Microsoft got it right with Zune 2.0

[Surf Monkey]

Wow. I never thought I'd see the day. Microsoft really hit one out of the park with the Zune 2.0 launch. The players look good, the software is backward compatible, the prices are right and more. It's as if they learned point by point how to avoid the issues Apple has had since the iPhone launch. Apple best be watching their backs because the Zune actually looks like a viable, customer friendly alternative right now.

 

[Bonk]

Just wait until Apple lowers prices and adds more capacity to iPods in January. hehehe. If Microsoft were smart, they would have lower prices than the iPod so they would at least be able to survive one price war. Really, the future of Zune 2 will depend on what Apple does next with the iPod.

 

[a113524c]

Hopefully apple learns from zune. A little competition helps. I am going to stick to my iPod touch but the new zunes look like good competition for the iPods. Altough I was thinking zune would have a 160GB device to compete with the classic, they do have the bigger screen.

 

[S2_Mac]

Backward-compatible just tells me there's no significant change in hardware for this generation. Wireless sync is a great feature...wonder how much battery life it eats up. No wireless purchases yet. Like an early Ford, you can get it in any color you want, as long as it's black ;-)

The new "Recorded television content to go" feature has some onerous requirements: Vista Home Premium or Vista Ultimate (and a TV tuner card). Visiting the Zune site, you'd hardly know there was a launch.....

MS finally got rid of the 3-day restriction on "squirting"...is non-DRMd music still subject to the 3-play rule? Does the Zune store still use that goofy "points" system? Still can't use Zune with a Mac, right? Despite all their sneaky patent agreements, still no Zune for linux, right?

Overall, yawn.

 

[studogvetmed]

No expirations on time, but still only three plays.

 

[Surf Monkey]

Backward-compatible just tells me there's no significant change in hardware for this generation.

Guess what? There were no significant hardware changes between the 5.5 and 6G iPods either.

 

[XVI]

They did do the Zune 80 right. 3.2 inch screen with a hard drive is excellent. I won't say I'm considering getting one... but if it was 160GBs it might be another story. Well see what Apple does in Janurary,, hopefully this Zune does well so we, the customers get a better deal.

 

[Surf Monkey]

hopefully this Zune does well so we, the customers get a better deal.

That for me is the defining factor in the Zune 2.0 launch. Microsoft, possibly for the first time in history, seems to have made respect for the customer their number one priority. If you stripped out the names of the devices and companies and then compared the Zune launch to the most recent iPod launch you might easily think that Apple was Microsoft and Microsoft was Apple.

 

[bobb-mini]

Bottom line: the ugliest casing ever.

 

[Surf Monkey]

Yeah, it's no beauty queen. Still, 2.0 looks a lot better than 1.0.

 

[espanoliPod]

the nano is safe. i am sure that the new nano is going to dominate the market. but i would not be surprised to see the hard drive zune overtake the classic, especially with all the classic's bugs/issues. the flash ones would have been good competitors with the 2g nano, not the 3g. the 3g nano is going to dominate.

 

[homeboy]

I don't get all the whining about the design. It's ugly. The Zune 2.0 doesn't look bad nor very exciting but the same goes for the iPod Classic.

MS did indeed get it right. It's a very competent DAP. No we just have to wait for info about the battery. It should atleast have 20h battery time since that big screen is bound to drain the battery.

Overall it's the DAP I'm looking for. It's a perfect device between the Classic and the iTouch. Does the music thing well and has a screen big enough for small videos.

What's best about the video playback is that H.264 is supported. Perfect for watching all those iPod designed clips on the net. It has FM radio as well!!

Now I'm just waiting for a review. If the sound quality is good and the overall experience is positive you can bet that I'll be buying one. It's nice with some good DAPs so that you're not forced to buy an iPod everytime you're looking for something new.

 

[Surf Monkey]

I don't get all the whining about the design. It's ugly. The Zune 2.0 doesn't look bad nor very exciting but the same goes for the iPod Classic.

I really like the Classic design. The more durable, Lucite free front face is exactly the upgrade I wanted.

 

[homeboy]

^^
Oh yeah. The full metal casing is a big plus.

 

[hexonxonx]

They may look nice but MS is only making these things PC compatible. They will not work with Mac computers. This leaves out allot of people who will simply stick to the iPod that works with both Mac and PC. Oh and the iPods are available worldwide, Zune isn't.

 

[bobb-mini]

I don't get all the whining about the design.

'Cos when I show it to the "cool kids" they gonna lock me in the girls' bathroom!


I like the wireless sync, wouldn't mind doing a permanent car installation so my PC SYNCS AUTOMATICALLY WITH CAR PARKED IN GARAGE! Unfortunately, I dunn think anybody makes a HU compatible w the Zune.

 

[porieux]

Wow. I never thought I'd see the day. Microsoft really hit one out of the park with the Zune 2.0 launch. The players look good, the software is backward compatible, the prices are right and more. It's as if they learned point by point how to avoid the issues Apple has had since the iPhone launch. Apple best be watching their backs because the Zune actually looks like a viable, customer friendly alternative right now.

Well if you think they look good then you deserve one

 

[Surf Monkey]

Well if you think they look good then you deserve one

I didn't say "great", I said "good". I think that's a luke warm review at best.

 

[homeboy]

They may look nice but MS is only making these things PC compatible. They will not work with Mac computers. This leaves out allot of people who will simply stick to the iPod that works with both Mac and PC. Oh and the iPods are available worldwide, Zune isn't.

You have to understand that this is only a start. If the Zune 2.0 acheives the sales goals set by MS this christmas and gets embraced by the public, you can count on MS launching and marketing the product in Europe. More or less what Apple did with the iPhone.

As for the Mac support it's not a major issue considering the small market share OS X has compared with Windows. But Mac support will eventually be introduced. After all the iPod was Mac only when it was first launched.


I think that the timing for the release of the Zune 2.0 is perfect. Apple has for the first time fail to deliver "perfect" iPods. The iTouch is pricey, crippled and doesn't come with enough memory to be a full blodded PMP. The iPod Classic is good, has a slightly sluggish interface compared with the G5 and is further more not any different in terms of features. The iPod line is if more or less flawed.

This open up a window of opportunities for MS, Cowon and Creative to leech some of the iPods market share. MS better not screw this up, it's a golden opportunity in their hands.

 

[hyroboarder]

Do we know for sure yet it's only for pc's? Honestly I don't think ms has anything to worry about for not making it compatible, macs don't have much of a market share. But still, if microsoft is going to take on the ipod they should make it possible for everyone to own a zune.

Overall, I have never liked the zune. Wireless synching would not be a dealbreaker for me, I just can't see that being a huge benefit especially if you have your player maxed out and you can't control what you sync right on the zune.

That entire "social" stuff is complete bull****. "welcome to the social" Too bad im the only one at the party with a zune. I know ONE person with a zune.

At least microsoft didn't hype the $#i+ out of this one.