Unboxing the Zune

The Zune launches tomorrow, and Gamepro just got their hands on theirs. While it couldn't have possibly come in an uglier color, the machine looks to be quite the media system, and just look at that screen.

What will the full extent of the Zune's innovative features be? Only time will tell.

[original seed]

i really like that you can listen to the radio on it.

[kmis87]

Zune's not really for me. I have an iPod nano, because I don't really need to watch videos, I just listen to it when I got running. But if I did want to have a better portable media machine I'd look into Zune. The wireless functionality is a brilliant idea. Hopefully the competition leads Apple to further improve and innovate in their products as well so in the end consumers benefit.

[ImTheNumber12]

are two reasons. Reason 1 being that I don't own an ipod. Reason two is the thought of coming home with some MS points, buying something like castle crashers, downloading some videos from my pc that I can also watch on my 360, and then downloading some songs all without using anything but a cord and those points...or at least I hope that's how it ends up working.

and while they're at it maybe they can toss in live anywhere so I can message a friend from the zune.

[Balance]

i will get one. for one i HATE my sony walkman, biggest hunk of crap ever. two, my wife has an ipod and i don't like it at all. also with the marketplace video coming soon i can get movies and transfer them to the zune. the built in radio is awsome and some of the accessories are a good idea (hard platic cases, spare battery you don't have to open the device to put in etc..) and the tie in with the 360 puts it over the top for me.

[Yo Wassap]

It might have a bigger screen but i'll keep my ipod any day because it's damn ugly. I just get my movies from my dvds so no quarrels there, but maybe if you didn't have an ipod and needed a larger screen this is for you.

[BIadestarX]

I have a nano. and I can relate to what you say. You are a music guy and only care to use it to listen to songs.
But how can I resist all these features that the IPod do not have:

WiFi capability: Zune users will be able to share music between via Wi-Fi, that is to say, Zune to Zune sharing.

Capacity: 30GB hard-drive.

Media supported: Zune can play both audio and video, supports WMV, MPEG-4, H.264 up to 320x240 and unprotected WMA, MP3, AAC formats up to 320Kbps, 48KHz.

Music: The screen appears the album's cover when music be played.

Video size: 3-inch LCD high resolution screen, bigger than video iPod's 2.5-inch.

Resolution: 320 x 240.

Built-in: TV output, FM radio tuner. DJ mode is supported.

Online Music Store: Named Zune marketplace which will sell songs as well as movies online. You could subscribe to the marketplace for $14.99 a month with unlimited downloads for that month, or go for individual downloads (roughly 99 cents).

Good for you you do not want any of these features, but not everyone that owns a nano will want to keep away from the zune.

Now if you don't have a Nano(considering the features against the price difference), getting the zune is no brainer unless ofcourse you prefer the apple brand and/or hate microsoft and wouldn't want to buy anything they make (i.e. Sony fanboy, linux guy, etc).

[Yomaster]

I recently ordered a black Zune from bestbuy.com, and I can't wait for it. I sold my PSP because the games were weak and I was basically using it as an MP3 Player. My sister has a Nano and I hate it, especially the iTunes software, so this was the choice for me. That brown does look kind of ugly in these pics, I've seen it before, but in other pictures I've never seen it so strange looking. It seems like an orangy-brown to me.

[jsuch2002]

Has anyone looked a Creative Vision M. Better MP3 player BY FAR!!!!

[BIadestarX]

Is the screen as big as the zune? Does it have more memory capacity? what the price difference?

[willymcd]

they pretty much rule if you don't mind something a little bit bigger. i don't know why people are ragging on the zune, its actually pretty cool, and i would say a hell of a lot better then an ipod, not aesthetically though. but ipod are such hype and trend.

i agree the creative players are sweet, i like the W, my sister has an M and the thing is great.

[The_Firestarter]

Even though I HATE Ipods, the Zune is very unimpressive compared to the Ipod. It may have the wireless feed from Zune to Zune, but it's just not worth it. The Ipod can play H.264 video, .mov, and MPEG-4 video while the Zune can only play WMV! That's sad. I know it's made my Microsoft, but that's barely any video support for the SAME PRICE as the Ipod. The screen is barely any bigger than that of the Ipod. The Zune is practically a spruced clone of the Ipod. Noticed any similarities? The wheel in the middle and the top/bottom ports/ hold button is EXACTLY THE SAME. So, I don't see how people say Zune is better than Ipod. The Archos and Cowon PMP are about $50-$75 more, but have two and three more inches of screen than that of the Ipod AND Zune . Both Archos 604 and Cowon A2 have 16:9 ratio screen unlike the Ipod and Zune, they're stuck with 4:3 ratio. Even at that they play all video formats, have radio, and the Archos can record TV programs onto it with a DVR station. The Zune is a shallow copy of the Ipod. I can't wait to get my new PMP by years end! :D
*by the way, I was not intended to be crude; just being honest here*

[kewlkat007]

I got the Zune Today and I'm returning it tomorrow. It has great potential with its firmware upgrades but just didn't cut it. I was expecting more pixels on the screen while its bigger than the IPOD, well that wasn't the case.The screen is a great size tho its perfect to view a movie or what not, unlike the Ipod.

My thumb started to hurt while navigating for 30 mins and playing around with it. With big hands, since the screen takes a lot of room, holding the Zune stresses your thumbs, plus the wheel in the middle is too small. I found myself pressing hard and sometimes missing. (well I have big fingers) The IPOD wheel is perfect size but it also have less of a screen.

I never did use Itunes for my IPOD since I used Anapod by redchair software, but the Zune's connectivity and installation wasn't smooth at all. Plus I noticed that I was missing WIFI and it needed an upgrade out of the box but the Upgrade never came. I tried to update but it kept telling my I had the latest firmware. So I was missing "community" on the main list and the WIFI options in settings and so on.

While I think it has potential. The things I really enjoyed was the Radio function. Wifiwould of been nice if I was able to get it to work. Anothercool feature and ofcourse was the screen size, it is great but the resolution dissapoint me.

I could of written a better review but I'm tired long day. I have to go to bed now...grrrr