[grossnicklaus_a]

That is the one thing I fear too is the zune store. Most other companies that don't have their own propriatary online store's are nice because they will play what ever you throw at it.

[tatilsever]

There are many Asian media players with large screens that shows up on Engadget. Touch's advantage is the App Store ecosystem shared with iPhone, attracting a lot of developers.
I have not used any Zune devices, but I did try Zune software. It has a cool and different look, not a clone of iTunes at all, but even though it was 3.0 version, it was still as buggy as a beta on my XP laptop. I expected better from MS due to its vast resources, but I am disappointed again.

[CheeseHead]

It has nothing to do with being 'fan boys'. The Zune is nothing but an unoriginal design created by talentless individuals that don't deserve my hard earned money... Why would I settle for a cheap knock off when I can support people that actually innovate and design products that I want?

[grossnicklaus_a]

Everyone that talks about products like they were the one who designed the better one and everyone else is copying them, is a "fan boy." The truth of the matter is that they both created a good product but Apple has taken their's further then Microsoft has and Microsoft made a late decision to try to catch up. The Zune is nothing like the Ipod exept for the fact that it 1. plays music and 2. it is a piece of hardware and 3. it has software on it. Apple didn't invent any of those things. If anything apple copied Archos who basically pioneered large HD based Mp3 players. The thing that Apple did to separate them from Archos was make the Ipod B&W and not give it the ability to play video's.

[dwd3885]

First of all, it's not a knock off. Second, what did the people who work at Microsoft ever do to you? They aren't talentless, if they were, they wouldn't be working.

People like to talk smack about products and when they do that, they are usually trying to justify their own purchases in the past. Talk about insecurity.

[veggiedude]

This is going to be fun to watch. Zune HD wlll be competing with all the Windows Mobile devices out there, all of which are trying to catch up with Apple's iPod touch.

[hillstones]

dwd3885 said:

I'm not a MS fanboy. I was just saying the criticism the Zune gets is unwarranted. It's a really good device and this one looks even better.

Since the Zune has been one of Microsoft's biggest flops, I say the criticism is warranted. The Zune 30 could not handle leap year dates and froze. First gen models were not compatible with Vista, even when MS was really trying to push Vista, the Brown Zune was most often referenced to as something you would see floating in a toilet, and Zune sales fell $100 million from 2007 to 2008. It also has one of the worst marketing campaigns...Squirt a song to your friends? That is just gross. They have a closed market just like the iPod. Now that iTunes is DRM free, who knows what may happen. However, I am pretty sure MS will not offer Mac compatibility.

With regard to the title of the new Zune, referring to it as HD is a joke. You won't have a screen small enough for the Zune to be HD quality. If it has HDMI, we'll just have to see what kind of video it can output.

[grossnicklaus_a]

Well talking about jokes. HD is a joke because it has been around since graphics class monitors have been around which is like 20 years or so. If it has an HDMI output that means it is HDCP compatible and therefore "HD."

[dwd3885]

Well considering it's probably called HD because it has an hdmi port and can output 720p to an HDTV, I think the "Zune HD" is warranted.

And I'm sure all the iPod owners would LOVE wireless syncing and the ability to send songs to a friend.

[Wondercow]

dwd3885 said:

And I'm sure all the iPod owners would LOVE wireless syncing and the ability to send songs to a friend.

You're wrong; not all would love those features. I would like wireless syncing but song sharing I can completely live without.

[CheeseHead]

{quote}First of all, it's not a knock off.{quote}

The Zune is a clear knock off of the ipod and always has been. People can see it is ipod inspired and Microsoft took little time and effort to come up with an original and unique product. On the other hand the ipod was totally original and very well thought out.

{quote}They aren't talentless, if they were, they wouldn't be working. Second, what did the people who work at Microsoft ever do to you? {quote}

Microsoft just booted 5,000 of them out the door... Microsoft has been releasing subpar products since the company started, and was primarily because they had no competition. These arrogant tyrants deserve every bit of criticism they receive. Just look at the current products - Zune, Vista, IE, and Office are all failures. I'm sure when Microsoft had no competition it was easy for them to be considered an innovative company :). When the Mac Business Unit was created they actually started developing some decent mac products that were better than their Windows counterparts. Sadly Bill Gates put an end to that.

[Photonerd]

They still make these pieces of crap? Heheh. Comical.

[CheeseHead]

{quote}And I'm sure all the iPod owners would LOVE wireless syncing{quote}

I own an iPod Touch and can't say that wireless syncing is a priority. I am fine with syncing my music while my Touch charges. Besides with MobileMe all of my other stuff already syncs wirelessly.

{quote}and the ability to send songs to a friend.{quote}

Microsoft bends paying customers over with activation and verification for all of its products but has absolutely no respect for other people's content?

[happymac]

First of all, learn to spell; secondly, use good grammar. People who post their viewpoints in a sloppy manner, like you just did, just force me to skip their post altogether.