grenade fishing

UPDATED 11-15-06

After further investigation on Zune, I’ve decided I am not even curious anymore. Here are the positive vs. negative reviews about Zune:

Positive Points

• Larger screen makes video viewing more pleasant.
• Good user interface.
• Wireless music sharing.
• Point purchase system calculates out to .99 cents. Itunes just raised their price to $1.69.
• Unlimited download subscription for $15/month.
• There is not a copy limit on songs you purchase (Itunes has a 6 song limit).
  
  

Negative Points

• Twice the size of the Ipod.
• Larger screen a plus, but pixelated.
  
• Design looks incomplete and clunky (okay, ugly).
  
• 30 GB limitation.
• Short battery life (Zune’s 14 hour claim not correct).
• Limited accessories available.
• Website has 2 million songs, whereas Ipod has 3.5 million.
• Ridiculous points pricing structure (buy points instead of using real money. Why?).
• No podcast, tv shows, movies or audiobooks.
• Zune does not work on your existing ipod accessories.
• You Itune songs do not transfer without a bit of hacking.
• Microsoft is up to their “We Are the World” thing again. Zune only play Zune songs.
  

_{Read Walter Mossberg’s review at WSJ.com
Read James Stoup’s review at AppleMatters.com}

Zune is Microsoft’s competition for the ipod. I’m more curious than I’m wanting, just to check out the contender, you know? The wireless music sharing function sounds cool, though it does bring back that nostalgic memory of the old Palm Pilots. Oh, how 90’s!

This little gadget gives you exclusive access to Zune’s website, where you can socialize with other users, share music and listen to full-length songs before buying. Actually, you can listen to songs three times in three days. That may be worth the switch. The negative? Apparently some folks complain about the memory at 30 GB. (FYI, that is about 6,000 songs.)

Click image to view Zune at Amazon.com.