Let’s Talk Zune

The gift giving season is fast approaching
and with the advent of the iPod, people who didn’t even like music are feeling
the pressure to ‘get jiggy with it.’ But what if the ubiquitous Apple mp3
player isn’t up the ally of the budding audiophile on your list? Well, there are
certainly alternatives. Cassette tapes, for instance, are DRM free and so long
as you’re (only) into the classics, they’re a dime a dozen down at the pawn shop.
But what about that other mp3 player, you know, the one created by Frank Herbert…the
Zune!

In today’s market, portable music players
are compared to one thing and one thing only; the iPod. Even iPods are contrasted with other iPods. So the first thing a potential Zune owner should ask
is how does it compare to its in-class Apple counterpart? Generally speaking,
critics note that the Zune brand is certainly moving forward by leaps and
bounds, but it just doesn’t stack up against the iPod brand. However, there are
certain factors that can tip the scales. Most salient is the built-in FM tuner
in the Zune. If portable radio is a must have, then the nod must go to
Microsoft.

And if you’re a wacky wireless enthusiast,
newer Zunes offer wireless syncing with your on-computer library once you step
into your house. Because, attaching that USB cable was so 90’s.

On the forefront of Zune news is the 3.1
update that adds three free games (Checkers, Sudoku, and Space Battle) as well
as various fixes/patches to the software.

But let’s face the facts. This Christmas it’s
all about pushing your dollar as far as it’ll go. And the Zune isn’t going to
disappoint there. Microsoft just announced a price cut to the flash-based
memory models: $129 to $99 (4GB), $149 to $139 (8GB) and $199 to $179 (16GB).

One thing’s for certain though;going Zune means going against the grain-and that’s got to count for something, right?

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Steve | My Bio & Articles

Steve is a self-confessed gadget addict with a soft spot for all green gizmos. He has a BA in English Literature and is currently completing his MA in Communication and Rhetoric.