Joy Division Zune hands-on

So we dropped by our old friend Peter Rojas's place (you know, the guy who started this site) -- turns out that since he's a music executive and stuff now, he got himself hooked up with a prototype limited edition Joy Division Zune. (Yeah, the irony in that isn't lost on us.) From the absurdly elaborate pivoting, platform-raising box, to the black fabric wrap (which looked blue to our camera), to the faux-LP liner, to Peter Saville's signature etched in foam, they clearly did Joy Division justice on this one. Which they damn well should have, because in case you couldn't already tell, we're all Joy Division fans around these parts -- which means we'd have the music to load this Zune up, being that the only thing it doesn't have is the back-catalog.

[Thanks, Peter!]

Gallery: Joy Division Zune hands-on

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[Sudo @ Jun 26th 2008 12:26PM]

Lookin' good.

[Secret Squirrel @ Jun 26th 2008 3:46PM]

I'm sure selling an obscure mp3 player, with an even more obscure band is going to sell like HOT CAKES!!! ;)

[Lowest Ranked @ Jun 26th 2008 12:28PM]

Did it come pre-loaded with any Joy Division albums or B-Sides?

Looks pretty cool.

+1

[APD @ Jun 26th 2008 3:58PM]

I actually got mine the other day. I found out it doesn't come with anything extra other than a low-res copy of the documentary. No B-sides, no remastered recordings. And I also didn't like that the design is not from the original cover, its modified somewhat. The packaging and leather case are nice, but is it worth the $150 premium over the regular black zune? I couldn't justify the cost. I ended up ebaying it to a guy in the UK.

[Pochi @ Jun 26th 2008 1:40PM]

Seems not.

"...the only thing it doesn't have is the back-catalog."

I hear this site called Mininova has it though.

[Eli Gundry @ Jun 26th 2008 3:28PM]

@Pochi

I saw what you did there and it brought a smile to my face.

[Todd @ Jun 26th 2008 12:32PM]

Ian Curtis called and wants his royalty check, or his bands integrity back, which ever is easier.

[sinai @ Jun 26th 2008 12:56PM]

yea because Ian Curtis would have wanted some anonymous guy on the internet to speak on behalf of his artistic integrity, right?

so if this makes Joy Division "sellouts," then doesn't that make Coldplay and U2... oh wait.

[fanman @ Jun 26th 2008 1:20PM]

Coldplay have a player?

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Jun 26th 2008 1:30PM]

Coldplay and U2 are definitely sellouts. As if there were any question.

[Todd @ Jun 26th 2008 3:23PM]

You're right Sinai, Ian Curtis would have totally allowed Microsoft to pimp their shitty MP3 player with his work on it because some other anonymous guy from the Internet ( You ) said it's OK. Curtis, Hook, they have always done so many other product endorsements...oh wait. From the 2006 Engadet awards...

Worst Gadget of the Year: Microsoft Zune

http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/11/the-winners-of-the-2006-engadget-awards/

[The Dude @ Jun 26th 2008 3:28PM]

LOL, Coldplay. I remember reading that whey wouldn't let their songs be used for commercials because they're oh-so-pure. Then I see the iTunes commercial on TV where they're hawking their whored wares. It promotes the album but it also promotes iTunes.

I don't like or have ever liked Coldplay, but it's still funny as fuck.

[The Dude @ Jun 26th 2008 3:40PM]

@Todd:

That shit isn't going to fly, buddy. Logical probability will tell you that because it exists, then Ian Curtis is likely to be in agreement. The burden of proof lies with you to prove otherwise. And since the only turd nugget you can manage to pull out of your ass is immaterial disparaging of the product itself, it is apparent that you have no proof of that but can only speculate. I will therefore join in the speculation and speculate that you're a moron. Amirite? Am I in the ballpark here?

[kvv @ Jun 26th 2008 4:22PM]

@the dude
" Logical probability will tell you that because it exists, then Ian Curtis is likely to be in agreement."

ian curtis has been dead for 28 years

[sinai @ Jun 26th 2008 5:14PM]

@Todd - your argument is wrong predominantly because the Zune commemorates the DOCUMENTARY made about Joy Division.

The Zune artwork was also done by Peter Saville - a GRAPHIC ARTIST - that is, one who makes COMMERCIAL ART. He endorses it proudly.

And lastly, many professional critics and writers have tried to analyze Ian Curtis' motivations and have failed. You are an internet troll. Your opinion on what Ian Curtis might think is irrelevant.

Therefore, my argument of YOUR OPINION OF IAN CURTIS DOESN'T MATTER still stands.

[nak @ Jun 26th 2008 12:34PM]

The "Hello from Seattle" ruins the whole thing. It should say "Hello from Warsaw."

[Jeff @ Jun 26th 2008 1:03PM]

clak....why does each of your stupid posts end with a stupid quote? Did you actually design a program that automatically inserts stupid quotes into engadget posts because it makes you feel more important on the internet?

[RiggsFanPE @ Jun 26th 2008 12:38PM]

No shock here, I've known you all have terrible taste in music for quite some time. :)

[Dusty Nipples @ Jun 26th 2008 12:55PM]

Fail #1

[Tony @ Jun 26th 2008 12:43PM]

Fake, it's not blurry.

[RC @ Jun 26th 2008 12:48PM]

I'd say this tie-in is working promotion wise as the first time I heard of Joy Division was when this themed Zune was first mentioned. Do they have any songs that I would recognize?

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Jun 26th 2008 12:53PM]

They have several good songs, but their only one that non-fans would recognize would be "Love Will Tear Us Apart Again". And if it sounds goth, that's cause it is.

[Dusty Nipples @ Jun 26th 2008 12:55PM]

Fail #2

[GenghisX @ Jun 26th 2008 1:00PM]

The already mentioned "Love Will Tear Us Apart" is their most well known.

Well known covers of Joy Division songs include the Nine Inch Nails version of "Dead Souls" from The Crow soundtrack, and "Shadowplay" as revised (poorly) by The Killers has gotten some airplay on some of the XM channels I listen to.

[Colin Potter @ Jun 26th 2008 2:24PM]

the only songs i know are the ones that play at starbucks.

[Ed @ Jun 27th 2008 12:00AM]

"the only songs i know are the ones that play at starbucks."
You mean like, in general? Because you really oughta get out more.

[ShadowKain @ Jun 26th 2008 12:49PM]

I miss Pete's cool blogs from Engadget when this site started (spring 04?)...now he gets all the cool gadjets for free? Lucky bastard.... Does anyone know if he still writes or contributes to Joystiq, Gizmodo, or Hack-A-Day???

Cheers

[Jc @ Jun 26th 2008 12:56PM]

whoa whoa whoa...$399? 150 more than normal? You're having a giraffe.

[robotrock @ Jun 26th 2008 12:55PM]

"...turns out that since he's a music executive and stuff now, he got himself hooked up with a prototype limited edition Joy Division Zune. (Yeah, the irony in that isn't lost on us.)"


What's ironic about that?

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Jun 26th 2008 1:32PM]

It's like rain on your wedding day.

[phanbouy @ Jun 26th 2008 12:56PM]

Consumer products, consumer products will tear us apart, again.

[sinai @ Jun 26th 2008 12:57PM]

clever play on that song "love will keep us together" - captain and tenille.

[kjb434 @ Jun 26th 2008 1:21PM]

Could you please remove your salute to the murderer of Cuba from your avatar!

[bhs @ Jun 26th 2008 1:00PM]

Does anyone know anyone who actually owns a Zune?

[spook4thecia @ Jun 26th 2008 1:09PM]

Not a one.


Well... there is this one girl on a forum I'm on but I think she only got it to feel different. And because she's never touched an iPod.

Zune pretty much = FAIL. Although I give MS a C+ for effort.

[Todd Charlton @ Jun 26th 2008 1:14PM]

Actually, I own *this* Zune. I finally ran out of space on my 60gb iPod. I honestly can not find ANY faults with this thing, including the Zune software. Little things like the ability to take my 320kbs files and re-encode them at 256kbps for my Zune player are unexpected bonuses that I wasn't expecting... but everything I *did* expect is here. Granted, that "3 plays" limitation is unfortunate, but I doubt there's any other way to do it without getting a ton of lawsuits. I never had anything *but* problems with iTunes (podcast files vanishing mysteriously in between syncs was my favorite)...

As for the documentary that's on it... I started to watch it on my TV (32" Sharp Aquos), and was pretty impressed at the quality... I figured it would be super compressed for the Zune, but it wasn't.

[Argot @ Jun 26th 2008 1:23PM]

I know a lot of people who own a zune. But if you can't afford it you can always buy an iPod. I know, it sucks, but life's not fair all the time.

[Pradster @ Jun 26th 2008 1:25PM]

I for the umpteenth time, repeat...I OWN ONE!!

[Lowest Ranked @ Jun 26th 2008 1:38PM]

Right, here buddy. And I don't regret it for one second.

[Centipede Damascus @ Jun 26th 2008 1:43PM]

My Zune actually got stolen last week.

I'm pretty bummed about that.

[legacydevice @ Jun 26th 2008 2:01PM]

Myself and five other people, and not even on my recommendation.

The amplifier is badass in the thing, and after version 2.5, the software is right.

The only thing I feel is missing is FLAC support. WMA Lossless is just as good, and I do use it, but it's annoying having to have different lossless files for my zune and for Ableton Live.

I did manage to break my zune; I called up, they overnighted me a box for it, I sent it to them, and I got it back in less than a week, with a microsuede bag.

Plus m$ doesn't stick U2, Coldplay, Feist, or the Black Eyed Peas in my face every five seconds. It's pretty much a given that if a band is used in an iPod commercial, I'm probably not a fan.


But staying on subject... over priced Joy Division Zune? Yeah, I'll pass.

[John @ Jun 26th 2008 2:12PM]

@ Todd.

When playing video out the Zune is 720x576 Resolution. Full standard def as opposed to the 640x480 you get from that other product.

[kal326 @ Jun 26th 2008 3:33PM]

I owned one, it got left in a rental car when I was rushing to catch a flight. So now I guess somebody "owns" mine, as it was never recovered by the rental car company.

[mrpoo @ Jun 26th 2008 3:58PM]

I own an 80GB and never looked back. Not a single problem with it. Never had the chance to try wireless sharing since nobody I know has one, but I don't like sharing, so there. No regrets. Zune software is excellent, and is particularly good for podcast support. If you diss the Zune without having tried it, I'm sorry if you are just now discovering that you are a douche.

[Quikboy @ Jun 26th 2008 5:41PM]

I have had my Zune 30 for over a year (since Dec '06) and it's still working great. Not a single noticeable scratch, no bugs, and it's rock solid.

I also have noticed at least 7 (yes, seven) other Zune users besides myself, at my HS. Really. Sounds so hard to believe, but it's quite true. I even know most of them, and have never even recommend buying a Zune. Being curious, I asked what got them to buy a Zune, and here's what I recall:

1. Big screen for watching videos
2. Better quality than most typical non-iPod players.
3. Tired of iPods breaking down from time to time. Wanted something different
4. Hated iTunes
5. More affordable, considering the storage space, and more bang for your buck.

No joke. If people would stop having the fear that seeing nobody with a Zune, means it's bad and uncool, then maybe that'd change. I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't see a Zune over in California, considering the prominent "Apple culture" that lies among the youth there.

[Daniel @ Jun 26th 2008 1:01PM]

Sorry, I wrote that comment last week, for a completely different review - it just now popped up here????

gophigure!

(db)

[phanbouy @ Jun 26th 2008 1:03PM]

Schizo?

[Jubei @ Jun 26th 2008 1:21PM]

I'm glad Engadget continues to report on the Zune and its continuing innovative deviations of this stillborn product. For some reason, I believe these type of news are posted to abate the rabid fan-base who are grasping for any news regarding their much maligned product.

[Frank Furter @ Jun 26th 2008 1:36PM]

You're my new hero. Zune. Heh.

[fred @ Jun 26th 2008 1:58PM]

You mean like the MBA and AppleTV?

Ironic from the people that despised all comments from people who hated the excessive coverage of the iPhone, comes criticism for one story about the Zune.

I mean, what ever happened to "well if you dont like it, just scroll to the next story"? Oh silly me, I forgot that Apple fanatics are known for consistency and honesty.