or so says every review I have read.
anyone have any sources saying otherwise?
installation HORROR stories. questionable collection of "features." incompatibility with WMP and pretty much any non-Zune marketplace source for music. handicapped wifi.
I was on the verge of pre-ordering a Zune, but Microsoft has jaded me over the years, so I held off. I think I'm pretty happy with that decision.
ahmedilyas wrote:
it's only JUST been released ... how can one say its a flop? far from it IMHO. its typical when anti MS people like to criticise something that doesnt go their way initially. You should buy it IF you like it and IF you find it useful for you, not what other people say or think. Other people don't make decisions for you, you make that decision ;-)
is David Pogue anti-MS? he generally seems pretty moderate and reserved to me.
how about the guy at the Sun Times, Andy Ihnatko?
kind of hard to know if I like a device if everyone I know refuses to purchase it, and anecdotally everything I've heard about it is negative.
that's why I'm asking if anyone's got any sources that make an argument to the contrary.
ok I see :-)
AFAIK, it is compatible with WMP. It's not currently compatible with Vista but there will be an update if I remember correctly, I could be wrong. I've had a couple of colleagues who use it and they say it works fine with WMP. Joe Morel should know more about this since he has one...or seven maybe!
what do i care, if you are jaded by microsoft, don′t you know there is a little thing more popular by apple called IPOD!!!! ?
wow, yet another informed and informative post by maglup. are you "writing just to write"? if so, to again quote your other thread, "please abstain yourself." or stain yourself. your choice I suppose.
thanks for an irrelevant interjection in a post far more relevant than your own. perhaps you should reread the forum descriptions and reconsidering your posting strategies?
The biggest problem I see with it is that it does not work with "Plays For Sure" compatible subscription and download services. When people say it doesn't work with WMP/WMA that's probably what they're talking about.
Having a subscription service compatible player is a big factor for me. I'm simply not going to pay 99 cents a track for a compressed, DRM'ed, music file. If I want the song(s) that bad I'll buy the CD and rip it to unprotected, less compressed, MP3s. However, I'm very willing to pay $15 a month for a subscription to 1000's of albums worth of music where I can listen to the music I select on my computer or my portable player. Of course, these tracks are tightly DRM'ed and compressed but I can live with it in this context since I consider it something like TiVo or renting a DVD rather than making a purchase I'm supposed to own.
From a techno-nerd perspective, Zune looks a lot like many other Microsoft 1.0 products. It quickly got a reputation of not working and playing well with other MS products and I'll guess that there are some serious software bugs in it that will have to get upgraded to 1.1 very soon. The Vista thing is one but there are probably others.
On the cosmetic side, Zune is ugly. It won't attract style concious trendy people and that's who you need to have on your side for a product like this. Apple has the coolness factor and some other players have the alternative factor but Zune only has the wannabe factor, not where you want to be with a product you want to market to the masses.
My prediction is that the Zune, 'as-is', won't be around very long. I think we'll either see a "Zune 360" with improved styling and features, and a higher price tag, within 12-18 months while the old one gets discontinued or we may see the whole Zune project get quietly buried next to Microsoft Bob in the graveyard of MS's failed ideas.
Let's see, yes, it's not compatible with WMP even though WMP11 and the Zune software appear to be the same program(or dang close) just re-skinned with different features. WMP won't even acknowledge it as a device.
There are those that seem to be having installation issues, but it almost seems to be hardware issues on their ends, EX: My Zune works fine on my parent's computer, but the software doesn't see it on my computer.
Since I'm one of those that didn't have installation issues, and I'm used to every device needing it's own software to function properly anyway, I'm happy with my Zune.
Functionality and sound quality are good. I do like the landscape mode for viewing pictures. And the Black body with the clear blue shell gives it a unique look that I actually like, I think the brown one with the yellow (double shot, I think they call it) is pretty ugly though.
I have just bought a Zune! I love it, I think that it is way better than any iPod. You cannot say anything against it if you have not even bought it. Only the people that have one can say anything. The only thing about the Zune is that there is an update when you first install it. Better than not having it update at all. The screen is bigger and the pictures are crisper and the sound is better, in my opinion.
Whoever is reading this, buy it and decide for yourself, everything new comes with Horror Stories. Don't miss out on it. Put destiny in your hands.
Well, my wife and I each bought a Zune.. I really Love mine (She has yet to open hers). I have found a few programs that will allow video of one format and xfer it so that you can put it on your zune and it will play. One of the software i think is called Cucusoft? i am on the basic system and not infront of the main puter of the house (wife uses it mostly unless i have the day off work).
I did buy a protective case for my zune (which is white, hers is black) which has helped alot at work (I work at McCarren Airport in Vegas). the FM radio part I do like is if the station is digital (I think) is the zune gives alot of info about the station, what song is playing, who is singing the song. I have yet tried the WiFi (maybe when the wife opens hers and gets it going) so no input there. Be nice if it could have a Tv tuner and/or a small Cam to take pics (if phones can use cams, why not a zune? But then thats a wish list).
If Microsoft DID make another/better zune, i would probably still buy it, BUT be nice if they had a exchange type policy for those who have a reg zune (maybe a discount off a newer/more improved Zune). And I am sure even though Microsoft's Zune will probably never over the Ipod, but there is alot of space out there for other portable players.
Right now I have about 1018 songs on my zune (MP3 format and at the max kps zune software will do) and still have about 18.6 gigs left.
I got a zune and have mixed feelings thus far...
- I like the look, clean lines and a hint of blue make it subtle and sleek
- Picture and Sound clarity have been great
- Size is a double edge sword, great to look at, but a pain to wear on your arm
- Installation was a breeze
- Battery life is suprisingly good
- FM tuner is nice and does display some great info
- One of the reasons I got a zune is to listen to Audible.com (.aa) files. The Zune is not compatible with .aa files. I tried using tunebite, (tunebite.com) but ran into errors when when trying to rip from .aa to mp3 or anything else
- WHY oh WHY is this not compatible with WMP 11? That baffles me and is a real pain.
I think MS might have missed the boat, albeit, not by much. A couple tweaks to compatibility and size, and they'll have a winner. There's no way a company this size will "bury" a market such as portible music devices.....I'd still give it a thumbs up.
