Just picked up a Zune...

[nthfinity]

http://soapbox.msn.com/video.aspx?vid=93927269-b85d-4c17-b152-b71592a0fd56 LOL Down with macn'trash

although, Zune's default software to interact with the Zune itself is pretty terrible really; and an overall PITA. So, I had to modify that right off the bat so I can actually use it the way I'd like to.... eg; as an external HDD.

what does it do better then Ipod?
better video quality (may be moot to many)
Wireless 802.11b? to be able to share with other Zuners... share songs (limit to 3 plays) photos, and videos.
- implications... wireless internet? we shall see, definately war driving will be coming.
less anti-hacking built in... its microsoft: built on hacking other people's shit :P
SNES quality games being made for d/l
wireless connectivety to xbox 360 for music, video, and photo sharing
fewer HDD failuers? time will tell.
I can actually interface with it without using the M$ version of Itunes (through registry hack)
some other stuff is better, prolly.

whats worse then Ipod?
name: Zune is pretty lame for a name.
a bazillion people use the Ipod, and it's docking stations are everywhere, it seems.
the scroll pad is way better on Ipod then the D pad on Zune
not many have the Zune yet, so wireless sharing its kinda moot so far... but it promotes new music "to you" quite nicely once there are a few more out there.

for expirimental purposes, it just so happens to fit a function I'm looking for lately as well.

Final verdict:
brown is cool, but I'm the kinda guy that just doesn't want a girly color; or a fad color... i guess brown is a fad color. Meh.
The Zune doesn't do everything I want to do, but that list is slowly growing to doing more and more of what i have in mind. Thankfully, NOBODY is doing what I have in mind :) Great music player, good videos... but needs a prop to be viewed at a comfy angle; great photo sharing on the go... very cool. tons of space on an MP3 player? a plus compared to what i was used to!

4/5 stars for product
2/7 stars for software interface.

[dutchmasterflex]

Wow.. I didn't know people were actually buying Zunes.

[nthfinity]

Wow.. I didn't know people were actually buying Zunes.

I hate apple :) I used to be a mac guy, after i was a CP/M user, and Dos user.... then I have gone back to PC, and never gone back and regreted it.

so
for those who wanto to hack, and use various features once "exploited" this is it.... albiet, perhaps a PSP is more for that to some degree, with less storage space; and better screene usage.

[dutchmasterflex]

I've always been a PC guy.. only thing I can do on a mac is make it talk

I bought an iAudio X5 about a year ago because I didn't want to get an iPod. I've had about 3 iPods in the past and didn't feel like giving them another $300. The X5 is great, has a lot of features and no programs neccessary to load music. Only downfall is the button interface and navigation. Takes for ever scroll 20gb+ of music when you only have a down button.

That's where the iPod is genius... not to mention it can be intergrated into ANYTHING.

The Zune is crap in my opinion.. Microsoft is going to be even more sorry than when they released the UMPC.

[ae86_16v]

Here's how Costco uses them:

http://digg.com/apple/Costco_turned_Zune_boxes_into_tables_to_sell_iPods

:D

[Stoopie]

Wow.. I didn't know people were actually buying Zunes.

lol :P

[Pimp Racer]

Damn I didnt know there was games that are being made for it! Also its interesting to know that people are actually buying it! I think it will be better when version 2 comes up. I mean come on you cant get it right the first time....unless your apple. :lol: But it seems pretty good and with people claiming to almost have Linux on it this will be a whole lot better than Linux on the Ipod.

[TopGearNL]

Mmm interesting 8)

[5vz-fe]

Here's how Costco uses them:

http://digg.com/apple/Costco_turned_Zune_boxes_into_tables_to_sell_iPods

:D

LMAO!!!

[dutchmasterflex]

http://gizmodo.com/assets/resources/2007/06/l_6d349a9576c479f6200f6049e0c39b22-thumb.jpg

[nthfinity]

usually, I post pictures of myself in the hall of horrors, but this is appropriate I suppose...

[nthfinity]

Wow.. I didn't know people were actually buying Zunes.

Thats exactly what I was just thinking, I haven't heard a thing about them since they launched...

more then 1,000,000 sold a few weeks ago.

[TNT]

Wow.. I didn't know people were actually buying Zunes.

Thats exactly what I was just thinking, I haven't heard a thing about them since they launched...

more then 1,000,000 sold a few weeks ago.

100 million units worldwide for the iPOD

[nthfinity]

Wow.. I didn't know people were actually buying Zunes.

Thats exactly what I was just thinking, I haven't heard a thing about them since they launched...

more then 1,000,000 sold a few weeks ago.

100 million units worldwide for the iPOD

Which is one reason I didn't buy one.. that and it didn't fit hte functionality i was looking for.

[TNT]

which was what? it needs to play music.... what else. i hate 1,000,000,000,000 function products, a phone should stay a phone, a console a gaming tool, etc.

[dutchmasterflex]

You hate computers then?

Within 5 years everyone's "cellphone" will do just about anything and everything for them.

I guess you'll have to learn to live with that "luxury" of not having to carry around a billion different products.

[nthfinity]

which was what? it needs to play music.... what else. i hate 1,000,000,000,000 function products, a phone should stay a phone, a console a gaming tool, etc.

A clearer and larger screen to display photos was the no.1 reason. Same price (Actually 30 cheaper) then the Ipod 30gig model.

[TopGearNL]

Yeah Ipod seems a bit to common these days.

Good choice!

[novass]

... and that's why I took the Creative Zen 60gb :wink:

I just bought the Creative Zen Vision:M 30gb a week or so ago. So far I am pretty happy with it.

I looked at the Zune, but the main reason I went with the Zen is that it was $50 off regular price :D

[Sir_GT]

What's the point of buying a plug-n-play product that doesn't plug-n-play?

The iPod as a product itself was only revolutionary because of the scroll wheel, but that's not what sold it. iTunes was what sold the iPod.

Think of it this way: Apple can make its iTunes work with an iPod on Windows better than Microsoft can with its own Zune. No offense to the guys here who bought Zunes, but you all really didn't buy the superior product.

While everyone else bought the Kellog's cereal, you guys bought the supermarket-branded cereal with the kiddie toys and free samples attached to it. You only THINK you got the better deal.

[dutchmasterflex]

iPods were selling like hotcakes even before iTunes was ported to Windows.. but I wont deny that iTunes for windows definitely helped sales.

The iPod was the FIRST quality hard drive MP3 player. Before the iPod came, the only options for a HD MP3 player was crap from Archos and Creative(jukebox).

[TopGearNL]

The Ipod has become more of a fashion statement, thats why its so popular.

Its not the best, but just the most well known..

[nthfinity]

What's the point of buying a plug-n-play product that doesn't plug-n-play?

The iPod as a product itself was only revolutionary because of the scroll wheel, but that's not what sold it. iTunes was what sold the iPod.

Think of it this way: Apple can make its iTunes work with an iPod on Windows better than Microsoft can with its own Zune. No offense to the guys here who bought Zunes, but you all really didn't buy the superior product.

While everyone else bought the Kellog's cereal, you guys bought the supermarket-branded cereal with the kiddie toys and free samples attached to it. You only THINK you got the better deal.

OK, I'll reword the reason Why I bought the Zune over any of the other products.

I needed a cheap and very portable way to display photos. Zune has the far superior screen technology over ANY of the other devices.. the screen is much larger, while having the same physical size of the ipod 30 gig.

The video playback is also an important feature for what I use it for. Again, the screen is much bigger, and has a wide angle of viewership.

It was cheaper then the Ipod, or the Creative Zen by 30$ when I bought it.

It appears to be more future proof then either of those products as well, even if those features aren't implimented well.

It's really that simple.

[dutchmasterflex]

Heh, you shouldn't have to defend yourself from buying a zune or an iPod for that matter..

Just like we have preferences with our cars, we have different gadgets that basically do the same thing, but look and function differently.

I just wanted to post that picture of the dude with the Zune tattoo ;)

[TopGearNL]

^^ Thats what I was saying, its a fashion statement, nothing more..

[dutchmasterflex]

Hahaha, the same dude got ANOTHER zune tattoo!

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/2007/06/zune_tat.jpg

[nthfinity]

iPod has become what the Walkman was in the 80s - they even managed to "change" the name of the product for their own trademark :wink: I mean... every cassette device was called Walkman, so any "mp3 device" is called iPod now. Even I use the term "iPod" to refer to my Zen!! :lol:

LOL

yeah, I often call mine a imitation ipod, or fake-pod etc.

[TopGearNL]

Horrible Tattoo :lol:

[dutchmasterflex]

MS zune representatives actually sent him a bunch of free stickers and a certificate for 5 free songs.

[dutchmasterflex]

MS zune representatives actually sent him a bunch of free stickers and a certificate for 5 free songs.

Gotta love pop culture adopting new words like "ipod" and "google :lol:

[TopGearNL]

^^ Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if they aren't already in the dictonary.

[Erez]

so... are you happy with the Zune?
I was thinking about getting one.. the main reason i like it over the ipod is the interface and the larger screen.. things i like about the ipod are the looks and size..
please let me know how happy are you with the zune..
I'm in no rush to get one.. but another great selling point for the zune is that i can get one for $199 vs the Ipods $240.. so $50 cheaper, larger screen.. much nicer interface..
it just looks so fat.. is it easily pocketable (with jeans..)
the Ipod other then looking good just feels its age..
the interface feels like something from 2001 and not 2007..
please anyone that owns one let me know if your happy with it, whats your likes and dislikes..

..I guess I should also go and have a look and feel of it myself...

[nthfinity]

so... are you happy with the Zune?
I was thinking about getting one.. the main reason i like it over the ipod is the interface and the larger screen.. things i like about the ipod are the looks and size..
1. please let me know how happy are you with the zune..

2. I'm in no rush to get one.. but another great selling point for the zune is that i can get one for $199 vs the Ipods $240.. so $50 cheaper, larger screen..

3. much nicer interface..

4. it just looks so fat.. is it easily pocketable (with jeans..)

5. the Ipod other then looking good just feels its age..


6. the interface feels like something from 2001 and not 2007..

7. please anyone that owns one let me know if your happy with it, whats your likes and dislikes..

..I guess I should also go and have a look and feel of it myself...

1. I am pleased, and have no regret... i wouldn't want any of the other devices out there over the Zune even still.

2. $$ was a selling point to me as well

3. Not sure if its a nicer interface, but it isn't confusing. Zune Marketplace (nessisary to put files on the Zune) isn't that good, but its not hard to use. I've not bought anything on it.... just transfered my own CD's to the Zune.

4. its the same size as the Ipod 30 gig

5. I guess... its just too small a screen for me.

6. yeah, the controls feel like SNES in a Xbox world (analogy)

7. You must have Media player 9 (or 10... whatever is the current one) which means you must also have a registered version of windows in order to put files on the Zune. that pissed me off, and is the single worst part of the Zune experience, but I got over it quickly ;) ;)

Its a great way to share photos with people w/out a physical print... its only tough to see in direct sunlight, but very good. you can play relatively good res videos through the zune, and even plug the av jack into a tv and watch.... and.... even load 720p video onto the Zune, and play it through t he xbox 360. you are limited to 1gb file sizes on teh zune through the "HD hack"

you can transfer any file from one zune to another as long as the file describer is labeled as a "jpeg"

I wish there was an easy way to organize the files myself through the folder structure I used.... instead, it used the file descriptors to organize the files... so old d/l mp3's aren't all 100% correct to each other... sometimes spelled wrong, sometimes missing information.

you can complete the information via Zune marketplace, but thats wayyyy more time consuming.

however, the folder structure exists for the photos you load.

[Erez]

:D thanks nthfinity!

about the size..
http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/1812/ipodvszunevo9.th.jpg (http://img522.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ipodvszunevo9.jpg) http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/6544/zunevsipod7pd9.th.jpg (http://img116.imageshack.us/my.php?image=zunevsipod7pd9.jpg) http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/4330/zunevsipod77vs9.th.jpg (http://img256.imageshack.us/my.php?image=zunevsipod77vs9.jpg)

PS- the current WMP version is 11 :wink:

thansk again dude :wink: :good:

[Bizi Jones]

http://hideapod.com/

:P

[Erez]

:lol: :lol:

[unwilling]

I understand price was an issue, but has anyone really compared the displays of the Zune to the iPod Touch?