Zune Review: Is There Anybody Out There?

Authored by Jay Baage on December 15, 2006 - 10:01am.

I have had the new Microsoft Zune player for a couple of weeks now in order to try it out. The Zune has a bigger display than the video iPod, a built-in FM radio receiver and – drum roll –wireless capability. But I still prefer my video iPod. The wireless capability is supposed to make the Zune more social, by sending and receiving songs from other Zune users. The problem is that, so far, there doesn’t seem be anyone out there with whom to be social.

The Zune player I tried out had 30GB of memory, which is the same amount of memory as my video iPod. So, in terms of the number of songs, videos and pictures that one can store, the two devices are pretty much identical. The price of $250 is also the same.

As far as I can tell, the main differences are:

Size and Design
The video iPod is the perfect size and has a slick futuristic look. It is not too clunky and slips easily into your pocket. If only Apple could just find a way to make the screen a little bigger… The 5.6 ounce Zune is thicker (0.6 inch) and taller (4.4 inch) than the Apple iPod, thanks in part to its large 3-inch screen. The Apple iPod has a smaller screen at 2.5 inches, but both the Zune and iPod display videos at the same 320 by 240 pixel resolution. This means the picture does not look as sharp on the Zune. Despite being available in three colors (white, black and brown), the Zune is not a pretty device. In the end, I prefer the video iPod when it comes to size and design.

User Interface
The video iPod has clear and user-friendly menus and a big, patented scroll wheel with which to navigate. Surprisingly the Zune has more fancy and fun menus in its user interface. Moreover, it seems like a better idea to make a bigger screen with a smaller scroll wheel, than the other way around. This round goes to the Zune.

iTunes vs. Zune Marketplace
This is really a no-brainer. iTunes wins any day. Zune marketplace is so far just a bad experience. It has no video, podcasts or any of the extras that iTunes have, even though Microsoft plans to add it in the future. But the most annoying thing is the payment system. Microsoft has set it up so that you have no way to simply buy a single song, or album for that matter. The way the system works is that you are forced to by blocks of points which can then be applied to music downloads. A minimum block size is $5. Why make things more complicated then they have to be?

Compatibility
The iPod supports audio and video bought from iTunes as well as non-DRM protected media you already have on your PC. The Zune supports audio and video purchased from the Zune marketplace as well as non-DRM protected media. If you have music downloaded from any other service like Napster, AOL Music or MTV’s Urge services, it will not work on either the iPod or Zune. You would be better off buying a different media player altogether.

Wireless Capability
In the future, any portable music device will be up against the new generation of music-player cell phones like Sony Ericsson’s Walkman series. The Zune has one up on most other MP3 players – the ability to wirelessly send and receive songs from other Zune users, with a sampling period of three days. However, during my three week test of Zune, I have not found one other person with whom I could wirelessly exchange songs. It is lonely to be an early adopter. But sharing songs wirelessly instead of exchanging earwax is no doubt the future, even though the current Zune system only lets you listen to songs someone sent you for three days, then they disappear. If Microsoft only could figure out a way to buy or share songs permanently on-the-go using WiFi, now that would be something.

In summary
The video iPod is the clear short-term winner. If Apple manages to fit in a larger screen, add wireless capabilities and possibly a subscription service to iTunes, it will also likely be the long term winner. But don’t count Zune out just yet. At least Microsoft is trying to catch up and that in itself is putting some pressure on Apple. With the next generation players, Microsoft might get more things right. But for now, don’t waste $250 on a Zune.

Joakim Baage

Related Link:
Zune vs iPod - The Story in the Data

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Comments

zune and 'sharing earwax' - NONSENSE.

Submitted by anonymous (not verified) on December 15, 2006 - 8:52pm.

NO-ONE shares 'earwax' - you just unplug your phone jack and plug it into the other iPod. Or you simply swap ipods - keeping your own earplugs where they belong - in your own ears. Put someone elses earphones in your ear? NOBODY does that - and I have no idea why this silly notion is mentioned.

Who shares "Earwax?" Everybody.

Submitted by anonymous (not verified) on December 18, 2006 - 12:57am.

Everybody shares earwax...I mean, never seen two people using the same earbud? I've seen a lot. Just because you don't do it, does not mean that no one does it.

Yes, it's true.

Submitted by Earwax Removal (not verified) on March 9, 2008 - 7:36pm.

You've never seen people share headphones? It's not a silly notion, many people do it.

Why is Microsoft always

Submitted by beagle2 (not verified) on December 16, 2006 - 7:17am.

Why is Microsoft always given the benefit of the doubt the there next product will be better when that is rearly the case? The writer mentions the next Zune as to compinsate for the current model but fails to do the same for the iPod.

The new Microsoft ZUNE is...

Submitted by Mystic (not verified) on January 16, 2007 - 4:55am.

The new Microsoft ZUNE is just a DRM/RIAA toy that doesn't let you keep the MP3 songs you download, nor does it allow you to use the songs more than 3 times before it automatically deletes from your system! There is no freedom in this system, nothing you play you keep, and nothing you download you own. At least the iPod still lets you download regular MP3's to your player.

Source: PC Gamer February, 2007 - Page 29

its funny how all the ipod

Submitted by anonymous (not verified) on January 29, 2007 - 11:16am.

its funny how all the ipod fans always seem to fail to mention sound quality when it comes to hardware, why is that? Hmmm..... (ponders)..... because it sounds appalling!!