Zune HD 16 GB Video MP3 Player

6 Comments

1. CHL says:

   November 2, 2009 at 11:01 am

   Microsoft has decided that its new Zune player does not need much storage. Even the old Zune was available in a 120 GB hard drive model. The Zune HD is available only with flash drives. The largest capacity Zune HD is 32 GB. If you have more than 32 GB of music or video, the Zune HD will not work for you.

   Apple offers a 160 Gb iPod for those like me with large music and video collections. Will Microsoft never learn how to make a decent portable music player?

   Rating: 2 / 5
2. G. Vernon says:

   November 2, 2009 at 11:10 am

   As usual, Microsoft is about 2 years behind the iPod line, with a limited number of features that have been available on the iPod for two years. Bravo to MS for being able to copy yet another Apple design, just as it copied the square-shaped screen and click wheel design of the original iPod. It’s stunning that Microsoft continues to trail behind Apple and attempts to win market share by merely adopting everything Apple proves to be successful. Listen, no one in their right mind would give up the thousands of apps, the games, the download-direct capability to rent movies and buy music, the sex appeal of the design and the ease of use of the iPod Touch in favor of the significantly hampered features of a Zune. So yes, I’m calling out any Microsoft employee making up phony “reviews” in which they claim to be former iPod Touch owners. If you’re a true consumer who is comparing this latest outdated brick with the iPod Touch, I encourage you to try them both. Try before you buy. Simply go to your nearest Apple Store and get hands-on with the iPod Touch, then go find a vendor who will let you get JUST AS hands-on with a Zune. The user experience is so significantly different, the decision will be simple to make. Then you can come back here to Amazon to make the purchase. The Zune isn’t even what the iPod was 2 years ago… But if you’re opposed to having the cutting edge of full functionality, hey, Microsoft is your company.
   
   EDIT: Since writing this review, I have through spirited debate with Zune fans discovered that Microsoft added one more easter egg to the Zune – ADS. That’s right, apparently you get ADS when opening Microsoft’s version of apps. Really? See here is the math I do: If you’re going to subsidize your device with advertisements, then do I get a rebate on the price? The iPod Touch doesn’t force its users to sit through ads to get down to what does; does that and the fact that it can do so much more indicate that the Zune should cost half as much? Really, Zune users, I think you’re being “had.”
   Rating: 1 / 5
3. Gadgetzrock says:

   November 2, 2009 at 1:06 pm

   Yup. If you expected a ton of apps on the Zune Marketplace then you will be disappointed. It turns out that Microsoft does not currently have plans to provide a Software Development Kit for third party developers anytime soon (they just said it will happen eventually). What does this mean? Well, it means you will have to be content with MSN Weather, a calculator, and a handful of flash-like games like chess and solitaire (not even a Twitter or Facebook app which are included for free in a a lot of other similar devices, those are coming “later this year” apparently. Woop dee doo). Don’t believe me? Download the new Zune software (no Zune required) and check out the Apps section.

   Here is the reason why, straight out of the mouth of Brian Seitz, Microsoft’s Zune marketing manager, in an interview with the Seattle Times:

   “Right now our product roadmaps [referring to their Zune and Windows Mobile strategies] didn’t line up perfectly for us to snap to what they’re doing or vice versa… Down the road if [IF? uh oh] there’s a way we can work with Windows Mobile or another group inside the company that’s building an app store and take advantage of that, that’s something we’ll look into.”

   So there you have it. The Zune HD is apparently just another product rushed to market in order to make the profitable holiday window, a second thought if you will, and Windows Mobile appears to be their real focus at this time. Basically, you are paying for an incomplete product/service… and you get to pay Microsoft a nice couple of Benjamins to beta test it. Yay.

   Now to be fair, the Zune HD does appear to be a solid music player, so if that is all you are looking for then I am sure it will be well worth the money, just keep in mind that it is not the best choice out there currently.
   Rating: 1 / 5
4. C. Dodkin says:

   November 2, 2009 at 1:21 pm

   Basically does what he Touch did two years ago – has a misleading HD in the name when it has no on-board HD viewing capability.

   HD Radio is just a brand name, there’s nothing HD about the sound at all.

   Does not work cross platform, does not work with iTunes, not available outside the US.

   Forces you to watch adverts before you can use the limited Microsoft Apps! EVERY TIME!

   No software development kit (SDK) so no third party app development.

   OLED screen flickers during WIFI downloads

   OLED screen is difficult to see in sunlight – IE It’s not bright enough

   Touch screen is small and difficult to use
   Rating: 1 / 5
5. pismodude2010 says:

   November 2, 2009 at 1:29 pm

   [...]. This thing has a SMALLER SCREEN THAN THE IPOD TOUCH, NO SPEAKER, and HAS NO REAL HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO PLAYBACK unless it is hooked up to a television set. It is a good media player, but when YOU CAN GET AN IPOD TOUCH FOR LESS, it’s an awful deal! Two thumbs down, get an iPod touch 32GB (which is cheaper than the Zune HD 32GB as of when I’m writing this review).

   [...].
   Rating: 1 / 5