First Reviews: Microsoft’s Zune

The first few hands on reviews of Microsoft’s much hyped Zune have hit the web. The question is, can it hold its own against Apple’s iPod?

Gizmodo: “Overall, this seems pretty promising. I can’t find any mis-steps or anything where I have to ask “wait, this is dumb, why did you do this?” in both the player and the software. The Zune itself is very sexy, and feels nice to the touch—not too heavy. We can’t wait to do another hands on as the launch date approaches. Oh, and I still can’t decide which color is my favorite.”

CNET: “Overall, the Zune is a well-designed portable media device with good playback performance, a snappy processor, and an excellent interface. Wi-Fi sharing worked well, but prospective owners should know that its format support, especially for videos, is limited. The Zune looks like a good fit for MP3 player novices.”

2Old2Play: “All in all, any reservations I had about the device melted away after I had a few moments with the Zune. Yes, it is a first-generation product but I really like the direction Microsoft is taking with the Zune. Regardless of either the Zune or the iPod, the consumer will be the winner of this new front in the battle for our entertainment lifestyle.”

Bottom Line: While the initial reviews are generally positive, I feel that more hands on time with the Zune is needed before a definitive assessment is made. Still, some interesting bits of information were extracted from all of this. For example, Gizmodo believes that the Zune’s WiFi capabilities will pave the way for things like internet song sharing, computer synching, and streaming music/video to other devices via software updates. In addition, both CNET and Gizmodo shed some light on various features and limitations that may not be readily apparent.

Click on “Continue Reading” for full product information.

Product Information:

• 4.4 in. x 2.4 in. x 0.6 in. (h x w x d) / Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Music, up to 14 hours (wireless off), up to 13 hours (wireless on); pictures, up to 4 hours; video, up to 4 hours
• Charge Time: 3 hours; 2 hours to 90%
• Display size: 3.0 inches / 320 x 240 pixels
• Windows Media® Audio Standard (.wma): Up to 320 Kbps, CBR and VBR, up to 48-kHz sample rate
• MP3 (.mp3): Up to 320 Kbps, CBR and VBR, up to 48-kHz sample rate
• AAC (.mp4, .m4a, .m4b, .mov): Up to 320 Kbps, Low Complexity (LC), up to 48-kHz sample rate
• JPEG (.jpg): All resolutions (desktop software will automatically convert to 640×480 at sync time)
• Windows Media Video (.wmv): Main Profile, CBR or VBR, up to 1.5 Mbps peak video bitrate, 320 x 240 pixels, 30 frames per sec., with Windows Media Audio up to 192 Kbps, 44.1 kHz, stereo audio; Simple Profile, CBR, up to 736 Kbps video bitrate, 320 x 240 pixels, 30 frames per sec., with Windows Media Audio up to 192 Kbps, 44.1 kHz, stereo audio.
• Wireless connectivity: 802.11 b/g / 30 feet
• Price: $249.99
• Website: www.zune.net