by Shinichi Evans

Created on: February 20, 2007   Last Updated: April 19, 2007

Everytime I've visited a Target during the past couple of weeks, I noticed the Zune Player, Microsoft's answer to the iPod. A friend of mine also got a Zune for Christmas, and I had the opportunity to closely look at his some time ago. I'm a Mac guy and a devoted iPod enthusiast, so I'm biased. The Zune is approximately close to the iPod in shape and size (which is as small as a deck of playing cards) and colorwise matches the iPod in black and white. For those who would like the Zune to be more coordinated with their wardrobes, there is also a brown option. And then there are the accessories designed to go along with the Zune: car kits, covers, etc.

Right now, the Zune is only supported by Microsoft platforms such as Windows XP and Vista. Since iPod and iTunes have become ubiquitous in the PC realm, the Zune is Microsoft's attempt to reclaim the PC market from Apple. It will be a matter of time before Microsoft turns its attention to the Mac world and make the Zune more cross-platform. Just as MS Office for Mac is fabulous, the Mac supported version of Zune will most likely be a superior version of its PC sibling.

Here are the pros of the Zune I've been able to observe:

* Customizable desktop. One can use a variety of default backgrounds or use one of their picture files to make the screen uniquely theirs.
* Flexible screen design. The screen can show an image in a portrait or landscape format. The default screen design is portrait, but pictures and videos can be viewed in landscape, giving the Zune the advantage of screen space.
* Built-in FM radio. If listening to MP3's becomes tiresome, one can tune into one's favorite radio station. To listen to FM radio on the iPod, an accessory is needed.
* Wireless capability. This enables the user to share music with other nearby Zune users.

Now here are the cons:

* Primitive controls. The Zune is where iPod was in its infancy. The controls are buttons for the most part. There are two main buttons, one for the menu and one for play/pause. What looks like a dial with a clicker is not so. The dial is more of a four point clicker, which form and function really don't go together here.
* Only one size option. The Zune so far only has a 30 GB option, which matches the best-selling model of the iPod. There isn't the option to go bigger or smaller, depending on the needs of the listener. There isn't anything comparable to the 60 or 80 GB iPod, nor the flash drive easiness or small capacity of the Shuffles or the Nanos.
* Limited to

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