Zune Originals engravings still free, as in $10 to $15

It couldn't last forever. Now those free, laser-etched designs of the Zune Originals series will cost ya. Microsoft quietly made the switch sometime over the last few weeks (if not the weekend) according to forum jockeys riding the Zuneboards. The Tattoo Series is now $10 or $15 for the Artist Series. Custom engravings are still free. Of course, there's no better way to keep those Zunes original than to charge cold, cash money for off-the-shelf designs.

[Thanks, Mike]

[Gary @ Mar 10th 2008 8:19AM]

It was definitely a few weeks ago. I ordered my wife's two Sundays ago, and it was $10 for the tattoo. Still free regular engraving though. And you get like 5 lines of text....

[Razel @ Mar 10th 2008 8:21AM]

That Zune in the middle is missing an "M"

[Nubaeus @ Mar 10th 2008 1:02PM]

I see what you did there. You're very unique and clever by putting an M next to a dollar sign and having it represent MicroSoft. I wish others had the wit you did.

Oh wait, it's been the same stupid "joke" for years. If anything, put the dollar sign and a bloody ass next to anything Apple because they rape you of your money for mediocre products.

[Arno @ Mar 10th 2008 8:39AM]

That's fair. Those graphics (in general, not that picture) are pretty cool.

[LondonConsultant @ Mar 10th 2008 8:39AM]

If they develop a fault, will Microsoft's repair department wipe the engaving?

[Justin Schoolmaster @ Mar 10th 2008 8:46AM]

What is a Zune?

[papafew @ Mar 10th 2008 9:01AM]

@ justin schoolmaster

It's a crap iPod lookalike

[fred @ Mar 10th 2008 9:05AM]

Duo epic fail.

[Kurian @ Mar 10th 2008 9:15AM]

Double Fail...fail..ail..il..

[sinai @ Mar 10th 2008 3:27PM]

last i checked, Zune had ~10% of the PMP market.

and last i checked, Macs make up about 5% of the computer market.

shouldn't the REAL question be "LOL WHAT'S A MAC?"

[PynkFloydd @ Mar 10th 2008 5:24PM]

Zune [pronounced Zoon]: definition - A portable media player created by Microsoft to cater to consumers who don't buy into hyped up advertising. Specifically, the PMP is dedicated to making the hipster generation who leech off of their parents and have no real value in society look stupid for trying to pose as artists.

[Boing @ Mar 10th 2008 8:47AM]

would they engrave an apple on the back?

[fred @ Mar 10th 2008 9:06AM]

You paid for the player.

You paid for the engraving.

Why wouldn't they put the logo of a company that didn't get a dime from the transaction on the back? The only person that would look silly is the person that ordered it.

[Chebwa @ Mar 10th 2008 9:38AM]

No.

[CaptCaveman @ Mar 11th 2008 9:24AM]

The back of the iPod gets engraved every time you put it in your pocket without a case...

[theFuzzyWarble @ Mar 10th 2008 8:53AM]

You are unique, just like everybody else!

Makes me laugh, like being in a real tattoo shop and watching Meathead Fred getting unique ink he picked from a catalog book.

I'm taking my Zune to the guys over at Adafruit Industries soon.
[http://www.adafruit.com/laser/]
$30 for real custom work on small portables.

They are in the New York City area though,
so if you know of similar shops in other places,
please post them for others that might be interested.

[adml_shake @ Mar 10th 2008 9:02AM]

Seems fair, I wouldn't mind paying that if I were going to order another one.

[Kurian @ Mar 10th 2008 9:16AM]

"cold, cash money" :/

[Mobius_1 @ Mar 10th 2008 9:29AM]

The middle one is bound to be popular with rapper wannabes (those that can't really afford a blinged-out Zune)

[jsel @ Mar 10th 2008 9:55AM]

Can Engadget disclose once and for all how much money they get for these articles pretending that the Zune is of any interest, or that anyone is buying them? I'm just curious how much integrity sells for these days.

[Zeus.:God @ Mar 10th 2008 10:12AM]

What is up with all these iFailures lately?

[Chewedtoothpick @ Mar 10th 2008 10:19AM]

Most of us would rather spend our money on something that has actual quality and so much less lock-in, like the Zune or the Zen.

You would be surprised at how few people drink the Apple Cool-Aide that you obviously do.

[Onetruebill @ Mar 10th 2008 10:38AM]

Integrity closed out the day with a slight gain in the after hours session. Trading was brisk and analysts expect to see prices stabilize at near $18.00 per share.

[brian @ Mar 10th 2008 12:17PM]

You know, for as many people around here that bitch that engadget posts a million apple love-fests a day, I'm surprised to hear someone complaining that the zune got a single article of coverage.

[byaah @ Mar 10th 2008 12:10PM]

People like you make me almost ashamed to be a Mac user. Stop being so closed-minded and get a life.

[theFuzzyWarble @ Mar 10th 2008 3:35PM]

I will be totally honest, wWhen I first bought my 1st Gen Zune [Feb 07], I only knew 1 other person that had one. I knew and accepted being in the the minority as a Zune owner, shit my previous portable was a Neuros 2, so what's that tell you!
I use my Zune daily during my 2 hour commute to and from work, and I'm always checking the 'Social' to see if other Zunes are near. I think over the whole year of 2007 I saw 3-4 zunes pop up.

I've got a Zune 80 now too and since the launch of the 2nd Gen units, I've seen at the least 1-3 pop up weekly, in totally different areas; on my bus or at a random train stops.
So the userbase is definitely picking up, slowly but surely, and that's just from my tiny slice of the world.

[Mr. Snuggle Bunny @ Mar 10th 2008 10:24PM]

@byaah: Amen man, amen.

Also: Slow Engadget is slow.

[Gary Combs @ Mar 10th 2008 11:13AM]

I'm sure I'd be just as happy with an iPod, however, I love my zune, and eventually will get an engraved 80 gig. Good to know that the cost for one isn't crazy.

[Jubei @ Mar 10th 2008 12:03PM]

What is the point of this product? Visit some of the Zune specific forums and you can see the frustrations and the numbers of users jumping ship.

[o rly @ Mar 10th 2008 2:43PM]

What's the point of your post? It's the same as all your other anti-everything-that-isn't-from-Apple posts.

[Zeus.:God @ Mar 10th 2008 4:35PM]

Yeah, look at anyone who's ever owned an iPod. I can guarantee you that if Apple had forums set up for iPod, you would see just as many frustrated customers, if not (and very likely) more. I've owned both products, and the Zune is far better (at least so far) in both hardware and software.

[Gary @ Mar 10th 2008 12:30PM]

Seriously, why does every response to a Zune thread have to be a fanboy discussion. I've owned an iPod. I bought a Zune this time. Doesn't mean I won't buy an iPod next time. I just found the money to features better on the Zune this time around... All these "what's a zune?" and "iPods suck" comments just get really old.

That said, I'm going to look for a new Zune back and check out that adafruit place. I have some really cool things I would like etched on the back instead of the stock tattoo that I got. Thanks for that link!

[Evan @ Mar 10th 2008 1:03PM]

"Free", just like like the "free" HD-DVD deal that required that you mail in a cheque for $10 shipping and handling.

[Abuzar @ Mar 10th 2008 4:23PM]

Well the custom TEXT engraving is free. The graphics just cost you money.

The engadget title MAY be misleading, but you need to RTFA.