Microsoft launched its Zune mp3 player two years ago in the U.S. and in June 2008 made its first international debut in Canada. Still, few people own a Zune, let alone have heard of it. So to shed some light on this rookie device that virtually no one knows about, the following are the top reasons for owning a Zune.
All flash-based Zunes are cheaper than iPods
The price is often the first factor that comes to mind when choosing the right device. Microsoft has an advantage here because three out of its four models are cheaper than their Apple counterparts. To compare, an 8GB iPod Nano costs $199 and the Touch version costs $299, while the same model for the Zune is $179. The iPod Touch does come with a bit more features and has a touch screen, yet it holds the same amount of digital files as the Nano and the Zune.
Zunes really stand out from the rest
There are a multitude of features which make the Zune such a unique personal media player. The first is the WiFi functionality which lets Zune users share songs with fellow Zune users wirelessly. However, be aware that there is a three play rule that deletes the transferred song after it is played three times. However, this is a Microsoft product so a workaround for this roadblock should be easy to find. Changes to one's music, photo, or video collection can also be updated on the Zune wirelessly while it is in range of a wireless signal. This means that Zune users can have a playlist synced from their computer to their Zune as they head out the door. Another cool feature is the ability to listen to the radio and see the name of the station and song title on most FM stations.
Those with a large library of digital files on their computers will really get a kick out of the hard-drive models (80GB/120GB) of the Zune. If Zune users have an XBOX 360, they can connect the device to the gaming console and use it to play background music for a party, show friends a photo slideshow, and even watch videos on the big screen with a full menu to navigate through using the wireless controller.
Everyone loves free stuff
Not only is the Zune fun to play with, using the Zune software to manage your media collection is easy. The free software is simple, very user user-friendly, and is not a huge resource hog like iTunes can be sometimes. The best parts of the software are the updates and the games, both of which are free to all Zune users. Sudoku, Texas Hold 'em, Checkers, and Space Battle are just some of the free games offered, with more to come indefinitely in the future. Finally, another advantage for choosing the hard-drive models of the Zune is that they come with premium headphones which are great for cancelling out nearby noises.
There are several reasons why the Zune has not really caught on yet, at least in Canada. For starters, it was just launched here 6 months ago. Secondly, there have been no mainstream television ads for it yet. Finally, Apple has made a considerable effort to vilify Microsoft over the past year or so in its commercials so it is difficult for Microsoft to step up to the plate and introduce a new competitor with an incredibly strange name. Nevertheless, the Zune packs a real punch in terms of features and value and gives shoppers something to think about in the portable media aisle.
Joe Lofaro - Joe is a Communication graduate from Canada who appreciates living in the information age and loves every minute of it. His interests lie ...
