Zune 8 GB Digital Media Player Green (2nd Generation)
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(4.0 out of 5)
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(5 out of 5)Zune- bye, bye Zen and Windows Media too
I have a couple of Zen MP3 players that have worked well for me for a couple of years now, but both have begun to have problems and I decided to take a chance on the new V2 Zune. It was a good decision. This is a great product. All that comes in the box is the Zune, a sync cord, earphones, and brief documentation. You need to go online and download the Zune software to a PC and then hook up the player before you can get it to do anything. This doesn't take too long and the Zune will provide you with some sample content to try out as part of this process. The Zune sounds great, with plenty of volume and a decent set of earphones. The click wheel is intuitive and masterable in just a few minutes use.
As nice as the Zune is, a pleasant surprise is the Zune software. This is really more than just a tool to sync your tunes with your Zune. It is an attractive, intuitive, easy to use full fledged media player as well. It can easily replace Windows Media Player and is better looking than any other offering out there- Apple included.
(5 out of 5)This is a great device
This is my first mp3 player. I'd always thought I might like a small device that could be used while exercising, but I've hesitated to buy one because I wasn't sure how much I'd actually use it. The Zune feature that pushed me over the edge is the FM radio, which made the device too attractive not to try out. I'm extremely happy that I made the plunge and bought the Zune. I now take it everywhere and listen to music or the radio at work, on the bus, at the gym, everywhere. It has easily surpassed my bar of usefulness and utility. I'm not a big gadget person and I don't like the time and energy it takes to figure out how to use a new program or game, but the Zune user experience has been everything that I could have hoped for. The controls are simple and a pleasure to use. Right out of the box I was able to get it figured out and working. This is a great device.
(3 out of 5)Music To My Ears
I opened my new 8GB Zune to the pleasant surprise of what amounted to 3 pretty simple steps to getting started:
1) Download the Zune software (required from the Zune web site). However, while a pretty simple step, it takes about 20 minutes or so to get through if you include signing up for a Zune account.
2) Load the songs you want.
3) Let the unit fully charge.
And that's it. You're ready to rock and roll. Or at least that's it for me. For now I don't see myself using the Zune for anything but music. But it should be noted that the Zune also plays videos, pictures, podcasts, FM radio and can also network with other Zune owners in your direct vicinity.
The Zune charges on any USB connection, but you won't be able to get it to do anything else until you download the cruddy software package. Did I say "cruddy" software? Let me share a few gripes:
All of the music stored in my PC library from CDs that I've ripped is Windows Audio Lossless...apx 30mb per song. With other media devices like the iPod, Zen or Walkman they automatically convert to much smaller mp3 files (like 3mb per song) when syncing. But the 8GB Zune syncs my collection at the full file size allowing me to put on only about 250 songs instead of thousands. I spoke with Zune customer support and they confirmed that the Zune won't convert my WMA Lossless library to MP3s on the Zune. I'm really disappointed that the Microsoft Zune won't do this with my Microsoft WMA lossless files but my Creative Zen, Apple iPod and Sony Walkman all WILL!!!! The customer support person did hint that an update that includes the capability could be on the near horizon, but she wasn't making any promises.
{5-7-2008 UPDATE! A PATCH HAS BEEN RELEASED THAT ALLOWS CONVERSION OF ALL MUSIC TO "DEVICE QUALITY"; hence, WMA Lossless audio on your PC can now be converted to apx 10 MB or less...whew!} (However, after all my complaining, I find it strange that the Zune now will not allow transfer of music at any higher than "device quality"; in other words, I could now not transfer songs at the full WMA Lossless file size even if I wanted to.)
If you're used to the Windows Media Player's 5-star rating system, that's out the "Window" with the Zune. With the Zune all you get to do is rate a song "I like it" or "I don't like it". Who has songs that they "don't like" in their library? All I wanted on my Zune was my 4 & 5 star rated songs from Windows Media Player. Since the Zune didn't identify with that system, I had to go through hundreds of songs and either rate them or tell the device not to sync with a certain song, BECAUSE....
The device will automatically sync with every song in the folder(s) that you tell it to monitor on your PC whenever you connect the device. You can tell the Zune not to sync with a song by right clicking on the song in your Zune Library and selecting "never sync with my Zune", or with the 5/7/2008 you can now tell the Zune not to sync with songs that you "don't like". You can also choose the option that stops the Zune from auto-syncing and make it sync to songs only when you do it manually.
Finally, the unit comes pretty bare bones: it includes some fair-at-best headphones and a USB connection...no AC Adapter.
So all in all, is it a decent music player?...sure. Is it as good as it could be?...It could still use some patches, but hearing that the patch that fixes the sync conversion is available was music to my ears.
5/12/08 update - Since the Zune Version 2.5 update was released, I bought a second Zune for my son. The second Zune had an issue recognizing the new update prior to being fully charged, because Zune's that are being shipped at the time of this writing are still version 2.3. Therefore, the fix for this is (at least for me) was changing the order of my 3-step instruction above to:
1) Let the unit fully charge.
2) Download the Zune software. However, while a pretty simple step, it takes about 20 minutes or so to get through if you include signing up for a Zune account.
3) Connect the Zune; it may then tell you that you need to upgrade the device to version 2.5 which takes only a few more minutes.
4) Load the songs you want.
(4 out of 5)Zune vs. Nano?
I've owned the 4 & 8 GB Nanos...and today I picked up the 8 GB 2nd Gen Zune. The Zune hardware is much better where it counts for me (sound quality, screen). The new touch area takes a little getting used to. My main HUGE dissapointment is the simple and VERY limited Zune software. Secondary dissapointments include the lack of an EQ (although with better earphones than the iPod, it's not as important), lack of customizable menus, and lack of a...CLOCK and calendar. With XP and an older 2.0 GHz computer, the Zune software install took nearly an hour (without adding music). Uploading music to the Zune seems slower than with the Nano. Time will tell is the positives outweight the negatives over the Nano. Sure wish it had come in 16 GB!
Update 05/21/08: Forgot to mention the stellar FM tuner. The sound quality actually seems to trump that of a $1500 Den_n receiver! Last, and largest complaint: ~30% of imported album art doesn't match the artist / album.....
(5 out of 5)The One
Before I start talking about the Zune I have to say that I've had several mp3 players in the past, from flash-based to HD-based. My newest one is this 8GB Zune. I got my Zune about a week ago, after getting rid of my 3G 8GB Nano, that I was not happy with. So this is why I'm more satisfied with the Zune vs. the Nano...
Hardware
-Shape is easier to hold and use than WS Nano
-LCD is glass, more durable and sharper than plastic on Nano
-Zune Touch Pad is more responsive and precise vs. click wheel
-Wireless sharing/syncing option
-Built-in FM Tuner
-Better sound quality even without EQ...I just hated how bad the Nano sounds even with Shure headphones
Software
-Very simple and easy
-Asthetically better than iTunes
User Interface
-No Coverflow but interface is more organized and intuitive
-Customizable background, not an option on Nano
-Easier to read
I have not tested the battery life but it's rated close to the Nano so I'll live with whatever it really is. One thing I haven't checked on but someone else wrote about was the Zune not being a UMS Device when plugged in. Hopefully that's something Microsoft can/will change so that you can store other files on it. Overall, I'm must more satisfied with this player than the Nano.