Comments on: Zune 4 GB Digital Media Player Pink

By: George Shaw

George Shaw — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 22:34:32 +0000

Brilliant MP3 Player
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
For the price this is an brilliant MP3 player. 4 GB may have been too small capacity. The compact size, styling, color, and ease of use make the Zune very attractive. I have an IPOD, but will probably, for variety purposes, buy a larger capacity Zune.

By: momto2gr8kiddos

momto2gr8kiddos — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 16:09:41 +0000

LIKE MY ZUNE
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I like my zune…this is a fantastic player. It is so simple to download the software and then transfer music to it. Zune also has a fantastic marketplace to buy music or videos. I have videos, podcasts and lots of music loaded on mine. Would definately recommend the zune over any other brand!

By: Jaris C. Mcclain

Jaris C. Mcclain — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 20:36:16 +0000

I’m buying an iPod
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
From the day I chose to buy a new mp3 player, my wife encouraged me to buy an iPod. But, I wanted to buck the system and give the Zune a try. After all, it had been recommended by friends. I should’ve listened to my wife.

After only two months of ownership, the first Zune stopped outputting sound. The radio worked fine, but it wouldn’t play audio from any files, audio or video. After sending it back, the new one arrived about two months ago. Then, a few days ago, I went to turn it on at the gym and…nothing. It won’t power up at all. It’s still well under warranty so I wanted to submit another online service request, but–to top it all off–Micrsoft doesn’t ship overseas, not even to Armed Forces (APO) address. Some appreciation for the troops. Now I have to have the return box shipped to my wife, have her forward it to me, etc. Their phone customer service is pretty much useless.

Not sure what I’ll do with my 3rd Zune when it arrives, but I’ve already ordered an iPod nano.

To their credit, I’ve got nothing but excellent things to say about the Zune sofware’s usability. In fact, Apple could take a lesson from them in designing iTunes. But, the software is useless if it’s primary hardware doesn’t ever work.

By: Christina Dempsey

Christina Dempsey — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 09:01:18 +0000

I like this!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I really like this thing. I wasn’t too certain I would. I had only owned an ipod, and, when it died, I read the reviews for the Zune. Since the reviews said such excellent things, I chose to go out on a limb and buy this one. Best thing I ever did. I like the software much better. It lets you submit your own album art. The sound quality is also MUCH better than the ipod I had. I can’t say enough excellent things about it.

By: C. Neff

C. Neff — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 04:26:27 +0000

My Wife likes her Pink Zune!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
My wife had been using her phone as an MP3 player, but it does not deliver the capacity or flexibility as the Zune player does. Ever since I gave it to her for Christmas, she has been using it in the car by hooking it to an FM transmitter, and using it when she works out… she likes it. The nice thing about the Zune, compared to an iPOD, is that when you copy music to it, it’s in mp3 format and it doesn’t take expensive software to convert the music back to regular audio format. The iTunes software for the iPOD converts the music to a special format that requires expensive software to convert it back… It’s so much simpler to use the Zune… We both have one and like it!!!

By: Nathan J. Weisser

Nathan J. Weisser — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 02:27:02 +0000

Zune Pass Software Lacks Features for Learning New Music….
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
In a nutshell, if Zune Pass offered the same features as Napster, I would still own my Zune (I returned it). The largest feature that was missing for me was the “radio stations”, which are playlists that Napster place together – probably by professional DJ’s. If I knew exactly which artists/songs I wanted to download, Zune Pass would have worked just fine. Perhaps I missed something, but the “Social” feature that Zune Pass offers didn’t have a way to automatically place together a play list for me. Since I listen to music in a professional work environment, I just can’t dedicate the time to manually place together a playlists based on what other people like. If this feature could automatically place together a playlist but, that would be cool. Maybe this feature is available, but if so I missed it.

Specifically, with Napster if I want to listen to current Dance Pop, I simply choose the Dance Pop radio station (a DJ crafted playlist). With Zune Pass, the closest I could get was to find a playlist such as “Dance Pop hits 2004″, “Dance Pop hits 2005″ etc. I couldn’t find a “Dance Pop hits 2008″ or similar playlist, so the playlists seemed kind of outdated for what is a relatively new service.

From a hardware standpoint, if the Zune would work with Napster, I would still own it. Since I’m forced to choose between Zune Pass and Napster – I’ve chosen Napster.

It didn’t break my heart too much to return the Zune but, because I know there are other brands of similar MP3 players for roughly half the price, which will let me use Napster or Rhapsody.

The music subscription service is the most vital feature to me. I suspect I may be in a minority but, because without fail, when I clarify how the subscription service works, the universal response is, “Hey buddy, I can show you how to download music for free!”

In the past, neither the iPod nor the Zune were compatible with services like Napster or Rhapsody, and thus were of no interest to me.

While no weirder to P2P networks such as limewire, frostwire, bearshare etc., and more recently torrents, I’ve never been one to download music unless it was something that I already own on CD (I have a relatively decent collection of probably 800 CDs, although I’ve only bought 2 CDs in nearly 10 years). Thus, being able to learn and legally download new music is very attractive.

I believe that subscription services are the way of the future, and that the iPod will eventually have to succumb to that reality, or risk becoming irrelevant. The Zune is one step ahead of them right now, and if the Zune Pass was on par with Napster, I would be using one right now. I do hope that Microsoft can pull it together, as I find the iPod fanaticism to be quite annoying, and yet their current offering w/ the new iPod Touch is an attractive piece of hardware.

By: Kristina Krist

Kristina Krist — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:25:09 +0000

Zune Sucks
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I got this for my son for xmas last year.. My son loved it and my son took really excellent care of it.. see the word loved? We sync-ed it twice, once initially and once in the last month. In the last week, I tried to sync it again and I got a message on my computer when I hooked the usb up that there was a power surge and a malfunction and to disconnect asap. So I am like huh? This isn’t brain science. So under the impression it was the usb cable, I bought another usb and not a knock off either. Same message. I got on the phone with Zune’s support and for an hour we tried various things, we came to the conclusion the Zune has malfunctioned! After 2 1/2 mos! I can send it in and they can “try to fix it” .. I truly do not know if I will, I am very disappointed.. I am currently looking at ipods for him instead, I have an itouch.. I am completely pleased.. and I haven’t been as careful with mine as he has either.

Should have gone that way first.

By: nipchamonkey

nipchamonkey — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:53:41 +0000

Better than an Ipod
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
For starters I like the software. One of the coolest features to me is the “now playing” feature. The software pulls pictures of the band you’re listening to off the internet for you to view while you listen instead of a “visualizer.”

Aside from that it’s a pretty excellent mp3 player. It looks sleek and classy, holds a quite a bit of music even if you rip it at a higher quality, and has a sweet touch pad. Personally I reckon that scroll wheels are a pain in the butt for any man with normal sized thumbs. The Zune pad reminds me of a videogame D-pad, so it should feel natural to gamers out there.

By: JJ

JJ — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:00:42 +0000

BUYER BEWARE!
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I bought the Zune after having my iPod stolen from the gym I go to (I liked the FM receiver option). Not only was this device quirkie…it was ridiculous. I had been a past iPod user and was used to the simple changing and re-arranging of music, playlists, etc. The Zune will NOT allow you to sign in and just re-arrange or whatever you want to do…it locks up, makes you completely delete and reload your music in the order you want it….who wants THAT??? I finished up (after two weeks of trying) returning it to the place I bought it) and bought the iPod. Two months later $14.99 charges started showing up on my VISA for “joining” Zune-pass. I took advantage (although they took advantage of ME) of their two-week trial offer. I cancelled the membership via the internet…and when (two $14.99 charges later) were popping up on my VISA they said “you didn’t call our telephone representative, therefore your Zune-Pass was still extended for each month”. WHAT??? Cancel does not mean CANCEL??? Nowhere on their website did they indicate that I had to phyically call and talk to a representative to cancel my subscrption. So very ridiculous! I questioned “where” I was talking to and he said South East Asia (for customer service). I questioned them repeatedly to refund my money they charged me for and it was “not something they were able to do from THERE”. I pressed that they had very poor customer service standards and what they were doing monthly was stealing money from me via my VISA card with unauthorized charges…I’m here to tell you… he didn’t care at ALL. BUYER BEWARE!! I vowed to tell anyone and everyone of my poor experience all around. Don’t buy the piece of junk nor have to deal with the substandard Customer “non” support. I still have a headache >:-Z

By: Sam Fernando

Sam Fernando — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:35:44 +0000

Exceeded expectations
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve had an iPod for a few years now and was thinking of upgrading to the iPod touch. Then I heard Microsoft was coming out with a Zune HD and I chose to check it out. I was thrilled with the possibilities of the device but what convinced me was the favorable reviews of the Zune software. The I open the SJ Mercury News and check out the Fry’s electronics ad and find a 4 gig Zune on sale for (refurbished) for 59 dollars bundled with a car kit. Thought about it all day and chose I’d give it a go, even though I plot to buy the Zune HD next month. Fantastic choice. I have been playing with the device every chance I get during the day. Like the quality of sound, like the interface, like the sleek looks, like the wireless syncing, like the Zune software. Can’t wait ’till I can get an HD, or better yet, until the Zune software becomes one with Windows Mobile. So much more advanced than an iPod Nano and I’m sure the HD will rock the socks off an iPod Touch. My ten year ancient daughter will probably take over the 4 gig Zune.