From The Northern Edge Of Microsoft

I'm Not An iPod Hater.... I Am A Microsoft/Zune Fanboy.

I am now "social", I have a Zune... :-)

I will start this post by saying the following about the iPod:

• Apple does a great job at industrial design.  The iPod is a well built device (I am not a fan of the shuffles).  You won't ever hear me slag the device.  I think that other devices are just as compelling, however.  (I think the same of their laptops.... wicked machines, just run Vista and we could do beautiful things....)
• Everyone always talks about the iPod's "user interface" being so great compared to everything else.  This I just don't understand - honestly.  It's a wheel, ok great, I can see the benefit there, but how much better can "artist / album / song / playlist" get?  I find the majority of people who say that it is "so much better" haven't actually ever tried anything else.
• I just don't think iTunes is the end all and be all of software like people make it out to be.
• I like to think for myself and buy the device I want, instead of what the other kids tell me to.  (Sorry Bono, Engadget, TechCrunch and Scoble)

I should also give you a sense of how I use digital media and these devices:

• My wife and I both love music and we have a very large music library.  We currently own at least 1 player each, plus a larger capacity player we travel with. (We travel A LOT)
• My latest purchase was an iRiver CLIX - which I love.  Small, wicked screen, great sound, FM, recording, very cool navigation, works with URGE.
• Our entire home entertainment system is powered by Media Centre
• Our entire wedding reception was powered by URGE music and a portable media centre from Creative.
• We are big fans of subscription services like Napster and Urge.
• We are a no-Apple, no-Sony household.... again, personal choice, nothing against those 2 fine companies or their products.....

ok, so there is the background.  Here is my take on the device:

It's a good, solid, cool device - especially for V1.  Personally, I think that the anti-MSFT crowd is simply not giving us enough credit.  You know J Allard and the crew will be innovating like crazy on the future versions.  (xbox v1 vs. xbox 360....J is simply one of the shining lights inside of the company right now)

The Pros:

• I like the name.
• Brown is the new black ('nuff said) - actually it's brown-green which is cool.
• Like Xbox Live is all about "playing together", the "Join The Social" theme is a great way to think about how people will use these devices.
• The exterior has a interesting texture and the device feels solid.
• I really like the Marketplace (note:  I have been using URGE for a while and I am a big fan.... it's basically the same technology....... good UI, great search (fast!), easy to synch, easy to create playlists, easy to rip and burn CDs, integrates music, pics and videos.
• I LOVE the fact that there is an all-you-can-eat service.  Why?  Well, it is the fastest way to create a playlist from music you don't already own (I want my retro-80s mix, but I don't really feel like buying the old Prince albums) and it is a great way to be introduced to new bands risk-free.
• The screen is big, bright and easy to watch.
• Music, plus pictures, plus video, plus radio.....
• Music sharing!!!!!!  The Wifi works like a charm.  4 of us bought Zunes this week and we were beaming content to each other like crazy.  songs, pics, videos, albums - all sent wirelessly in a flash.  You also get to pick a neat name for your device.... Some people of complained about the 3-play/3-day rule, but to me it makes some sense.  The idea is - "hey, check this out" not "hey, let's pirate content together".....
• "Flagging" content and the "inbox".... you download a playlist and you just love a song and want to remember it, you flag it... it shows up in the inbox on the device and on the marketplace.  If you get sent content it gets flagged as well.  Notice I am saying "content" and not "music" - it works for pics and videos, not just songs.
• The player pauses if the headphones are unplugged.  I honestly discovered this by accident tonight on the plane - what a great feature!  Reminds me of the controllers on the 360 which do the same thing. 
• The box / packaging is AWESOME.  Best ever for any MSFT product, ever.
• Auto playlists and pre-made playlists from the marketplace (yes, I know iTunes works the same way)
• Great display of album art
• Good sound.  Some people have complained the volume isn't loud enough, but I haven't found that yet.
• Personal background themes are an neat feature
• It is the first WMA player with a solid set of accessories (like car kits, travel kits, speakers, etc).  Creative has done a fairly good job, but not at this level.  (note:  I am a big Creative fan as well)
• The potential to evolve the software is intriguing. 
• The marketplace leverages Live Login which I like to keep it streamlined with other services.
• It will work with Vista, no matter what you have heard.  We aren't crazy.
• Like the 360, it makes us cool again.  I will carry it with pride.
• You don't have to be like every other drone in the world that buys an iPod.  (hey, it's everyone's personal choice... just not mine)  People asked me about it on the plane and at the airport... nobody cares about each others' iPods.  :-)

The Cons:

• The control pad looks too much like a wheel.... it's not a wheel.
• No podcast support per se.  Not sure how big a deal this really is, but it is a shortcoming.
• The marketplace is US only for now - but that is a very short term issue that every music store faces.... more of a music industry issue than a technology issue.  (Warning - if you buy a Zune and bring it back to Canada, the marketplace won't work for you - for now)
• Is the device as small as it could be?  I honestly don't know, perhaps.  It doesn't bother me at all - you get good battery life, a great screen, wifi, etc.  so there is lots "in the shell".... overall it is small enough to carry around no problem at all
• I don't like having 2 players on the system - Windows Media 11 and Zune - I wish this was a "tab" on WM11.
• I completely understand the business model and the benefits of a "vertically integrated" device, but I do wish that it worked with URGE and other Play-For-Sure systems.  Hey, we need a unified stance against the iPod in order to win in the marketplace...

What I hope to see soon:

• TV shows!!!
• Solid Media Centre integration like the Xbox 360 support.  (I need to test this at home)
• Integration with Windows Media Connect via the WiFi would be amazing (like some kind of base station)
• Zune "minis"???
• I want it to work in my car (are you listening Audi?)

More details to come, but I would say that all and all I am happy with the device.  (I have only played with it for 2 days)