Little over 2 weeks with my Zune

[ptath2]

I got my Zune in Mid-January, and overall it has been a very good experience. I got the brown Zune, I find it funny with beating this color has been taking, it seems a lot of people have it. To get the negatives out of the way, I will start with them. The biggest problem I have and I seem to be in the minority here is lack of Audible.com support, along with audio bookmarking. I listen to audio-books on long trips, and as a result of the Zune not having it I still maintain my Zen Vision M which I also like (I am not hopeful for Creative's future in the DAP business). The Battery life hasn't been as advertised for me and less than my ZVM, but I get about 10-11 hours w/o Wi-Fi enabled. The Zune Software had a minor hick up, it installed fine on my Media Center PC, when it came t syncing my collection, it hung twice, but I restarted the sync twice and it finished the job, but no problems since then.

On the plus side it is a lot lighter than I thought it would be, and it feels good in my hand. I love the large screen, and UI is great, by far the best that I have used. I like the Idea of the Wi-Fi, I would like it to be opened up, at least to the point that Ripped music doesn't have the restriction that DRM'd music through the Zune marketplace has. They could make it that ripped music transfered to you can't be transferred to a third device (that would be a step in the right direction anyway). I also like the Zune marketplace system of points, I know it isn't popular, but I like that If I want to buy more than one song or album that my credit card doesn't receive multiple hits, just the one for buying points, in my mind that is easier. I am also buying into the Microsoft Entertainment Eco-system, I have really enjoyed hooking my Xbox 360 to my media center PC for wireless streaming of music and video, Microsoft does them selves a disservice for not playing this up more. I see Zune playing a role in this plan in the mid to long term.

Oh, and the most important of all the audio quality is fantastic, it was even better with the Zune Premium headphones, but the left earbud gave out after 2 day, but it sound great with my Siennheiser earbuds.

The Album art displays large and clear form me, but I had upgraded to the new firmware on install, so I never really experienced the reports of grainy album art.

I have also left my Zune Plugged in all night on two occasions and no cracked screen.

I have read of the tales of woe with the Zune software, and I just don't see it, while it has not been with out a snag, it largely has been smooth for me.

I may be going exclusively Zune with Creatives financial woes, and desire to make iPod accessories rather than developing new players, as I fear with no new player released at CES this year. Soon I will buy my wife a Zune and the transition will be complete.

If you are sitting on the fence, go ahead and get one, unless all you listen it audiobooks :P

[lpxxfaintxx]

Glad you like it.

I don't use Audible.com, so no problem for me there.