Microsoft Zune

(4.5 out of 5)

MSRP: $149

The new Microsoft Zune is flash-based and flashy.

The first flash-based Zune is a sleek little number with hot features like video playback, wireless sharing, and wireless sync. The glossy plastic body measures 3.6 x 1.6 x 0.3 inches and weighs just 1.7 ounces—not bad for a gadget that packs an FM radio and Wi-Fi. It’s available in black, green, pink, and red, with a decent size 1.8-inch screen that automatically switches to landscape mode for video and photo viewing. The Zune’s interface is silky smooth. We love the big words that show your options of Music, Videos, Pictures, Social, Radio, Podcasts, and Settings. You can slide your finger vertically on the touch pad for fast scrolling, and when you’re in your long music list, the scrolling whizzes by and shows what letter you’re at on the left. Horizontal scrolling brings you through additional sorting options, such as Albums, Artists, and Playlists. Our favorite feature is Wi-Fi, which lets you sync with your computer wirelessly and share music with friends. To sync wirelessly, just go into Settings, Wireless, and Sync now, and everything that was updated on your PC, such as podcasts from a subscription, syncs to your Zune. Our four-minute song took about 30 seconds to sync. The other option is to plug your device into a dock, AC adapter, or your PC. If you want to go this route, you can set up automatic syncing, which lets you specify when and what you want to sync.

Read Full Review @ LaptopMag.com by Mike Kobrin