Zune 80 GB Digital Media Player (Black)
by Zune
List Price:
Our Price: $135.00
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Category: Network Media Player
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Customers in the UK,
buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: ZuneBrand: Zune
Edition: Electronics
Release Date: 2007-11-13
Model: HPA-00001
Color: Black
Publisher: Zune
Studio: Zune
Music Label: Zune
Product features:
- IMPORTANT: Allow your Zune to charge for 30 minutes then disconnect and reconnect the cable to turn on the player
- 80 GB digital media player stores up to 20,000 songs, 25,000 pictures or 250 hours of video
- Features wireless Zune-to-Zune sharing so you can swap tracks and other media
- Big, bright, 3.2-inch LCD color screen
- Compatible with Zune Marketplace for media downloads and subscription services
- Automatically imports your existing music, pictures, and videos from iTunes and Windows Media Player in a variety of formats
- Ultimate Ears MetroFi 220 Noise Isolating Earphones
- Music Power 0900-72 Encore Dual Port USB AC Charger with Rechargeable Extended Battery
- Incipio Orion Slim Sleeve Case for Zune 4/8/16 GB (Butter Creme)
- Ultimate Ears TripleFi 10 Noise Isolating Earphones
- Incipio Leather Flip Case for Zune 4/8/16 GB (Tan)
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Zune 80 GB Digital Media Player (Black)
Customer Review: About as good as it gets
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm not going to spend alot of time here singing my praises of the Zune. I could spend an hour listing all the reasons why this is such a great product, but the bottom line is that the 80 gig is excellent. I'm extremely picky about my electronic toys and I always research the crap out of a major purchase item. I spent a long time comparing this to the ipod and they were neck and neck as far as pros and cons go. In the end, I received a good deal on the Zune so that was the tie breaker. I've had my Zune for a couple of weeks and I am completely satisfied with it. I've had no problems of any kind with it. I was a little apprehensive about the version 2 software because of some other "horror-story" reviews, but so far everything is working perfectly. I am glad that I opted for the Zune instead of the Ipod. Of course, nothing is perfect and there are some cons with that come with Zune. For instance, I wish the Zune marketplace was as developed as Itunes, but I'm betting they will be catching up in the near future. The only other problem I've had is trying to find a decent case for this player. There aren't alot of options to choose from for the 80 gig yet. Hopefully, that will also change in the near future.
**UPDATE**
I've had my Zune 80 for the past couple of weeks and, while my initial review was positive, I've had time to experience some of the less than satisfactory tendencies of the unit. Most of them seem to be software specific, but more about that in a minute. I haven't ever owned an IPOD, but I decided last summer to get either the 80 gig or 160 gig classic for christmas as a present to myself. I downloaded ITUNES and began ripping my collection of audio books. I have to say that I was less than impressed with Itunes. It was just not user friendly and I didn't like the layout. It also slowed my computer down. Also, I did a little research by visiting a few Apple message boards to see what IPOD owners were praising and/or complaining about regarding their IPODs. I didn't come away with as rosy a picture of Apple products after that, but I was still planning on getting a classic. A few months went by and I heard about the 80 Gig Zune. Long story short...I read the reviews and specs on the zune and decided to go with it. There really isn't any other way to say this...the zune software has been a pain. I started with version 2.2 and then updated this past week with 2.3. So far, I've re-formated my zune twice. I don't know if this was strictly necessary, but it really did seem to help the new versions of the software run more smoothly. My main problem goes back to my audio book collection. Since Zune doesn't support Audible, the only way to get a audio book onto the zune is to rip it. Just ripping one book takes a while, so you have to invest signifigant time. So far, every version (including 2.3) has had a tendency to re-name tracks, move tracks, butcher playlists, and delete tracks. The software seems to do this at random and I have no idea what prompts it to commit these changes. It does get really frustrating. Its gotten to the point that I'm afraid of sycning my zune because I have no idea what the software may randomly decide to do. For instance, this morning I was going to sync a video, so I plugged in the zune and (suprise,suprise) it decided to automatically "remove" 70 tracks from one of my books from my zune. This was a random assortment of tracks scattered over several discs that I had ripped. I have no idea why it chose that particular book because I haven't worked on it for over a week. It was installed perfectly with no flaws. The playlist still looked fine, so I tried to re-sync it to the zune and missing tracks remained missing. I tried to play one of the missing tracks from my pc and I got an error message saying that the track had either been deleted or re-named. Ok fine, so I popped the discs in and tried to rip. The software did a couple of things here. On some of the missing tracks, it showed itself completing the new rip (only it didn't) and on others, it wouldn't even detect the missing tracks in order to start a rip. So, I completely deleted the affected albums and restarted my pc. Then, I began the ripping process over and I was able to restore everything as it originally was before this all started this morning. I went through each track and they all play perfectly again. This is an example of the kind of "housekeeping" you will need to do in order to maintain your collections on your Zune. Its obviously a software problem, but the fact that I've had to re-format with each update is also discouraging. Its just a lot of work. This wasn't an isolated incident either, because the software has done the same thing previously on other books. I went into Settings on my desktop and I thought I had made it so that nothing would be added or taken from my zune with me doing it manually, but that isn't the case. Its either ignoring the settings I made, or I'm misunderstanding my options. Either way, once the software starts to make a syncing change, you can't really stop it. You can hit cancel and it stops, but if you want sync anything else, you have to complete the sync the software last started. It seems to wait in a que. In my example, I hit cancel and then tried to sync the video, but it started the removal up again before the video could start to sync. Other short coming include the following: inaccurate info is regularly displayed on tracks (i.e. their names, whether or not they are really there), inaccurate info is displayed on your zune storage amounts, and extremely slow video syncing. The slow video syncing is strictly limited to the Zune 80. My wife has a 30, and it takes her about 45 seconds to sync a 2 hr video. It takes me 45 minutes to an hour to sync the same video to my 80. I called Zune support a couple of times. Both reps sounded foreign, so it was difficult to communicate with them. The first time, the lady put me on hold to check with a "consultant vendor" about this problem. She came back on the line after about 5 minutes and informed me that microsoft is aware of this slow video syncing problem in the 80 and that it had something to do with a new component that they developed for the 80. She told me they are working on a fix, but that it was a hardware problem. I asked if they would be able to fix it with a software update and she couldn't answer me. There is no time estimate on a fix, and microsoft hasn't even posted this issue on Zune's site. I asked her why they hadn't, and she couldn't that either. I wanted to talk to someone different, so I called back about an hour later and spoke to a guy. He said that they had received a memo about the video problem, that they had been aware of it for some time, and that they were working on a fix. I again asked why nothing was posted on Zune.net about this, and he WOULDN'T answer me. He just gave some general canned response that let away from that question. But, at the end of the call, he did encourage me to always check the website for solutions before calling support. Nice, huh? :-) I've also been disappointed with battery life. I've always had my wireless turned off and that is supposed to help with battery life, but my Zune doesn't seem to get anywhere near the official battery life listings released by microsoft. It does help if you completely turn the unit off vesus putting it into hibernation. There was some problem with the version 2.2 software that prevented reduced power useage when the unit was put into hibernation and I thought that was supposed to be fixed with the 2.3 release last week, but I haven't noticed a difference. In addition, my sister-in-law just got one of the latest generation Ipod Classics for her birthday last month and I was able to look at it today to compare screen resolution with my zune. I have to say that I thought the resolution on the IPOD looked better to me. I was a little crestfallen at this. On the Zune, you can pretty much always see at least a little pixelation, but I couldn't detect any on the IPOD. At this point, I don't know whether to keep the zune and try to ride out the problems or bite the bullet and return it for an ipod. I've put so much work into it so far that I don't really want to go to Apple, but I will if things don't rapidly improve. My window for returning is going to run out soon, so I will wait and see how it behaves in the next week.
*********FINAL
Well, I have had my ZUNE 80 for 5 months now. I decided to stick with my Zune over an IPOD and I am glad that I did. Upon further comparison, I realized that the screen on the Zune was vastly superior to the classic screen. The Classic can't match the crisp and vibrant colors on the ZUNE. Of course, now the ITOUCH is becoming more mainstream, and the screen on it is probably better than my ZUNE, but you still can't get the ITOUCH in an 80 gig version yet. Besides, it'll be a while before the ITOUCH comes down in price.
Anyway, to continue, all of my software problems have been resolved by the updates that Microsoft released. I still love the Zune Marketplace, however I wish they would begin offering audiobooks, movies, and a larger selection of music. I'm sure that will all come in time. I think I will remain a Zune supporter, even in the face of the ITOUCH. I have a feeling that the 3rd Gen Zune will be very similar to an ITOUCH. Also, check out DLO's new 80 gig case. It is excellent. Hope this helps!
Description of Zune 80 GB Digital Media Player (Black)
Music and entertainment, your way. That's what the Zune 80 GB Digital Media Player is designed to deliver. The Zune easily connects you with your music, videos, and pictures wherever and whenever you want, and unlike the iPod, it even has a built-in FM tuner so you can keep up with local news and sports. Your Zune gives you the power to wirelessly share full-length tracks, playlists, pictures and podcasts with your other Zune-wielding friends. And when you receive songs that you just can't get out of your head, you can easily tag the songs and buy them the next time you sync up. Whether you're listening to music, radio, or rocking out to the latest music videos on the bright, roomy screen, the Zune allows you to tailor your entertainment, right in the palm of your hand.Music and entertainment, your way. That's what the Zune 80 GB Digital Media Player is designed to deliver. The Zune easily connects you with your music, videos, and pictures wherever and whenever you want, and unlike the iPod, it even has a built-in FM tuner so you can keep up with local news and sports. Your Zune gives you the power to wirelessly share full-length tracks, playlists, pictures and podcasts with your other Zune-wielding friends. And when you receive songs that you just can't get out of your head, you can easily tag the songs and buy them the next time you sync up. Whether you're listening to music, radio, or rocking out to the latest music videos on the bright, roomy screen, the Zune allows you to tailor your entertainment, right in the palm of your hand. Watch a demo on Zune.
 The Zune easily connects you with your music, videos, and pictures wherever and whenever you want. |
 Share full-length tracks of your favorite songs, albums, playlists, pictures, and even audio podcasts with other Zune users. Shown with Dock Pack v2 with remote, sold separately. |
 Store up to 20,000 songs, 25,000 pictures, or 250 hours of video on the 80 GB Zune, available in red or black. |
 Get all your favorite music at the Zune Marketplace. |
The Zune is a breeze to use with new, intuitive touch controls. Don't subject yourself to cumbersome, slow scrolling. The innovative new Zune pad makes browsing your music, video and picture collections fun and effortless. You'll fly through your favorites and get to just what you're looking for in no time flat. This powerhouse device stores up to 20,000 songs, 25,000 pictures, or 250 hours of video. (Please note that music estimates are based on 128 kbps WMA files, with length of 4 minutes each; pictures transferred to Zune will be optimized for Zune screen size; and video estimates are based on 500 kbps WMV files with 128 kbps WMA audio tracks.)
That's a lot of entertainment, and you'll appreciate it even more with the Zune's awesome screen. The big, beautiful, 3.2-inch color screen provides uncompromising portable video viewing. This Zune also comes equipped with premium earphones. Designed to block out external noise, these earphones provide superior sound and bass response, and leave your ears with nothing but your favorite tunes. Your favorite music, videos, and pictures have never looked and sounded better.
FM Radio
The Zune also features a built-in FM radio tuner so that you can listen to local FM stations or tune-in programming while you're at the gym. Advanced tuning capabilities allow you to see the name of the song that's currently playing on select frequencies.
Wireless Sync
We're all exhausted by the cables and wires that tangle up our lives. Luckily, the Zune is one device that doesn't require another cord. You can easily connect to your home wireless network and sync your Zune with your PC collection of digital goodies. You can also sync using the dock, AC adapter, or speaker dock accessory (not included).
The Zune Community and Marketplace
Zune is all about sharing and community. At the Zune Online Community, you'll discover, share, and leave your musical mark. Create a Zune card and Zune profile page to reflect your musical identity. From the Zune Online Community you can invite friends, share song recommendations, post comments, and browse member pages to unearth new tunes and connect to others who share your musical tastes.
When you're ready to purchase music and load your device with new tunes, turn to Zune Marketplace. With more than 3 million songs, DRM-free MP3s, music videos, audio/video podcasts, and more content added every day, you'll certainly get your fill. The store is always open and just a mouse click away. You can also choose between the download or subscription packages--buy individual songs and albums, or snag a Zune Pass subscription with all you can eat access to discover and explore the nooks and crannies of artists and genres.
Zune-to-Zune Sharing
Once your Zune is loaded with good stuff, you'll be ready to embrace wireless Zune-to-Zune sharing. Share full-length tracks of your favorite songs, albums, playlists, pictures, and even audio podcasts. You can listen to the full track of any song you receive up to three times, and you can even pass along songs that are shared with you to other friends. If you find a song you really love, you can easily add it to your wishlist and buy it later when you sync to your PC. When it comes to syncing and importing your music, the Zune makes it easy. Zune software can automatically import your existing music, pictures and videos from iTunes and Windows Media Player in a variety of formats, including your existing playlists and song ratings.
Recorded TV or Movies to Go
The Zune will also automatically import TV shows or movies recorded using a PC running Windows Media Center in Windows Vista. Record all your favorites, sync to your Zune, and hit the road with your favorite TV shows right in your pocket.
Your Games. Your Music. Your Way.
Another aweome feature is the Zune's compatibility with the Xbox 360. Plug your Zune into your Xbox 360 to customize the soundtrack in supported games. You can also stream music, pictures, and vidos from the Zune software on your PC to your Xbox 360 console using a wireless connection. Whether you're staying in or going out, travelling or working, the Zune can be right there with you, providing loads of entertainment direct from your pocket.
What's in the Box
Zune 80 GB Digital Media Player, premium headphones, sync cable, and three sizes of ear sleeves.
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