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Microsoft Zune
Introduction
Update: Check out Brad's podcast review of the Microsoft Zune at WhiteRoofRadio.com. The Microsoft Zune has finally arrived at TheTechLounge. Like a lot of you I fiddled with the Zune player at Best Buy and Target shortly after its release. Then I had the opportunity to play with it for a few more minutes at CES this year. I will admit, like so many other critics, I had little hope for Microsoft's freshman attempt at an iPod slayer. I scoffed after reading many reviews detailing the woes of Zune software installation and wi-fi use!not to mention the BROWN. But Kurtis and I agreed that we needed to see what all the fuss was about. I put my preconceived notions about Microsoft and brown aside and we procured a Zune. After several weeks of daily use I've certainly formed more than one opinion about the Zune. Of course there are endless product reviews of the Zune available on the interweb. But with this review I'll try to not only cover the basic features and usability of Microsoft's little brown brick but my impression of the player as a whole, why and who should buy one and if it lives up to its great white competitor. First Looks In my past MP3 player reviews, this is usually the section where I detail the overall look of the new product, its packaging and what you get in the box. But as I had already spent a little time fiddling with the Zune, I had a working knowledge of its design, and I'm sure by now most of you do too. So let's just tackle one of the big obstacles right from the beginning!the brown.             Yes, I specifically asked for a brown Zune because I wanted to determine once and for all if brown really is the new white. As it turns out I quite like the brown. What is difficult to see in many product reviews is the little tint of bright green that accentuates the edges of the brown player. The core of the Zune is brown, but the face is overlaid by an outer shell of transparent green. Tilt the player a bit in your hand and the brown/green combo doesn't look bad at all. In fact I'd even go so far as to say it is a better design touch than the iPod's translucent white (of which I'm also a big fan). Will brown be the new white? I doubt it, unless we suddenly flashback to the mid 1970's. And unlike the white wave of the iPod aftermarket, I can't envision an unending sea of brown Zune accessories flooding store shelves. The Zune is also available in white and black of course, and both look equally as sharp. Still, Microsoft is bucking a trend with their hot chocolate choice and I think it is working.         The overall player design is quite simple and even rather...well, let's call it square. A large 3" screen dominates the upper landscape with a small, black directional pad occupying the lower third. Two nearly flush buttons reside on either side of the d-pad, a play/pause to the right and a menu select to the left. A sliver of silver banding surrounds the display screen and d-pad and that's about all there is to it. Along the top side you'll find the hold button and earphone jack, while the bottom side houses the USB cable connection port. The corners are rounded but the edges are straight and neat, almost sharp. These sharp edges would give the player an almost unfriendly tactility were it not for the slightly textured surface of the casing. Almost rubberized in a way the surface texturing feels soft when in hand and contrasts the geometric lines enough to create a subtle balance. The Zune comes neatly tucked away inside a well designed cardboard sleeve. Each component is separated and well packed. Inside the box new users will find their Zune, a connection cable, earbuds, a protective cloth pouch, installation CD and the worst owner's manual ever (I mean it's really awful, don't bother reading it, honestly). The little attentions to detail gave the device a sense of quality. From the suede-like protective bag down to the little plastic protective end caps on the USB cable, it appears Microsoft kept a close eye on fit and finish. The boys from Redmond can't cheap out on the first try if they hope to make a dent in the design-savvy iPod realm.
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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