15 AM , Rating: 2
Well, they already have games you can get for your current zune so I imagine they could use the Zune Store for things like this.


RE: Yup...
By Murst on 8/11/2009 10:55:13 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
Its true. Unless they can come up with something similar to the app store, nobody is going to find the Zune HD worth the price tag..

Well, we have an iTouch and bought it for listening to MP3s... its the 1st gen one and back when we got it, the app store wasn't anything special - and I'm not sure if it even existed. So I guess you're saying that the Zune will be a horrible MP3 player? Cause I'm guessing that most people out there are like me, and use their iTouches ( and Zunes ) mainly for playing music. I guess I can be wrong about that though.

If I want to play games, I use my PSP. Sure, it means carrying around another device, but I haven't really seen an iTouch as a replacement for a device like the PSP.


RE: Yup...
By clovell on 8/11/2009 11:12:49 AM , Rating: 2
Maybe. The Zune has plenty of features - they simply need to highlight them. The software is a big one. The pricing plans are another. The games are another (and yes, I know an iPod Touch can play games, but I haven't seen a traditional iPod or a nano do it).

I think it's worth it without the app store, but I like Zune, and I know what it can do. In order to gain market share, they will need some kind of widget factory similar to Apple.


RE: Yup...
By Smilin on 8/11/2009 12:09:34 PM , Rating: 5
-1 for thinking music listeners MUST care about apps too.


RE: Yup...
By Sazar on 8/11/2009 4:57:42 PM , Rating: 2
They don't have to. But it's a nice-to-have if it can be made feasible.


RE: Yup...
By inighthawki on 8/11/2009 1:14:28 PM , Rating: 2
Even without an apps store, microsoft has one major thing that apple doesnt...XNA. If the zune hd did ever take off, microsoft already has a great programming platform directly available for the zune to make high quality games, not to mention that and XNA app could easily be redesigned to utilize the video processing for general purpose acceleration with normal apps.

Apart from that, i still agree above that you should not necessarily feel that it won't do well due to the lack of an app store, because some people don't care about it.


it's nice and everything, but....
By raabscuttle on 8/11/09, Rating: -1
By Smilin on 8/11/2009 12:41:38 PM , Rating: 5
No RROD but they fessed up, corrected that, and extended customer warranties so that wouldn't be much fun. :(

Maybe they'll license the "make my iPod explode" technology from Apple and hire their lawers to help them deny and sue dads who talk about it. Maybe they'll license that "make my $2000 computer screen look like it's got vaseline on it" technology (along with the denying lawyers). Wait, wait, I got it: They should license the "falling off the network" technology along with the "show me on the network anyway" technology. The lawyers that come with that one have these really long (read: Munsters/Lurch) like fingers that they always point at AT&T.

Microsoft makes some pretty good electronics dude. I've still got keyboards and mice with 100k miles on them and if they ever fail it's a lifetime warranty.


RE: it's nice and everything, but....
By thekdub on 8/11/2009 2:52:10 PM , Rating: 4
Obviously you haven't used a Zune before. It is literally one of the most durable pieces of electronics I have ever used.

Other than the leap year bug (which has since been patched, and was an easy fix to begin with), I have not had any sort of problem with my Zune 30. It's been dropped anywhere from 2 to 5 feet onto concrete sidewalks and driveways multiple times, been rained on for a good 10 minutes, and left in my car for hours on a hot summer day, and it still works exactly like the day I got it, albeit with a few nicks and scratches on the outside.

Microsoft may have a bad rap when it comes to other products, but I have been completely impressed by their Zunes, much more so than with the iPod. Unfortunately for Microsoft, they couldn't market it if it was the only MP3 player available.


By Smilin on 8/11/2009 3:13:05 PM , Rating: 2
I agree with everything you said.

I've been delighted with my Zunes and I look forward to buying this one.

You're especially right about this though: MS marketting on this thing sucks. Seriously I have to ask the guy at BestBuy where the Zune cards are to be found.. there is a whole wall of apple stuff.

Ever seen a Zune commercial? I have!! ....once.


RE: it's nice and everything, but....
By Sazar on 8/11/2009 4:59:37 PM , Rating: 2
I had my 80GB one for a while, no scratches on it and I never used a cover :D

Sold it to my friend and he's used it a lot rougher than I ever had and still no scratches.


By Smilin on 8/11/2009 5:58:19 PM , Rating: 2
My 30 picked up a few. My 8s with the glass cover didn't..

Strangely that bothers me. I want the thing to look well worn after a few years. I have no intention of reselling and it gives it character. :P


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