Microsoft Zune 2nd Generation 80GB Media Player - Black

zune 80gb rocks, and kicks but against my ipod classic 80gb

Posted Jan 30, 2008 - zune comparison vs ipod classic ipod has games which are fun, and battery life is better comes in silver zune bigger screen, better quality sound earphones much better than ipod. sound quality double better than ipod. looks sexier than ipod, video quality side by side comparison to ipod looks way way better. zune is really fun to use and very easy to navigate through and menu is faster than ipods menu ipod may be slighty slimmer than zune but most people always carry in a case since it gets easily scratched so it defeats the purpose of it being slimmer. i like the zune because i never carry it in a case and it still looks like new. zune is very durable i dropped my 20 backpack on it and not even one stractch on the screen- ofcourse it was an accident and i was so glad nothing happened to it.

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Great player with some of the most atrocious software ever......

Posted Jan 17, 2008 - After using my 5th Generation iPod's screen stopped working just a little above 1 year (conveniently out of warranty) I decided that I didn't want to buy another apple product for my next mp3 player. The Zune 2 had just come out and the 80GB of space was quite appealing (upgrade from 30GB) and the player seemed rather improved from the first Bricky Zune. After testing the interface in the store and checking the size I was quite convinced this would be my next mp3 player. What really sealed the deal was the Zune Originals offer from MS that allowed you to laser etch a custom picture from a set # of artists onto the back of the player. So I waited anxiously for my Zune (shipped direct from the factory in China). When it arrived the player was solid as expected and the interface was smooth..... And then everything went downhill from there. I started by simply installing the Zune software and when that was done I selected my music folders. First thing I noticed was that the ways to manipulate the sorting were incredibly limited compared to ITunes. You couldn't sort by priorities (like Album> Artist). So I either had to choose between browsing artists (where the albums would be scatted around) or by album (where the artists were scattered throughout the whole list). To top things off in browse mode, things are jumbled in the album view where it splinters off albums if you have various artists or feat. artists in a single album... Not great. Of course this could be overcome by a simple search right? Nope... the search function is horrible and non-interactive. It's not even close to as smooth as the itunes search and from the search page you cannot sync songs directly from there. Either way it makes organizing any collection a complete pain. Second off the Zune doesn't double as a portable HD if you need it while the Ipod does. And third, I often bring my mp3 player to work to play music on my PC (since my work PC has limited HD Space). For some obscure reason the Zune software does not play songs directly off your Zune unless you copy them to your HD collection first (defeating the purpose of doing it in the first place). It really upsets me that Microsoft had a great chance to take a customer away from Apple's Ipod reign and completely screwed it up with horrible software. I wanted to enjoy the zune but it's just been a miserable experience so far that I can't recommend to anyone (esp since it's about the same price as the ipod classic). Sure, things might improve in the future and the software might be updated, but I wouldn't buy this player and bank on that. I'm even tempted now to sell my Zune at a loss on ebay and go buy another iPod so I can use Itunes again (which I don't particularly like all that much to begin with). I could go on about the positive aspects like the wireless sync and the social aspect, but really it's all just overshadowed by pure un-useability..... It's sad how they didn't even get the fundamentals correct with the software. Here's to hopping for an improvement (and I'll update my review if one comes).

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Best mp3 Player I've Ever Used

Posted Dec 29, 2007 - This is hands down the best mp3 player I have ever used. Before this I had an ipod 60GB (5th gen). I had so many problems with that ipod I had no choice but to get rid of it. The zune 80GB is easy to use and the user interface is just great. No freezing problems like that ipod I had. The radio feature is a great added bonus. It's easily the best player on the market right now. Highly recommended.

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Zune 80 GB Black

Posted Dec 13, 2007 - The Zune 80 gb is by far the best mp3 player that I have purchased and used. I always hated the Ipod's. Never got the hang of the buttons. The buttons on the Zune are much more easier to use and flip through videos, music, photos, the radio, and much more! There is so much demand for this product that it is out of stock everywhere. I am very fortunate to have gotten my hands on one and making everyone else around me jealous lol. I love the screen setup. You can flip through videos, music, radio, photos in a flash. The player does not freeze or slow down like my other mp3 players did (Zen). This will make life much more interesting while traveling to work by train everyday! Get your hands on these gadgets as the price and quality is worth it! about time something will hopefully outbeat the ipod! Overall I give the Zen 80 gb an A+. Sound quality an A. Video an A. Pictures an A+. This is clearly better then the ipod. Hope this review helps!!!

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Zune 80GB

Posted Dec 18, 2007 - I've had my Zune since the beginning of December. It replaced a Creative Zen Touch 60GB that also had video abilities. Unfortunately the Zen broke after about a year and 1/2. I had the Zune software installed in advance of getting my unit. It worked fine for the first couple of days, then it stopped recognizing the Zune except over the wireless network. After a number of uninstall/reinstall cycles that included using a couple of registry cleaners to get everything I was able to get the PC to recognize the unit was plugged in, but not the software. I eventually crashed my PC and had to reinstall XP but I had a couple of minor issues before the Zune so it was not totally unexpected. Since reinstalling XP and the Zune software it is working fine except I have to start the SW manually, it doesn't always start when I plug in the Zune. I've had 4 40GB+ Creative units and only one is still functioning. The oldest one probably just needs a new battery but has no video. I liked some features of the Creative units that MS could probably add easily. I could delete files anytime, the Zune has to be docked. I could create different categories or sub-folders for video. I've not found a way to do that on the Zune yet. The Creative would also allow you to bookmark long MP3 files like books, the Zune will not. It does remember where you stopped a video and will resume from the same point. The Zune will also play the Apple MV4 video format. I'm still experimenting with different formats on the Zune but so far the MV4 seems to convert faster and play most reliably, but I need to try more. I'd like to have files that are still compatible with the Creative products since I got my wife the Zen 8GB on sale last weekend as a Christmas present. I don't want to have to use too much disc space on my PC's storing the same files in 2 formats. Overall I recommend the Zune to anyone who wants a bigger screen than the iPod offers. It's certainly a much more attractive unit than the original 30GB Zune.

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Zune 2nd Generation 80GB Media Player - Black

Posted Feb 7, 2008 - Let me preface this review by stating that I've owned Ipods for about 6 years prior to getting the Zune as a gift. As far as a music player, the Zune isn't really any upgrade over the the Ipod. The Zune shines though in watching movies in comparison to the Ipod Classic and also allows you to watch movies on the Xbox 360 when hooked up via USB. The 80GB drive is more than large enough to hold my collection of movies and music. The headphones that come with the player are a big upgrade of what comes with the Ipod, but still not as good as my Shure e2c ear buds. My single biggest complaint is that the Zune Software. It doesn't have nearly the flexibility in column headings as Itunes and its more difficult to modify the information on the song (i.e. Artist name, Album name, etc.). If Microsoft can upgrade the software application (just copy Itunes and be done with it), I think they'll have a real winner on their hands.

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The Zune 80 is very fun to use!!

Posted Jan 11, 2008 - i have both the ipod 80gb classic and the new 80gb zune. ipod advantages over zune -itunes is a bit better than zune markerketplace -battery life -has extras like clock timer and games(which i love) -ipod is only a bit slimmer than zune-but this does'nt count for me bcuz you have to definetly get a case for the ipod so it does'nt scratch- so they end up being the same size. zune advantages over ipod -screen( i luv watching movies on this thing- and they look 10x better than on the ipod screen) -user friendly interface(my 40 year old mom things the zune is way easier to use) and it's and fun to use the zune -zune pad is better than and funner to use than ipod clickwheel. -radio -video output through headphone jack unlike the ipod which you have to buy like a 50+dock to view ipod movies through tv. for the zune to watch on tv i only paid 10 for av jack. -zune also has a very sleek cool design and won't get scratch easily like ipod chrome back which got some scratches despite always having it in a case in the end i love my zune so much more-im 16 by the way also me and my friend share music wirelessly in school- so you can listen to each song that you get from them 3x then it expires- who cares though it's still very cool. you can any pictures from them forever and also keep podcasts forever. also in cnet it is the top mp3 player and ipod classic does'nt even make the top five. the ipod nano is in 4th place but not the 80gb ipod classic by the all of my friends are impressed with my new zune. and one of my friends when i told her that i got a zune she's like -eww you got a zune why? ipod is so much better. then i said well have you even used one -then i let her use it at the end of it she loved the wheel and she said- screw the ipod this is better

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GREAT!

Posted Dec 26, 2007 - This Zune is awesome. I've owned "other" mp3 players before but this is by far the best. The large screen is great. The quality of the earbuds is better than others. It feels nice and sturdy and well made. I don't have any of the add-ons yet, but hope to get some. The software takes a little getting used to, but once you understand it, it's not bad. This 2nd generation Zune is much better than the original. If Microsoft could just update their software a little, this would be the ultimate mp3 player. Personally I feel it's better than the ipod.

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Great player!

Posted Dec 22, 2007 - A great little player. I love the color and feel of the player and the large screen is beautiful. I had the 30GB and love the interface of the Zune.

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Zune 2nd Generation 80gb Media Player

Posted Dec 29, 2007 - I am pleasantly surprised by the new zune. it is aesthetically a beautiful device. the new device is thin and smaller versus its predecessor. it surely can rival the ipod for marketshare in the any consumers' minds. the apple ipod better watch out.

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