Microsoft Zune

Reviews: Multimedia

Microsoft Zune

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Bradford Day
Kurtis
Microsoft
Mar. 6, 2007

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Testing: Software

Unfortunately my first experience with the Zune was not as pleasing as its appearance. Some of you may recall reading about the initial issues with Zune software installation. While I didn't experience any lock ups or incomplete installs, the process was ridiculously lengthy. Like most Microsoft products, a fresh install is never as easy as it sounds. Updates don't only affect XP and Vista.

Upon inserting the Zune install disc, the software immediately started searching for a newer version. Unsurprisingly the installer found an updated version which I then had to download and install. Once the installation began I was immediately indoctrinated into "the Social," Microsoft's lamer-than-lame attempt at making the youth market think that Zune ownership implies some sort of membership to an ultra-cool musical inner-circle. Several images of overly hip and sexy men and women, no doubt genetically engineered to be beautiful, flashed across my screen tempting me to join their social while the Zune software slowly did its thing.

After a few minutes a new screen popped up and I was forced to give my Zune player a name. Fine, I gave it a name. But then I had to select my sync and library options. Ok, boxes ticked. More library and Xbox 360 settings (which don't affect me in the slightest as I have no Xbox). And then, hold up, more Zune naming. Yes, I had to tag my Zune and create a Windows Live ID. All this before I've even heard one note.

And once all the precursory events have concluded (total time: about an hour) you can finally start loading up music. The Zune does come pre-loaded with a handful of songs, videos and images but I'm such a music snob I quickly deleted the tracks and got straight to putting MY music onto the device.

This brings me to the next phase in the start up sequence, music purchasing. Microsoft is more than happy to sell you music via their Zune Marketplace store front. Heck, they'll even rent you music with their Zune Pass. After witnessing the iconic rise of the iPod and iTunes, no one can dispute the importance of having a strong backbone of media service to compliment a media player.

The Zune Marketplace is an e-store where you can search, purchase and sync music. Finding music in the Marketplace isn't quite as easy as it is from within iTunes. Firstly there's less music to be found. This is to be expected of a fledgling service when compared to the venerable iTunes.

Let's say I want to actually purchase some music. Searching for the tunes is easy enough. Fill in the search bar with your artist of choice and you're off. Now I'm ready to pay for the song. But wait, I don't have any Microsoft Points. That's right, I can't just click and pay, I need points!like some sort of electronic carnival tickets before I can board the Tilt-a-Whirl. These points aggravate me to no end.

For $5 I can purchase 400 points. The points can then be spent on music at a rate of 79 points per song (or a tad under $0.99/track). But wait, the points are 80 for a buck. So what the heck am I going to do with the 5 left over points I'll have after buying 5 songs? That's just it. To actually spend all your stupid points, you'll need to keep buying them until you hit 31600 points, or just shy of $400 before you have a 0 point total.

Please explain to me how having not one but two middlemen between me and my music is a good thing? There is only one word for this: asinine. I think when I finally get around to purchasing Vista, I'll just pay for it using Skee-Ball tickets. Hey, they're as good as money, right? One saving grace for the point system is that Xbox Live users can use Zune and Xbox 360 points interchangeably. At least they're good for something.

But just in case the Microsoft Points weren't annoying enough, here's one more for you. The Zune doesn't play Microsoft's own PlaysForSure media. So if you purchase your music from Napster or URGE, for example, the Zune will NOT happily sync those tracks. And why would it? Microsoft doesn't want to you purchase your media from Napster or Wal-Mart. They want you to buy those stupid points. I can't think of another reason why the Zune wouldn't play its own manufacturer's sanctioned content. True, the PlaysForSure development team is more or less an independent entity from the Entertainment and Devices Division of MS but that is hardly an excuse.

Actually loading songs from the Marketplace onto the Zune is fairly pain-free and they even offer a few freebie downloads (which is of course how I tested the Marketplace loading). I refuse to spend $0.99/song on any digital music from iTunes or the Zune Marketplace. After selecting the song and hitting "sync" the music shows up in your on-screen library. At least that part is easy.

But if you are like me and prefer to use your own, pre-existing digital music library just point the Zune software in the direction of your tunes and start ticking and syncing. I loaded about 17 gigs of music from my collection. The transfer took a while, but it was over a wireless G connection from my media server. Syncing from a local machine takes much less time. Transferring of videos and pictures is accomplished in the same manner; point, click, sync.

When you purchase a Zune, Microsoft offers you a free 2 week subscription to their Zune Pass subscription music service. But after the Marketplace fiasco, I said no thanks and proceeded to load up MY music that I own. However the Zune Pass is probably the better deal as you can rent as many songs as you like for a monthly fee of $14.99. You won't own your music, but at least there are no points involved.

The rental Zune Pass service works much like the Marketplace. Search for your favorite artists, point, click, sync and the tracks appear on your player. Delete and reload as often as you like. Rented music will remain on your Zune so long as you're a Zune Pass subscriber in good standing.

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Page 1: Introduction & First Looks
Page 2: Testing: Software
Page 3: Testing: Hardware
Page 4: Testing: Daily Usage
Page 5: Conclusion

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