Microsoft Zune - $284.00

I love engadget and digg...

Wal-Mart leaks Zune price

There is nothing outstanding about Microsoft's MP3 player... It is a whole lot of "been there, seen that." You can get an iPod (30 GB) for $35 less but the prices are bound to match up pretty soon after release.

Would I buy one? Maybe...

I should point out that all my DRM music is iTunes and some video for a matter of fact. So I won't be running off at Christmas and buying one.

Plus Microsoft's track record on hardware is spotty... Recent products have been much poorer build, and lot's of their previous ones have been discontinued (as has the support soon after).

Here are a few consumer questions I would have about this:
- Battery Life?
- Battery replacable?
- Can it be used as a external drive?
- What kind of respect does Microsoft have for my privacy?
- Will I need to use Windows Bloat Media Player to upload music?
- What movie/video formats are supported? Divx? Quicktime?
- Can we expect more features in the future?
- How secure is the wireless interface? What protocol? Enabled by default?

UnoriginalGuy wrote:



There is nothing outstanding about Microsoft's MP3 player... It is a whole lot of "been there, seen that." You can get an iPod (30 GB) for $35 less but the prices are bound to match up pretty soon after release.

Would I buy one? Maybe...

I should point out that all my DRM music is iTunes and some video for a matter of fact. So I won't be running off at Christmas and buying one.

Plus Microsoft's track record on hardware is spotty... Recent products have been much poorer build, and lot's of their previous ones have been discontinued (as has the support soon after).

Here are a few consumer questions I would have about this:
- Battery Life?
- Battery replacable?
- Can it be used as a external drive?
- What kind of respect does Microsoft have for my privacy?
- Will I need to use Windows Bloat Media Player to upload music?
- What movie/video formats are supported? Divx? Quicktime?
- Can we expect more features in the future?
- How secure is the wireless interface? What protocol? Enabled by default?

Way to be a pessimistic duce bag...

Zune has the nicest interface I have ever seen.  It has a big screen, which isn't all that common, and it has wifi which is scarce.

Weren't there rumblings that Microsoft was going to scan one's iTunes library and give you all that music for free?

-I thought it was something like 12 hours audio, 3.5 hours video, 4.5 hours slideshow.

-who knows, you obviously have an iPod so it's not like you could complain if it doesn't...

-...why wouldn't it?

-I refer to my first statement

-I'm guessing it will let you use explorer also, but there are always hacks, and WMP 11 is very, very nice.  (I just can't stand iTunes 7 after using WMP11)

-I remember  hearing that it will support AAC encoded files, so take of that what you will

-duh...

-secure?  you're sharing music, not downloading pron...  And besides that, you have to send the file for someone to see it, it's not like someone can just start browsing your library.

UnoriginalGuy wrote:



There is nothing outstanding about Microsoft's MP3 player... It is a whole lot of "been there, seen that." You can get an iPod (30 GB) for $35 less but the prices are bound to match up pretty soon after release.

To me, WiFi and FM radio are two big things.  Sharing music with others, meh.

I'll see what kind of pocketbook I have when it comes holiday season.

yeah, but it's fugly.

whoever designed this thing has no real clue about what is "cool".

I like the way it looks.

ploe wrote:

I like the way it looks.

me too.

LaBomba wrote:



yeah, but it's fugly.

whoever designed this thing has no real clue about what is "cool".

Can you quantify "cool" please?

I think it looks a lot better than almost all of the "iPod killers".

kettch wrote:



LaBomba wrote:  yeah, but it's fugly. whoever designed this thing has no real clue about what is "cool".

Can you quantify "cool" please?

see Apple more specifically iPod...



Edit: Cool: something not designed by Microsoft.

kettch wrote:



LaBomba wrote:  yeah, but it's fugly. whoever designed this thing has no real clue about what is "cool".

Can you quantify "cool" please?

I don't think you can. Hence why not everyone is able to attain such a goal.

ploe wrote:



kettch wrote:  LaBomba wrote:  yeah, but it's fugly. whoever designed this thing has no real clue about what is "cool". Can you quantify "cool" please?

I don't think you can. Hence why not everyone is able to attain such a goal.

i can't take you seriously with an avatar like that..

Microsoft Zune won't play purchased Microsoft media files

Post removed at user's request.

blowdart wrote:

If the rumours about it not playing WM DRMed tracks are true the whole device is going to screw over a lot of people. It's rather pathetic if it's true.

I suspect it is going to be more of a PlaysForSome killer than an iPod killer - haven't Real already started moving away from PlaysForSome?

blowdart wrote:



Rossj wrote: blowdart wrote:If the rumours about it not playing WM DRMed tracks are true the whole device is going to screw over a lot of people. It's rather pathetic if it's true. I suspect it is going to be more of a PlaysForSome killer than an iPod killer - haven't Real already started moving away from PlaysForSome?

But why screw over the people who "invested" in a plays for sure solution?

They did that the moment they announced Zune.  I can imagine how Creative feel right now .... and I bet their anger isn't directed at Apple.  Creative v Microsoft for 2nd place? Why bother..