Avoid the Loony Zune: Microsoft gets music player all wrong

The Chicago Sun-Times ^ | November 23, 2006 | Andy Ihnatko

[Man50D]

That's never stopped Bill Gates in the past from leading the industry in some of the worst programming techniques imaginable, not to mention his dearth of computer science in his operating system transactions.

My motto with new software is let the other guy be the Guinea Pig until enough of the bugs have been removed.

[Incorrigible]

As a Zen MicroPhoto user, I like the player. However, the software is not one of the highlights.

It's workable for us computer types though.

[steve-b]

I do hope that Microsoft goes along with the RIAA cartel's demands for variable track pricing before the Zune tanks completely. Then, two noxious concepts (paying the RIAA cartel a cut on hardware sales and also variable track pricing) will become ineradicably permeated with the stench of this failure.

[steve-b]

The problem is NOT with the player itself--I've read the interface on the device itself is quite good. It's the software that you use to interface with the Zune that everybody gripes about.

That's kind of like saying that the car drives great once you get it started (after six hours of failed attempts each time).

If you can't interface your computer with the player, you can't get your music into it -- in which case, what the hell is it good for?

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Before trashing Microsoft you need to remember that Microsoft always launches a sub-par product into the marketplace and then drastically improves on it based on feedback from consumers and competitors. Remember Windows 95? Microsoft took note and improved on it with the much better Windows 98. Ditto for Xbox. I bet within a year or two this Zune product will be a must-have item for most people and will cut into Ipod's market.

[Echo Talon]

oh the drama... someone pour some water on the obvious apple zealot masquerading as a 'journalist'.

[Swordmaker]

oh the drama... someone pour some water on the obvious apple zealot masquerading as a 'journalist'.

Find and post a better review that doesn't come from a Microsoft funded Astroturf site.

Try this one from a certifiable PC enthusiast who wrote a rave review of the Zune before it was released...

[Swordmaker]

I bet within a year or two this Zune product will be a must-have item for most people and will cut into Ipod's market.

You don't get a second chance to make a good first impression...

[Echo Talon]

I'd rather have a Sony Erricson over the ipod or Zune neither one of those(music players) can take pictures OR call someone.

[RayChuang88]

If you can't interface your computer with the player, you can't get your music into it -- in which case, what the hell is it good for?

That's why a lot of people are griping about the Zune. The hardware is great, but the software--well, it's terrible. iTunes--despite its complications for neophyte users--works extremely closely with the iPod models in terms of copying to and organizing audio/video files on the player.

[antiRepublicrat]

The problem is NOT with the player itself--I've read the interface on the device itself is quite good.

I played with one for a while. The interface is very nice, but I found myself sorely missing the click wheel when I needed to scroll.

[antiRepublicrat]

The computer interface for ZEN is nice also..

Eeewwwww. It's way to complicated, information thrown all over the place. They're still thinking "complicated computer program" and not "consumer device." No wonder Creative isn't doing too well, when it markets software like that (I do, however, like many of Creative's other products).

[antiRepublicrat]

This reminds me of the false argument that the iPod won't play music purchased from other sources.

That's Apple's vertical integration, and it excludes music stores from other companies. Microsoft has its own vertical integration, but in doing so Microsoft excluded its own music store format, its current users, and its partners.

The basic philosophy is also a problem: The Zune exists for two reasons: to get Microsoft into the market and to make the RIAA money. Notice that "giving the consumer what he wants" isn't in the picture.