Zune AReviews

Zune 4GB

 

It isn't everyday one gets an MP3 player for a gift.  I certainly will mark this year as something special all because a couple of office colleagues made the effort to gift me with one on my 25th birthday.  That was the surprise of my life alright.

I had wanted an iPod 8GB Nano to replace the one I lost and was deeply heart-broken by the loss.  My first serious MP3 player that had me saving up from my last two paychecks and it didn't even last a month.  After all those hours downloading my music files, they were just gone with it.  Well what do you know, they remembered. And they did something more than that, they had loaded a few of my favorite MP3 and video files that I shared with them earlier.  Thanks guys.

Now off with my wonderful present.  And what a surprise indeed.  It's not an iPod.  What a real downer, I said to myself.  It was a Zune 4 GB from some company called Microsoft.  Sounds familiar.  Now where did I hear that?  Oh yes, my PC came with the Windows Vista from a certain Microsoft.  They seem to be everywhere these days. 

I thought, oh well, couldn't be any worst for it.  For starters, it looked good and felt good in my hands out of the box.  It's vertically oriented like my Sony Ericcson walkman cellphone.  The nano is horizontal, its screen is bigger. But the Zune seemed to have more color contrast and intensity than the iPod I lost.  The Happy Feet MTV certainly looks crispier.  Great, but it didn't have the click wheel control.  Oh well, it's called a Zune Pad, touch sensitive as well.  Played with it for a while, seems ok, nothing spectacular.

It's red.  My iPod was black.  I think I'll have a few words with the guys about this.  Maybe it was a mistake.  On second thought, it does stand out uniquely fine in red and black screen surrounds. 

And wow, it comes with an FM radio.  Excellent.  I don't have to buy that iPod accessory anymore.  The earphones look so-so.  Until I started using it.  I don't recall my MP3 files sounding so good.  Same with the FM tuner, excellent reception, at least for my favorite stations. And I won't be missing the iPod's TV out, I hardly used it anyway.  Never mind that the Zune does not have one

Oh and it can't be interfaced with a MAC.  Good.  My sister won't bother with it.  Her Powerbook will never get to touch this.  She'll never know how wonderful it is to sync my brand new toy with my PC without any wires.  Great innovation: wireless sync, wireless charging.  She could have my iPod for all I care.  Too bad, I lost it.  I'm sure she'll be green with envy when she sees this.

Oh well, I'll be pounding on my PC after loading the marketplace software.  Have to erase the iTunes. I won't need it anymore.   I am sure Microsoft is happy with that.