Comments on: Users report 30GB Zunes seizing up; Microsoft IDs clock bug

Many users are reporting their Microsoft music players are rebooting then freezing up. Some dub the problem "Z2K."

[flip132]

I found my Zune works just as good as Ipod. But this freezing problem really sucks I can not even reset it not sure how they are going to fix it if it will not respond to the buttons. Even though I still won't go back to Ipod

[Vegaman_Dan]

Reading the article and the update, it appears that MSFT is aware of the issue that affects the 30Gb unit only. That will likely be fixed with a firmware update. This issue is going to be a short lived one.

I don't see it as a real problem though. My iPod Touch crashes 2-3 times a day in heavy use. It's just something you get used to with small electronics these days. They cram so much functionality into these things that not everything can be tested in every case.

I'll just be patient.

[Mergatroid Mania]

Wow, a lot of people are having the same problem, and not many good things to say about Zune.
Glad I stopped buying MS hardware years ago when all they sold was mice, keyboards and joysticks. I bought the first generation MS Sidewinder 3D joystick, which is a fine joystick. However, upgrading to MS Windoze XP caused it to stop working correctly.
Microsoft's web site acknowledged the problem and pointed to a driver to correct it. It still didn't work. I had to use a CH Flightstick Pro driver to get it to work, but I lost functionality on the base buttons.
Microsoft joystick, Microsoft driver, Microsoft operating system. What a joke. That was the last time I ever bought anything with the Microsoft label on it. Too bad, the stick was pretty nice.
I feel for all the people who bought a zune. It's too bad that once a company (not just MS) gets a good working version of its firmware, they still have to keep messing with it. I hate doing unnecessary firmware updates for obscure things that may not affect me. However, often you HAVE to do the update if you want to connect to the companies service.

[Vegaman_Dan]

To be fair, you have to acknowledge that firmware updates are a routine thing for pretty much any electronic device these days. That includes the Zune, iPod, iPhone, Xbox, Wii, PS3, GPS's, desktop and lapotp computers from OEM's etc.

You can't test every for every condition- if you could, then you would never need a firmware update.

Be patient, give them time to look at the issue and come up with a resolution.

[sebastien.kalonji]

Yeah right, like there would be someone the would shut up for you! Yes you are that iPod hating person that goes around shouting how bad Apple products are and that zunes are perfect products that will never fail and those that say something else you will call MS haters. All zune and MS fanboys are all alike. You just follow what a company says instead of following common sense.

[Alphadog76]

Mine's bricked too. My guess is that it's a software bug with the useful/useless clock feature that was added last software update.

Someone on the Zune software team is getting a reaming right now...and probably a new nickname or two as well. They'll fix it soon.

[techslut]

Hahahahahahahahaha! Get an iPod Touch.

[Vegaman_Dan]

Got a 32Gb Touch back in July. Did the 2.0 update- unit got bricked. Had to take it back. It was replaced, got updated, worked but now crashes typically 1-2 times a day in heavy usage.

I don't have a Zune and can't compare, but I can give my experience with the Touch.

[ducttape36]

i dont want an ipod touch. i want an mp3 player. if i wanted something as big as a hard disk player but only had 16 gb and no subscription service then yeah, id get an ipod touch. face it. ipod touch isnt even an ipod. its a pda/microcomputer. i just want to listen to music.

[grecha]

Yup, my Zune 30GB is down too! My wife was using it fine at the gym last night and boom, this morning it doesn't work. My wife and I were just talking about how she wants to replace her IPOD NANO with a ZUNE, primarily because she's sick and tired of paying for every damned song. ZUNE PASS is an experience everyone must try. Being down now is truly something that affects our lives!

[cxy]

Youtube video of a Zune 30gb booting up and failing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZoE-aDrnuI

[hacker925]

I love my 30gb and just so glad this is a microsoft issue and not just an issue with my zune. I'm sure microsoft will fix it, i just hope it is an easy fix.

[sciontcya]

Wow - can't wait for Windows 7?
HAHAHAHA
M$ fanboys.

[Vegaman_Dan]

What does Windows 7 have to do with a music player?

Please keep to the subject or at least read the title of the story before you comment.

Thanks!

[smilin:)]

Of all the comments in the blog post you chose that jackass to show in the article?

Shame on your horrible bias CNET.

[koviea]

2 Zunes here, 30GB frozen like all the others here, 80GB working fine. Hopefully there will be a SW fix, but if there isn't one, Microsoft will have to eat the costs of a HW fix or swap given how badly the Zune is doing in the marketplace. No one's going to want to buy a product from a line that has devices that go bad w/o a fix.

Maybe they can apply for a TARP bailout too? Call it the ZARP...

(Btw, I really like my Z80. It's worked perfectly for my needs. And yes, I need FM.)

[brandenkhan15]

I have never bought any Zunes or i-pods, but I have had a Sony Mp3 player, a Creative Zen Vision: M, and I just bought a Sansa Clip a few days ago, plus my brother got a Creative Zen, and my younger brother got a Creative Zen Stone, ALL with no problems at all, cheap and reliable, plus they are all easy to use.

[sanenazok]

I like in the video attached to article they show some annoying kid...with a complete mess in his room. Hey kid: take the time without endless mass media and clean up your room.

[EcuadorHomesOnline]

I was an "early adopter" and bought one of the first Zune's, about a year and a half ago. Never had a problem at all - till today. My player was plugged in to my PC, and I didn't even realize it was locked up till I saw the article. Hmmm. I'm assuming they'll figure it out and get a patch out soon enough.

[gdparks]

Ouch. I am sorry to see the Zune users having problems. I have 5 ipods (Gen 3, Photo,Video, Classic 80 and 160) and all of them are still going strong. My Gen 3 and Photo are suffering from battery fatigue but that is an easy self fix for me. I looked at the Zune and it just didn't feel elegant and the squirt feature was asking for a mod to be useful.

Good Luck Zune Owners. Maybe Apple will let your trade in your Zunes for an iPod!

[cpopken]

No thank you.

[DrtyDogg]

Penguinisto: "* @ DD: DRM is no longer the ugly issue it once was, thanks to Apple's demand to the music industry to have it removed (that, and iTunes' from-the-start DRM removal setup). You're welcome. :)"

You ARE delusional DRM removal setup. burning to a CD is hardly a setup, that and it is and has been an option from any online media store "from-the-start". "You're welcome" iTunes is still one of the most DRM laden stores on the internet, thanks, but no thanks. If you think that his "Thoughts on music" did anything other than give you and the rest of the fanboys something to applaud you are nuts. While SJ was writing a blog post the other stores where not talking about it they went out and secured the licensing. Almost 2 years after later iTunes is still king of DRM.

[slickuser]

Alien Attack!!!

[RompStar_420]

I have had my iPod, the 30Gig Video model for about 3 years now, not a single problem as far as resetting and loosing data, crashing, but I did notice Radio Inteference, what do I mean ?

When I move the iPod close to my BlackBerry, like within 2-3 feet, which is a problem sometimes, ( because I have my cell in my left pocket and my iPod in the right pocket ), and the volume in the iPod automatically and erradically changes, goes way up, and hurts my ears.

This only happens when the iPod is close to the BlackBerry, but otherwise it is no problem at all.

Anyone with their iPod have the same problems ?

Never owned a Zune, can't comment on it.

[this1!]

surprise surprise, a M$ product that doesnt work properly...