Red Zune 80 now available... but only with Zune Originals engraving

Good news for all of you who missed the red Zune 80 during its short-lived (and somewhat delayed) Valentine's Day cameo -- Microsoft has decided to take your money after all. Yep, the red 80 is back, and it looks like it's a permanent engagement this time. The only catch is that you've got to do it up Zune Original style, which'll set you back another $10 - $15 on top of the usual $249, but that's the price you pay to have your player match your kicks, Dr. Hipster McHip.

Update: Apparently the Zune Originals site will sell you a custom Zune without any customizations (who knew?), so it looks like you can get crimson on the cheap if that's what you're after. Dollar dollar bill, y'all. [Thanks Micheal and Mark.]

[Rob Conway @ Mar 19th 2008 10:46PM]

For fucks sake. Really? Does it really bother people that much that there seems to be a pro-Apple slant on Engadget? Get over it. Who cares? Even if you hate Apple like they killed your children, can't you just laugh it off and be thankful that a great deal of the tech news spread far and wide across the internet has been compiled in one place and presented in a humorous, aesthetically pleasing manner?

[phenom @ Mar 19th 2008 9:29PM]

"Microsoft has decided to take your money after all."

Really, I'm so glad Microsoft decided to take my money since Apple is all about throwing out all those FREE MP3 players and phones they have with optional software and firmware upgrades that are EXTRA FREE .... engadget ... your website fell off big time.

But since I already have a Zune 80, imma wait till the next one comes out in 2009 to but another one.

in before Apple products has/had engraving options too

[Sean Riley @ Mar 19th 2008 9:53PM]

... how did you read pro-Mac bias into that? It's just a joke about how companies shouldn't keep products people want out of their hands.

[Sora267 @ Mar 19th 2008 10:04PM]

"in before Apple products has/had engraving options too"

Apple products have engraving options too.

[Alex Padilla @ Mar 19th 2008 10:05PM]

Echoing the sentiments above:

How in the hell could you turn a truthful statement such as "Microsoft has decided to take your money after all" into a pro-Apple innuendo? I mean, c'mon now. I may not like this wave of pro-Apple bias that Engadget has been riding on as of late, but I also don't like it when someone tries to turn a non-issue into one for the sake of getting high ranked. Get a grip and learn to read articles for the sake of reading and not just to jump on the anti-Engadget bandwagon that's been going around.

[Sam Zebian @ Mar 19th 2008 10:13PM]

Hey alex, Anti-engadget (and anti-gizmodo) it's been going around for a reason. Engadget has been posting too much good stuff on Apple, with huge amounts of details, and forgetting about other hugely important companies. Look at the recent Vista SP1 posts. It was small, and only 1 post, while Apple's airport extreme got more posts on it. This Zune article isn't that bad, but look at these postings for the Ipod nano coming in pink. There's 2 posts for it, and I only see one for the Zune.

Article 1-http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/22/apple-store-down-pink-ipod-nano-and-canadian-iphone-rumors-swir/
article 2-http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/22/ipod-nano-in-the-pink/

[404error @ Mar 19th 2008 10:32PM]

SP1 did not have 1 post. If you look at the top right of the Engadget page there is a search function, you know. Look what happens when you search for "red zune"
http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/19/red-zune-80-now-available-but-only-with-zune-originals-engrav/
http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/04/red-zune-coming-on-june-10th-try-and-contain-your-excitement/
http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/15/red-zune-80-lovey-dovey-zune-originals-artwork-emerge-for-valen/

The writing may be somewhat Apple-biased, but Engadget still posts about this stuff.

[Darren @ Mar 19th 2008 10:40PM]

People generally like Apple and generally dislike Microsoft.

Microsofties like you are offended by that.

[Alex Padilla @ Mar 19th 2008 10:45PM]

@ Sam

Oh, you misunderstand. I do agree that there's a ridiculously pro-Apple bias on this site (I mentioned that in my previous post), but there's nothing of the like in this specific article. Like I said before, I'm not a huge fan this bias; it's getting too out of hand (for example, an Apple *rumor* made breaking news).

DISCLAIMER: I own a MacBook and a 1G nano. I want a Zune and I'd like to dual-boot Vista. However, I'm too poor to do so...damn. I give credit where credit is due, and I'd have to say that Apple isn't deserving of all that it gets.

[jhoeforth @ Mar 19th 2008 11:27PM]

Dig this, I'm from the Philippines where Zune is not officially launched yet but I have two other people I can share songs with.

And FYI, we're previous iPod owners.

[michael @ Mar 19th 2008 11:48PM]

If anyone is interested, I Dugg this. Even though this post really doesn't deserved to be Dugg, but there's a big audience.

Or if you find it unnecessary for me to do this, ignore it.

http://digg.com/gadgets/Red_Zune_80_available_on_Zune_Originals

[phenom @ Mar 19th 2008 9:30PM]

buy*

[ishism @ Mar 20th 2008 1:38AM]

I got a great deal on my zune 30, and through another great deal, got the av dock and remote. I have toyed with the ipod video and it was cool, but when I got the zune, I never looked back. It's just plain better than the ipod. In durability, navigation and simplicity. Oh yeah, love the radio, and sleek interface.
I'm a zune fanboy now? I guess so.

[Hugh Newmark @ Mar 19th 2008 9:52PM]

Congratulations Engadget, you managed to write an article on a Microsoft product without dropping the fruitbomb.

I love my Zune.

[mkeough23 @ Mar 19th 2008 10:00PM]

I second that.

[Abuzar @ Mar 19th 2008 10:12PM]

Yep, my Zune rocks. Got the 30 the day it came out and the 80 the day it came out. Never regretted either purchase.

[MediaMoshPit @ Mar 19th 2008 10:23PM]

Looks like the M$ loving crowd is well on it's way to becoming as insecure as the Mac crowd were twelve years ago.

We were so very sure that our stuff was better and couldn't understand why the other side got all the glory while Apple was never even mentioned in conversation. Now, M$ advocates themselves can't let an article go by without dropping Apple's name. They are so very sure that their stuff is better and can't understand why Apple gets so much credit.

Keep up the good work to all involved.

[Hugh Newmark @ Mar 19th 2008 10:27PM]

@MediaMoshPit

I'm not a fanboy either way, it's just how on this tech blog, you see the Apple dropped in almost every article. You can't deny that there's more than a fair share of Apple bias. . . not that it isn't undeserved. Engadget never claimed to be nonpartisan, and Apple does throw down some cool stuff.

[Hugh Newmark @ Mar 19th 2008 10:46PM]

@clak

Why don't you just READ THE COMMENTS THAT INTEREST YOU AND SHUT THE HELL UP!!!!!


Now look at that, typing in caps doesn't make you cool.

[wootman @ Mar 19th 2008 11:00PM]

no, because i read joystiq, and engadget is its sister site.
D:

[ark_v2 @ Mar 20th 2008 1:25AM]

Love mine too.

[NewJohnny @ Mar 20th 2008 3:48AM]

That's a nice ideal Rob, but this is the place to come to show your feathers (whether mac or pc). We might sound like idiots if we were on the street corner but the internet affords all sorts of anon behaviour.

[Todd @ Mar 19th 2008 10:18PM]

"Better luck next year....at sharing songs with other Zune users...or finding another Zune user at all."

http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/19/universal-and-sony-prohibit-zune-sharing-for-certain-artists/

[Sam Zebian @ Mar 19th 2008 10:22PM]

You know what- The Zune is gaining massive market share, and it's getting more popular by the hour. SO stop saying it's impossible to find another Zune user or to send some songs- Because most, if not all songs, are send-able now. I've only come across this problem ONCE,a and I have many friends that own Zunes that I send songs to frequently. So STFU

[michael @ Mar 19th 2008 10:28PM]

Hmm. An article from over a year ago. I guess that's pretty relevant in 2008, hmm?

Nice try in souring another Zune post.

I have met actually met several Zune owner with WiFi on in the NW Houston area. And yes, there are a 'few' songs that won't be shared. But who cares?

Sharing isn't the main feature of the Zune. Playing media is the main focus of any PMP. I just share some of my fave songs, and good Zune background pictures I have.

[Frank @ Mar 19th 2008 10:22PM]

Umm, guys, a red Zune is still $249: the price of red is "waived" according to www.zuneoriginals.com, and, to the best of my knowledge, you don't have to get it engraved for it to be red.

[Sam Zebian @ Mar 19th 2008 10:27PM]

Hey, I know this is sort of blogspam, but if you really want to find some good news about ZUne that isn't apple biased, you should read the blog I write for- Cliczune!
http://www.cliczune.com/2008/03/red-zune-80gb-i.html

[michael @ Mar 19th 2008 10:36PM]

Nilay - There's no extra $10-$15 to get engravings.

If you actually went on the Zune Originals site (or even post the link for that matter) you'll see the fee for that is "waived". Check it out yourself: http://zuneoriginals.net/

Sigh. Some of these commenters are right about the quality given for MS-related posts.

[Nilay Patel @ Mar 19th 2008 10:48PM]

I checked it out before this went up and it definitely charged an extra $10 for the engraving I picked out, although the fee for a red model came up waived.

[michael @ Mar 19th 2008 10:57PM]

Well, yeah. Since this post was about the Red Zune 80, I assumed that we were both checking out the price of the Red Zune 80.

It comes out as $249.99 when you checkout.

Same for the Black Zune 80 as well. The fee on that one is also waived when I checked it out again a few moments ago.

Actually, ALL the Zunes sold on Zune Original site currently have the engraving stuff "waived". I don't know where you got the $10-$15 from. I saw the site earlier this afternoon and the Red Zune 80 still had the engraving "waived".

[Mark @ Mar 19th 2008 10:58PM]

nilay, ya, I'm sure it was, but if you just choose text engraving then the engraving is completely free. Saying that you have to get an engraving that costs $10-$15 extra is completely false(and this isn't the first MS-related mistake you guys have made recently(the other one was the supposed proof-of-concept firefly game that was really just a small app they used in testing and said so in the video engadget posted)). Seriously, make sure what you're saying is true next time and please change this article to reflect the truth. I was gaining faith in you guys until recently but these point in a bad direction.

[michael @ Mar 19th 2008 11:08PM]

Yeah, Mark has a point. I was just looking at the price as a standalone. Without the extras.

So here's the "real" details:

Red Zune 80 by itself : $249.99
- with artwork : $259.99
- with inscription : $249.99

Artwork is NOT waived. Inscription IS waived.

There, fixed that. So please update the post Nilay.

[holycow @ Mar 19th 2008 11:12PM]

Dear Microsoft,
Can we have one in Canada please ?

Thank You,
Residents of Canada.

[Sam Zebian @ Mar 19th 2008 11:14PM]

it's coming to Canada this spring- so letter us not needed

[Steffen Jobbs @ Mar 19th 2008 11:15PM]

Better luck next year. I suppose that engraving is anti-Zune. How about "Better luck next decade".

I never used a Zune so even if I made fun of it, it really doesn't mean squat. The Apple fanboys just like to badmouth the Zune just to get a rise out of the Microsoft fanboys. Why can't it just be in good fun? If the Engadget site is so biased towards Apple then why do the Microsoft fanboys even bother to read Apple or Mac articles?

You should realize by now that any articles having to do with Zune or Vista are gonna be targets of Apple fanboyism. I'm an Apple fanboy that likes using Microsoft products such as WinXP and MS Office, but it still is enjoyable poking fun at MS products. I don't hate MS or Zune users. Some of you take this "I hate all Microsoft/Apple products and users" a little too far. You'd really be better off just skipping over the article if it's that upsetting to ya.

[michael @ Mar 20th 2008 12:08AM]

It's ok to poke fun sometimes, but not like all the time. Some people who read Engadget feel it's a recurring issue, and if people don't speak up, Engadget might not even know anyways.

Since when is it "fun" to rile up people? It's like constantly teasing a person for a mistake they did, or something embarrassing. It's annoying and makes you look like an antagonist. It's not cool.

I admit there are times when some people cry over small potatoes, but what they mean is still pretty much true. Look at Weblogs Inc. top 3 tech blogs:

Engadget : I know of at least 3 main Apple-leaning writers. 0 Microsoft-leaning writers. There have been a 'few' non-sarcastic MS posts, but not many.

TUAW : One Apple blog at Weblogs Inc. Zilch for MS.

DownloadSquad : This one sort of has a Linux/Mac lean. There's often posts called "Flipping the Linux Switch" where this person tries to advise people on how to switch to Linux from Windows. And there's a weekly Googleholic stuff.

So where's any MS love at all at Weblogs? That's why some people are trying to speak up.

[Matt Keller @ Mar 20th 2008 12:06AM]

Pssht. With that hella sweet snake, this'll sell like cheatcakes!

[Jubei @ Mar 20th 2008 2:30AM]

Engadget is not to blame regarding Apple products. In 2007 alone, Apple has been extremely prolific with their offerings. We're now in the 1st Calendar Quarter and Apple is off and running with another massive year. A plethora of new product announcements and updates coming soon. Yet what do you get with MS? SP1 release? A real yawner, and red Zune. Whoopee doo... Utterly pathetic. It's no wonder most of you are bitter and spite Engadget for just doing their job.

[Zeus.:God @ Mar 20th 2008 3:16AM]

And here comes Jubei with flying colors!... To miss the point... Oh well- this Apple fanboy would never get it anyway, with such a blind hatred (that he has proven) to the Zune and all Microsoft products.

[Zeus.:God @ Mar 20th 2008 3:21AM]

I should have mentioned this before I clicked the button, but Jubei, you do realize that Microsoft is primarily a software company, and more recently entering the hardware market, right? That being said, who the Hell would expect them to be releasing as many products as Apple? They don't even have a self branded computer out, so of course they wouldn't have as many products out as Apple, and trying to compare the two in that aspect is just plain stupid. SP1 and the red Zune, while they may be the only recent offerings from Microsoft, have nothing to do with Apple, and recently (recently being so-far 2008 and over the span of 2007) there has been a MAJOR anti-Microsoft slant to damn near every Microsoft post, and most of the time, they bring up how much better Apple's products are or some non-related crap like that.

Maybe you should stop drinking the Apple koolaid and take a peek for yourself.

[Jubei @ Mar 20th 2008 3:25AM]

It's not hatred, it's your inability to read properly that you assume it's hatred. My comments are based on facts alone. Why don't you list some of the MS groundbreaking, headline grabbing, paradigm shifting products then to prove me wrong? Go ahead, you should be able to do it in minutes right? It's too bad you're too blinded to see the facts alone.

[Jubei @ Mar 20th 2008 3:29AM]

LOL.. your brain actually continued to process data so you posted again? Ahahaha... I love it. You simply cannot put forth a thought in one session. It's justifiable to have you representing MS and their mediocre offerings of late.

[Zeus.:God @ Mar 20th 2008 11:00AM]

Jubei, you're such a fool- I'm not even going to finish reading that tripe.

[Jubei @ Mar 20th 2008 11:17AM]

@Zeus

Lets see, you have had several hours to work on this project. Perhaps I need to reiterate the question. I think your retention level might be in the low fifty percentile, and you need help to jog your memory. Never say I did not try to help you out.

"Why don't you list some of the MS groundbreaking, headline grabbing, paradigm shifting products then to prove me wrong? Go ahead, you should be able to do it in minutes right?"

[Zeus.:God @ Mar 20th 2008 1:38PM]

Jubei, maybe you need to practice reading a bit more before coming to reply.

"Jubei, you're such a fool- I'm not even going to finish reading that tripe."

I refused to finish it- stopped at "inability to read" (which you have proven for yourself), therefore I never saw said question, and I'm not going to answer, as I'm not going to entertain any more idiotic arguments from you.

Good day, you fanboy.

[Jubei @ Mar 20th 2008 1:51PM]

Hi Zeus. If you just do a little work, then your misdirected worship towards MS and they failed product Zune would be resolved. You would also realized why Engadget has so many postings about Apple. The lightbulb, dim as it may be, above you will finally glow. Perhaps you will also realize that for every Zune sold, anemic as it is, you are paying certain groups money as an acknowledgement of illegal music stored in your Zune. You do know that right?


"Why don't you list some of the MS groundbreaking, headline grabbing, paradigm shifting products then to prove me wrong? Go ahead, you should be able to do it in minutes right?"

[michael @ Mar 20th 2008 3:40PM]

@Jubei : Microsoft is mainly a software company, did you know that? They're the largest in the world.

They do have hardware and some gadgets, but not on the same level as Apple. Microsoft is just getting and working their way into making more hardware stuff.

There's a lot of interesting software stuff (esp. if you saw Mix08) that won't get mentioned at all on Engadget. Because software isn't gadgets. Maybe if you saw more beyond gadgets, you would understand.

[Jubei @ Mar 20th 2008 3:50PM]

@Michael

Really, so Engadget rarely or doesn't cover software news? Well looks like we have a two for one special here folks. Do yourself a favor, and read what you just wrote. Think of the word "oxymoron". Yes, I think that sums up your post quite well.

[Ewoks FTW @ Mar 20th 2008 3:11AM]

the touchpad of the zune 80 totally rapes the apple click wheel

[Sam Zebian @ Mar 20th 2008 7:47AM]

Hells yeah it does, why rank him down?? OH YEAH, BECAUSE ALL THE APPLE FANBOYS DECIDED TO GO TO AN ARTICLE WHEN NOBODY ELSE WOULD BE READING IT (hint-everyone left and went to bed) The ipod click wheel sucks in comparison to the Zune's touchpad. The Apple fanboys would beg to differ, but then that's like saying a circular laptop touchpad with the mouse pointer in the middle (while the middle wouldn't be touch-sensitive) is better than a squircle-shaped laptop touchpad with the center button built in and touch sensitive at the same time. So I don't see your logic in this topic, Apple fanboys? I mean, SURE Ipods have games, but are they any good? NO, because of the crap controls (hence the scrollwheel) and the crappy cpu along with the tiny screen. Ipod gaming will be nothing in comparison to the Zune's XNA games, because Apple doesn't know how to do games. Look at Apple's gaming history- The ipod has had years to come out with good games, but has it? NOT REALLY! The Iphone is supposed to be getting games, and form the looks of it, it looks pretty good, but will it be that good?? HELLZ NO, because Apple will always have problems when it comes to the gaming community. Apple's computers have never had many good games, Hell, if you go to Apple.com/games and go to the featured games section, some of those games are from 2002! (maybe some older!) The Iphone may get 2-4 pretty fun and good games, but then after that, it won't even be that great for game developers and they will omve on to something better, just like the Ipods, and the Mac platform only seems to be getting some help form EA, but that's about it.

The Zune on the other hand, has a better chance for great mobile gaming/media as a tight combo for a multi-purposed machine. It has a much better control mechanism (The squircle, which can be TACTILE AND TOUCH SENSITIVE, CAN YOUR LOVELY CLICKWHEEL DO THAT IPOD? Anyways, it has great controls, it has a better CPU than the ipod (it's faster than the 30GB, and the 30GB was like 400mhz, the current ipod is a lot less) and it has a much bigger screen, and you know what else?? It's got WIFI, which many people touted/still tout as useless, but now it can be used for online games! And since these games are community-based, there will be way more than Apple will ever have, they will be more fun than what some developers do (lots of homebrew games are really fun, you don't have to be a developer at some company to come up with a good game) So, here's what the Zune has to offer-

-Large screen
-Touch-sensitive controls that don't get the screen dirty/get your fingers in the way of gameplay (the iphone has that problem)
-Wifi that can be used for Xbox live on the go (maybe it will be called Zune live?)
-Community based games, where even YOU can go and develop a game and then to submit it, it only coasts $100. Talk about low development costs!
-In-game music capabilities (wasn't the ipod built originally for music? Looks like it's losing it's roots)

What the ipod has to offer-
-Clickwheel for controls (perfect for circular-based games (Hint:good circle based games), which don't really exist!
-Smaller screen than Zune, although the Iphone's and Ipod touch's screens are slightly bigger.
-Slower processor
-Touch screen controls on the Iphone, which is cool and all, but it smudges and gets dirty, so you end up cleaning it all of the time. And your fingers get in the way of gaming sometimes.
-Wifi only on the Iphone and Ipod touch, and only the iphone is getting games, not the ipod touch. Apple would never be able to build an online gaming platform like Microsoft's. Look at sony and nintendo, they've been trying for years now, and they are still playing catch-up!

The bottom line-

Microsoft- (Quote from J-Allard)-“We didn’t want people to think ‘Tetris on the iPod,’ we wanted them to think ‘Xbox 360 in my pocket’

Apple- (This is straight from Apple's Ipod games page- It’s like carrying a whole arcade in your pocket.
Link-http://www.apple.com/itunes/store/games/

So for mobile gaming, which would you have, the whole arcade in your pocket, or an Xbox 30 in your pocket? (Xbox 360 also offers arcade games, so you'd basically be getting BOTH!)

I think I'll go with the Zune on gaming, and the Zune's touchpad is soo much better than the ipod's clickwheel.