Microsoft Zune Black (30 GB) MP3 Player

As an iPod user for the last few years, I've been waiting for the new version of the iPod to be released so I could upgrade. When I found out that Apple simply took the iPhone, removed the phone capability, and then called it the iPod touch, I was absolutely dumbfounded.

Getting back to the review, I purchased the Microsoft Zune recently as an upgrade from my iPod Video and I am pleasantly surprised.

Display
The first thing that stands out about the Zune is the screen size. It's about a good inch in length longer than the iPod Video screen (about 3 x 2 inches). The display is much clearer than the iPod and Microsoft has done a good job my displaying videos in the horizontal direction. Yes, I know Apple allows you to view in both directions, but I see no need to watch a video in the more constrained vertical profile. Also, the resolution is much better than the iPod Video, but is not a clear as the iPod Touch. Watching videos is much more enjoyable on my Zune than it was on my iPod.

Use and Navigation
Navigating the Zune's menu is pretty simple, and they have done a good job of implementing a button system that was close to the iPod but did not infringe on any of Apple's patents. Instead of using the circular motion that Apple's scroll wheel requires, you simple tap or hold down the large button in the center for the direction you want to in. Holding the button down takes you through the album list very quickly, and tapping it takes you through one-by-one. There are also two other buttons on the device, a "back" button, and a "play and pause" button. Theses are both pretty straight forward. The one nice feature is that when you play a song, the Zune brings up the cover art (assuming you have loaded it into the Zune software) and displays it in almost the entire screen. The iPod only displays a small, almost unclear version of the cover art, and if you want to see a bigger version you have to hit the center button twice (but then you can't see the song title or artist. In this case the Zune software is a bit more elegant than the iPod Video. Finally, there is a hold button on the top of the player near the headphone jack.

Overall using the Zune is pretty intuitive and actually seems easier to learn than the iPod was.

Sound
The Zune's sound is excellent and I can't really discern any difference between the Zune and the iPod. It does seem like the iPod might have a higher top volume limit, but I personally don't want to test this capability (others are welcome to chime in on this point!).

Installation and Syncing
Installing the Zune is pretty effortless. I completed the installation in about 15-20 min. The part that took the longest was allowing the software to locate and load all of the songs on my computer. I had no trouble loading my entire library because I have everythign (even my iTunes purchases) in mp3 format, however it seems other Zune users have had issues with WMA format purchased from other online stores. I will add that my videos purchased through the iTunes store are NOT compatible with the Zune. In addition, the Zune comes with a USB cable that syncs the device with your computer (and also recharges the Zune). Much like the folks over at Apple, they do not provide you with an AC adapter and you have to go out an spend an additional $20-30 to buy one. Finally, syncing the Zune is a little more painful than syncing the iPod. The problem is not with the Zune device, but the software. When I want to add a new album or song to the Zune software, it seems like I have to go through an additional 2-3 steps/clicks than I did with iTunes. This is very annoying and Microsoft needs to fix this and make it easier to add new tracks to the Zune software so that you can sync it with your player. Finally, the Zune syncing process seems to be considerably faster and more stable than the iPod. I've had the iPod crash if I disconnected the device too soon after syncing, however I have never had this problem.

Wireless
At the moment the wireless feature seems useless. I have never been able to connect with another user (I believe part of this is due to the limited range of the built-in wifi), but I've heard that Microsoft will soon be coming up with an upgrade to the firmware, which allows you to connect to the web through wifi just like the iPod touch.

Design
The physical design of the Zune is solid. It's a bit larger in thickness than the iPod and features a sort of rubbery, matte black finish, which seems much more scratch resistant than the iPod. Also, the build seems very solid as well. I dropped my zune from about 4 feet on concrete the other day and it was just fine. I did the same to my iPod once and it got really screwed up. It took me almost and hour to figure out how to fix my iPod using the reset feature. Overall, despite the slightly thicker build, I like the design and look of the device.

Battery
The battery is MUCH, MUCH better than the iPod Video. I can watch about four hours of video before the battery dies (with the iPod Video I was lucky to get two hours). I commend Microsoft for being so much more efficient with battery use. In addition, the video resolution here is much better, so it probably consumes more video, but man, I never expected the batter to last more than twice as long!!

Bottom Line
The Zune is a great effort by Microsoft and a nice introductory player. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of sound and video on the device and the elegance of the menu display. Although the Zune is thicker than the 30GB iPod Video, it doesn't seem to make too much of a difference and I get much more enjoyment out of the larger screen. Although the community feature needs development, the Zune is a solid digital music player and a slight step up from the iPod Video.