Comments on: If the rumors are true, buy the Zune HD

Have you heard about the rumored Zune HD? Well, Don Reisinger thinks it's a better buy than the iPod

[ace10134]

You can't honestly say that iTunes is better.

Just look at the Zune software, it's beautiful. It's design is just perfect and simple. iTunes design is like a spreadsheet, un-beautiful.

Plus iTunes is bloated and slow.

And you can't beat paying $15 a month for unlimited music with the Zune Pass.

[mgheff]

maybe I'm biased, but I prefer iPods to Zunes in general, the iPod's ease of use so great.

[Jonnygthedrummer]

the biggest thing is APPPS ,, th ipod touch , has a great UI an the Apps are killer ,, if the zune dont have those 2 things better than the itouch ,, then ya

[JustNotEverybody]

First off, this player will be made and should dominate. And the writer of the article should be using Amazon to buy Mp3s, not the iTunes store. Amazon has much better deals and does all the work of adding it to your library. Get Media Monkey and you don't have to deal with the zune software which is the only complaint I have on a zune.

[Rapol12]

Come on Microsoft you can do it!! Zune is the made by the people we gave ideas, they listen. zune ftw

[AaronCT123]

"The Zune Marketplace is, in many respects, a joke."

I can think of reasons why this might be true, but you could at least point them out to people who haven't used the Zune store, just for clarification's sake. And, really, the Zune Marketplace isn't exactly required- I've only ever bought a few choice items on there, the rest of my purchases come mainly from Amazon's MP3 store.

[johnzocco]

CNET used to be an excellent source for techno junkies like me looking for good objective reviews on anything from computers, cell phones, digital players, et al. Now it's mostly about blogs full of immature fanatical fanboys, rumors and hearsays. Do I really give a damn what anyone thinks of the Zune, iPod Touch, etc.? Hell no! I want facts, not rumors and comments. This blog, just like so many others, is only written to generate traffic. I can't believe some of the comments I've read, and the product is not even out. It may not even exist. This is truly laughable and pathetic at the same time.

[Darthfett]

Am I the only one who doesn't like "touch-interfaces"? I prefer to skip songs without having to look at the mp3 player, thank you.

[Shaun822]

I can't see how with those specs this can even be half way to affordable but if it is true I would consider matching it with my itunes library.

[darkmerkaba]

if this thing doesnt make calls, its not gonna fly. what would be the reasoning to buy this over an iphone? the iphone does the same, and make calls. i hate the iphone, so im rooting for this to be able to make calls and i'll get it.

[trgdr777]

the same reason people buy the ipod touch instead of the iphone...

[fletchb]

My boss bought a Zune and it *never* worked. You couldn't do anything until you synced it and it couldn't do that without some media os upgrade that was not supplied. They didnt even bother to check what they were shipping would actually work.

[rapier1]

Umm... you mean your boss was upset he had to download and install the zune software? ***?

[fletchb]

No it was some kind of media upgrade for her OS that it insisted on and neither it nor the link to download it was supplied. I searched their site and saw others with the same issue but no resolution for the problem unless you had media edition(she had XP). We also have iphones and touches at work and while you do have to download the software, they doesn't insist on non-existent patches just to make it work. That is why I have always said that MS has poor quality control and ships products fully knowing they won't work out of the box.

[rapier1]

Honestly, I have no idea what sort of problem your boss encountered. Having installed the zune software on XP and Vista and on several machines I've never come across anything like that. I don't recall anyone else having that problem either - at leats not how you are describing it.

[Sage-Vancouver]

I hope you are getting paid well for being a spokesman for products other Apple's product like you have been doing in your last few blogs. Whether it is a blackberry or now the zune it seems like you have a need to prove the product versus Apple's products as opposed to letting the product stand on its own. It is comparable to you finding yourself a new girlfriend but listing everything about your old girlfriend as a reason that you like your new one. Weak. If you like the products that is great I applaud you reviewing them, however try to lay off the comparable to Apple products on features, functionality, etc...

[pellets007]

I think people are really underestimating the power of the App Store in this case. The Zune has nothing that can compare. In fact, I don't think I would have bought an iPhone 3G if there wasn't such a thing as the App Store.

You can yap all you want about this Zune HD, but I doubt it'll live up to its name; it'll be just like the rest of the Zunes.

[GentleNation]

The HD Radio thing is what really stands out to me as bogus. Have we seen any other portable devices this small with an HD Radio tuner?

Without an App store, both Zune and Windows Mobile are going to have a tough time competing with iPod/iPhone.

[rapier1]

Yes, you can have hd radios in packages that small. There are multiple single chip hd radio receiver solutions
http://news.thomasnet.com/fullstory/557541 for example (and if it has hd radio its probably this chip).

[rcsskier11]

This is purely an article written assuming all of the rumors are true. I love my iphone and ipod touch and all that jazz, but I would really like to see something come out that trumps it hand over fist, not just slightly better or equal. Competition creates better products in the long run from each company involved. That being said, I highly doubt half of these features are included and the photoshop image is pretty funny as well.

One comment mentioned before was that a 16 and 32 GB model is pretty small considering the claim that it plays HD video. Also, on that size screen, HD is pointless unless you are using the mini HDMI out. SD video would look great on that size screen.

The cost on something like that would be between $500 - $600 minimum. Gone are the days of the masses paying $500 - $600 for an MP3 player. That went out the door with the third gen iPod.

[Mrgandi]

all i know is I used Windows on a PC for a good majority of my life, and then i bought a macbook.
will never go back.

minimal lag if any when opening applications or when just going through my computer.
No Viruses,
Clean Ui,
when i Need support, the faqs online solve my answer in under 10 minutes, so i don't need to pay to call support.


and because of those things, Mac users can complain about the smallest details because all the major ones are non existent.

and apple imports all these great qualities into it's Ipod (touch).
The ipod Touch looks good, performs well, and has many useful uses, And Oh, this isn't based of rumors; this is based off one right next to me.

Wait for this Zune HD to come out then say how good it is.
because nothing has WOW'D me about the previous Zunes.
and if you aren't impressed by the current (ALREADY OUT) Ipod Touch then your expectations are unreasonably high.

[pithenumber]

some people expect sound quality which is not the iPod's strong spot

I don't and you don't, that is why we like are iPod Touches

[LWell709]

Zune mp3 players have always been better than iPods. There is no doubting that. It's just that iTunes is much better than the Zune Marketplace. Until Microsoft decided to set that up, I'm sticking with my iPod Touch.

[Angmarr]

you know if apple & Microsoft made "TOILET PAPER" we'd still be @ it........ awesome

[bjb7293]

I've read through a little over half these comments, and I only have one question: How many people posting are over the age of 15? Every single one of you are either an Apple Fanboy or a Microsoft Zombie.

"by Groucho6 April 16, 2009 3:35 PM PDT
Nothing made by Microsoft will ever be better than anything made by Apple. The fact that you would recommend vaporware over an established product leads one to question your motivations or sanity."

I laughed out loud reading that.

"by JasonCe April 16, 2009 3:42 PM PDT
Zune HD will definitely be the best PMP ever (assuming the leaked specs are real). I can't wait to buy one.

Technically, Zune has always been better than iPod. Being the first major name in the market and good user experience kept iPod on top for a long time. But Zune kicks iPod's ass any day. "

Yeah, that too.

[tmt345]

I'M AN APPLE FANBOY AND I REALLY REALLY REALLY WANT A ZUNE!!! All Microsoft has to do is make the Zune HD compatible with Macs and I'm sold, and Boot Camp is not an option as every Windows I've tried, including Windows 7, is dreadful. Zune is the one thing Microsoft's done right!