Microsoft launches the Zune, world keeps on turnin'

We speculated, we rumored, we announced, we complained, we poked... and now it's your turn. Microsoft just busted out the Zune, so now it's time for y'all to do your thing and buy this hunk like gangbusters or just point and laugh at the color selection and software foibles. Your $250, your call.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 16th 2006 5:40PM]

Sooooo I just want to know if the zune software is supposed to convert video files into the formats that'll play on the zune. Because most of what I have is in .avi format, not .wmv or mpeg-4.
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Yes.
FYI, AVI is actually just a container format. The codecs used in an AVI can be almost anything, and chances are your Zune won't play them natively. It converts them to WMV.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 15th 2006 11:15PM]

Why the hell can't Microsoft be innovative just once? Just once!

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 16th 2006 3:54PM]

Anyone who is supporting Apple here, go to starbucks, order a crapachino, and write a poem on your mac.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 15th 2006 9:52PM]

You guys are kidding me right this thing is going to put ipod on its ass. I mean have you even looked at it in person the screen quality totally blows the ipods out of the water this thing is great!

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 15th 2006 10:33PM]

Zuny Tunes -- fine print written by nitwits undermines Microsoft's wannabe iPod-killer. The name is just one small part of the problem. The words iPod and iTunes are variations of recognizable words that point to real things. What's a Zune? What does it point to? Nothing. Plus, it rhymes with all kinds of things Microsoft probably doesn't want to rhyme with, including their competitor's dominant and highly successful music marketplace. Not smart. Downright Zuny (sorry).

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 15th 2006 10:42PM]

Link for Zuny Tunes: http://letterfromhere.blogspot.com/2006/11/zuny-tunes-fine-print-written-by.html

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 16th 2006 9:30AM]

you ppl complaining need to think about what it means for the market. thanks to the zune, apple can no longer rape the consumer with its prices on ipods. the second the zune was announced it dropped the ipods price. who cares if the zune sux or not, better hope it doesnt fail or apple will once again be the only game in town and never have to work for the consumer. so point and laugh all you want, but im glad my ipod cost 50$ less.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 16th 2006 12:48PM]

For your consideration:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061109/tc_afp/afplifestyleitinternetmusiccompanymicrosoft

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003380831

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 20th 2006 11:36AM]

I'll probably be buying one of these after Christmas (if I don't receive one.) I am sick of the dismal battery life on my NANO and just placed an order for a replacement battery for my wife's mini which is just over a year old. Yes, I am a MSFT fanboy and have been playing with digital audio since it's inception. I will be choosing the brown one because it is unique. It will be nice to have portable DVD for business trips. I hope if Apple does succeed in convincing the airline industry to add ipod ports to their planes it can also power the unit. My only hope is that some enterprising individual creates an adaptor so the Zune can be used with ipod appliances. I would hate to have to replace my audio dock. BTW I don't work for MSFT. I am just a 41 year old cube dweller working for a charitable healthcare system. I can't wait to bring my Zune to work and do some serious representing for MSFT.

Cheers,