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139 of 143 found the following review helpful:
 The One Dec 19, 2007
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.
297 of 320 found the following review helpful:
Zune- bye, bye Zen and Windows Media too Nov 14, 2007
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.
161 of 176 found the following review helpful:
This is a great device Nov 21, 2007
By Arnold Larson
This is my first mp3 player. I'd always thought I might like a small device that could be used while exercising, but I've hesitated to buy one because I wasn't sure how much I'd actually use it. The Zune feature that pushed me over the edge is the FM radio, which made the device too attractive not to try out. I'm extremely happy that I made the plunge and bought the Zune. I now take it everywhere and listen to music or the radio at work, on the bus, at the gym, everywhere. It has easily surpassed my bar of usefulness and utility. I'm not a big gadget person and I don't like the time and energy it takes to figure out how to use a new program or game, but the Zune user experience has been everything that I could have hoped for. The controls are simple and a pleasure to use. Right out of the box I was able to get it figured out and working. This is a great device.
176 of 198 found the following review helpful:
 Music To My Ears Apr 11, 2008
By Sky
I opened my new 8GB Zune to the pleasant surprise of what amounted to 3 pretty simple steps to getting started:
1) Download the Zune software (required from the Zune web site). However, while a pretty simple step, it takes about 20 minutes or so to get through if you include signing up for a Zune account.
2) Load the songs you want.
3) Let the unit fully charge.
And that's it. You're ready to rock and roll. Or at least that's it for me. For now I don't see myself using the Zune for anything but music. But it should be noted that the Zune also plays videos, pictures, podcasts, FM radio and can also network with other Zune owners in your direct vicinity.
The Zune charges on any USB connection, but you won't be able to get it to do anything else until you download the cruddy software package. Did I say "cruddy" software? Let me share a few gripes:
All of the music stored in my PC library from CDs that I've ripped is Windows Audio Lossless...apx 30mb per song. With other media devices like the iPod, Zen or Walkman they automatically convert to much smaller mp3 files (like 3mb per song) when syncing. But the 8GB Zune syncs my collection at the full file size allowing me to put on only about 250 songs instead of thousands. I spoke with Zune customer support and they confirmed that the Zune won't convert my WMA Lossless library to MP3s on the Zune. I'm really disappointed that the Microsoft Zune won't do this with my Microsoft WMA lossless files but my Creative Zen, Apple iPod and Sony Walkman all WILL!!!! The customer support person did hint that an update that includes the capability could be on the near horizon, but she wasn't making any promises.
{5-7-2008 UPDATE! A PATCH HAS BEEN RELEASED THAT ALLOWS CONVERSION OF ALL MUSIC TO "DEVICE QUALITY"; hence, WMA Lossless audio on your PC can now be converted to apx 10 MB or less...whew!} (However, after all my complaining, I find it strange that the Zune now will not allow transfer of music at any higher than "device quality"; in other words, I could now not transfer songs at the full WMA Lossless file size even if I wanted to.)
If you're used to the Windows Media Player's 5-star rating system, that's out the "Window" with the Zune. With the Zune all you get to do is rate a song "I like it" or "I don't like it". Who has songs that they "don't like" in their library? All I wanted on my Zune was my 4 & 5 star rated songs from Windows Media Player. Since the Zune didn't identify with that system, I had to go through hundreds of songs and either rate them or tell the device not to sync with a certain song, BECAUSE....
The device will automatically sync with every song in the folder(s) that you tell it to monitor on your PC whenever you connect the device. You can tell the Zune not to sync with a song by right clicking on the song in your Zune Library and selecting "never sync with my Zune", or with the 5/7/2008 you can now tell the Zune not to sync with songs that you "don't like". You can also choose the option that stops the Zune from auto-syncing and make it sync to songs only when you do it manually.
Finally, the unit comes pretty bare bones: it includes some fair-at-best headphones and a USB connection...no AC Adapter.
So all in all, is it a decent music player?...sure. Is it as good as it could be?...It could still use some patches, but hearing that the patch that fixes the sync conversion is available was music to my ears.
5/12/08 update - Since the Zune Version 2.5 update was released, I bought a second Zune for my son. The second Zune had an issue recognizing the new update prior to being fully charged, because Zune's that are being shipped at the time of this writing are still version 2.3. Therefore, the fix for this is (at least for me) was changing the order of my 3-step instruction above to:
1) Let the unit fully charge.
2) Download the Zune software. However, while a pretty simple step, it takes about 20 minutes or so to get through if you include signing up for a Zune account.
3) Connect the Zune; it may then tell you that you need to upgrade the device to version 2.5 which takes only a few more minutes.
4) Load the songs you want.
30 of 30 found the following review helpful:
Yes, I'm an Apple Fangirl; and yes, I like the Zune Dec 11, 2008
By tukewl4u720
"Working mother, fiance, and lover of literature."
I have an ipod classic, but after ruining multiple classics jogging with them, I decided to get a flash-drive based player, and thought "it's now or never" to try out the Microsoft Zune.
First Impressions: The packing is very nice; it's been said before, but it's very true. It made me realize how plain the iPod box is. This isn't a really important thing, but it's a nice touch.
The Zune itself is somehow a lot sleeker in person than in pictures; I don't know why, it just is. It's not as thin as my mom's 3rd generation iPod Nano, but it's not super thick either, and the controls kind of blend into the machine, at least with the black.
Sort of important: The Games were not already in the machine! I certainly didn't buy the zune for its games (which pale in comparison to the ipod's) but this had me pissed off until I figured it out. You have to update the zune, even if its new, to add the games to it.
Okay, ease of use: I've been using the trial for the zune pass, and converting the music using TuneBite (so that I can keep it even when my trial is done), and since I'm not paying for anything, it's a good deal for the next week. :)
I decided to not read the manual and try to figure out the controls on my own (to simulate the normal user of a new product), and it took me a little bit, being used to the ipod clickwheel, to realize that you scroll up and down, and not round and round. I miss the click wheel, but since apple patented that, it's not Microsoft's fault and theirs is a decent alternative.
The Zune 3.0 Software is gorgeous, much better looking than itunes, but I've gotta say: Personally, I'm all about playlists; I like to get ocd about them; and I just don't like the way the Zune software has you create them.
I didn't think I would appreciate or even really use the radio function, since I haven't been into radio since I was fifteen and got my first ipod, but the ability to add things to your cart actually got me listening to local stations again. Plus, it reminded me that my favorite npr "podcasts" are actually streaming 24/7 on the airwaves, lol.
The battery life seems about what my mom's ipod nano is; not great, not bad. An interesting note is that the zune doesn't need to be "ejected" from the computer; it can just be unplugged without harming it at all.
I didn't use the earbuds that came with the Zune, since I have my own higher-end pair, but they look and feel a lot like the apple ipod earbuds that come with that product.
Look, the thing is, product-wise, an mp3 is an mp3 is an mp3. If you're looking to play games on your player (and I understand that urge), get an ipod, but if there's any chance you'll use the radio function, try out the Zune. If you don't mind buying the "newest and latest" once or twice a year, get the ipod; if you don't want to have to bother with that, get the Zune, since unlike the ipod, the Zune's new features are always available, even for older models.
All in all, I don't feel nearly as culturally irrelevant holding my Zune in public as I thought I would, and the interface doesn't look cheap or "second tear" at all.
It's a good investment, and I'm glad I made it. It's one less ipod classic I have to replace.
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