Home > Consumer Reviews > Zune 8 GB Digital Media Player (Pink)

As a former iPOD nano user, I bought this player just to test it and see the difference between my ipod and the Zune. The winner stays with me, and the other goes to my sister. After testing the player out, Zune stays with me :)

Zune is more of your "music enjoyment device". If you dont need a calendar (which you can get in your mobile phones), games (which are better on PSP), PIM (which your organizer does best), or tend to forget your player cables often, then Zune is just for you. I got my hands on the Zune, the first thing that attracted me was the packaging! Not just a transparent cheap looking transparent plastic which many China players have imitated, but rather an elegant black box with a nice Zune logo embedded on it. I opened it and the player, earphones and USB cable are separated with smaller boxes. Very neat indeed! Above all, amusing but rather fashionable, Zune came with three pairs of earphone sponges with three different colors to suit your current style!

After charging the player, the Zune loaded and I just loved every second I discovered the new features in it. What it has and iPod doesnt have, is the Wireless sync which enables you to sync your player with your laptop without cables. Although syncing 8GB is slow and battery consuming, wireless syncing comes handy after you have added your favourite tunes for the first time! Another thing I love about Zune is the background changing feature. Trust me, I really dont like the root menu of iPOD. Even before I had my Zune. The idea of having the screen always splitted into two for iPOD just didnt attract me. Also, I love the quick playlist feature! I mean, I just uploaded all of my music from my hard disk to my Zune. BUT, not all of the songs are my favourites. Hence, as you are listening, shuffle all the songs, skip the ones you dont like, listen the one you like and add them to the quick playlist. You dont have to make a playlist from your computer anymore! I guess Zune's "Now Playing" screen is awesome! Why? Because the new iPOD nano has a similar interface for their Now Playing like that of Zune's! ;)

I know I'm sounding bias here. I'm not saying that iPOD is a flop. IN fact, iPOD ranks second among all other players (iRiver, Sony, Creative, etc) and that is why I have not used the term "loser" for iPOD at all :) Its just that Zune has won me over iPOD. And took the first place which once blonged to iPOD :)

Regards,
shahz

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.....

Have used both the new nano and the 4gb zune. Gave up the nano because iTunes does not support 64bit Windows (XP or Vista).

The zune software that is installed on the computer is good. Like it better than iTunes. Don't have any use for the iTunes store or the Zune Marketplace. So they are not an issue with me.

The zune feel solid and well constructed. Screen is very good, images clean and sharp. Sound better than the nano. Radio simple to use. Sync between device and computer easy. Podcasts simple to find and to subscribe too (although wish that you could create a playlist for Podcasts).

If you want something done right, buy Microsoft. They have more money than God and can afford to hire the best design team and do it right. The Zune 16 is no exception. I still buy CDs because I like to have a physical backup of my music. Once you set up your preferences (which is easy and intuitive) you just drop in the CD and it rips it the way you want it and spits it out. Next time you sync the new music is automatically loaded.
The Zune operating system is fast and intuitive. I didn't read any instructions and I was using my Zune right away; navigating the menus and going through my library as if I was born with it.
Goodbye ipod. The touch pad works beautifully and just makes sense. Easy control without being over sensitive. The first time I picked up an ipod I had to play with it for a while to figure it out. Somebody had to tell me how to turn it off. Not Zune.
I have the home AV kit with the remote control. This is the way it should be done. All my music at my fingertips.
16gb is enough for me. I have about 4000 songs and three movies on it and still have 5.5gb available.
One thing you will not hear in any of these reviews is the difference between the codecs. The WMA 9 codec gives you a much smaller file size because you can compress the music at a lower bitrate than MP3 or AAC and still have the same sound quality. The variable bitrate WMA produces the tightest files. Ipod does not support the WMA codec because it is Microsoft, while Microsoft does support the apple AAC codec. Again, Microsoft has more money than God and can afford to develope the best codec.
Buy the Zune 16. You won't be sorry. If you own a PC, you will love the Zune software. It has everything you need. It won't take over your system like itunes. The fact that the ipod is more common does not make ipod the best. Do not listen to people who have never owned anything else. I have used both and there is no comparison. Zune 16 is much better.

Enjoy your Zune

After playing with the new Zune UI I'm totally convinced that this is just about "perfect" - of course there are other more full featured players out there like the (lame) iPod Touch; however for the money, purpose and size - the Zune 4/8 is fantastic.

You've probably all heard of the neat features they've (finally) added like Podcasting but they've also added some best in class items like Wireless Sync. This one has proven to be an awesome addition to the mix. Think of it this way. You're just about to got to work for the day and you don't want to go plug the thing into your computer. Simply sync wirelessly and all your latest downloads and Podcasts are there in just a minute or two.

Last but not least, I bit the bullet and purchased the Zune Pass. The Zune Pass is a all knowing ticket to download as many songs as you want and as long as you keep your subscription you can play them on your computer or Zune as much as you want. Couple this with the ability to share tracks with other Zune users and it really opens up the world of new music.

I would gladly reccomend the Zune to anyone who wants a GREAT player for music, videos and Podcasts.