Blue & red Zune 120s available just in time for the holidays

It looks like Microsoft's trying to reel in shoppers not only through price cuts this holiday season, but by introducing some new colors as well. The folks up in Redmond have just made blue and red versions of the socializing little PMP available on its Zune Originals site. Prices start at $249, and the company suggests placing orders by the 19th to ensure delivery by Christmas Eve. Sure, It may not be a Gears of War 2 special-edition, but it's definitely an alternative to black. So if you've been looking for something to give that special someone -- and nothing on our guide matches your style -- be sure to hit Microsoft's site to check out all your options.

[Via zunerama]

[JerJer @ Dec 7th 2008 12:32PM]

wait wait wait....blue?

[OCEAN 'CLAK' 20th LOL @ Dec 7th 2008 2:23PM]

i like the blue version its not apple but looks good enough

[maty @ Dec 7th 2008 2:57PM]

But still not in Europe.

Ughf.

[Mr. S. @ Dec 7th 2008 3:11PM]

Who's buying these things?

(I love bill)

[jon @ Dec 7th 2008 5:07PM]

Who cares about the color? I just want them to go back to using the same finish they did on the 80Gig. This glossy finish is so annoying to clean all the time.

[JohnTitor @ Dec 7th 2008 4:41PM]

happy America day

[fanman @ Dec 7th 2008 12:36PM]

Nice. Possibly my next PMP if things stay as they are.

[Mobius_1 @ Dec 7th 2008 2:40PM]

Won't be mine if things stay the way they are...

Send the damn Zune to Europe already!

[Fatima @ Dec 7th 2008 12:37PM]

Yawn..who cares

[ThatOneKid @ Dec 7th 2008 12:39PM]

Um how bout the iPod. Its been using the trackwheel for like 4 years

[)law( @ Dec 7th 2008 12:40PM]

Perfect gift for zune guy

[CraigJ @ Dec 7th 2008 1:01PM]

Actually I think funding his tatoo removal plus a membership at a gym would be the perfect gift. A bonus would be a back razor...

[Bryant @ Dec 7th 2008 12:41PM]

Nobody else reply to iEye's comment. In fact, let's just never reply to his comments and let them stagnate with low-ranked ratings.

[Kris120890 @ Dec 7th 2008 12:41PM]

I would if they sold it in the uk.

[L @ Dec 7th 2008 1:10PM]

Or anywhere in Europe, really...I wonder why they can't manage to at least offer it in their new online store for the people how know it exists. Shouldn't really cost them all that much that way...

[Hugh @ Dec 7th 2008 2:02PM]

if you have friends in the US you can get them to ship it to you, only problem is no zune pass :(

I might do that, but to me Zune pass is what makes it awesome.

[Tubes @ Dec 7th 2008 3:15PM]

@L:
It's the content licensing that's keeping it in North America. I learned a tiny bit about licensing via my job and can tell you that having a device to be able to share songs (even if they can't find many people to share them with) and have a subscription model that now allows users to keep 10 tracks per month permanently really complicates things. When licensing something so complicated, you basically have to single-handedly deal with almost every single record label in every single country. And sometimes you even have to handle this type of deal with individual artists: i.e. Remember when Zune first launched, music by The Rolling Stones were far more restricted than most other artists. They probably had to go back and deal with RS individually to get a plan resolved.

I can only guess that licensing content for the Zune would be total hell. It takes months, sometimes years to put those deal together. Keep in mind that the iPod doesn't have song-sharing nor a subscription service (yet) and I'm betting that the licensing headaches are part of it.

And just think, Steve Jobs feels that licensing Blu-Ray is "a bag of hurt..."

[Phoenix @ Dec 7th 2008 12:46PM]

The iZune? Who's ripping who off now!

[3rdman @ Dec 7th 2008 12:50PM]

Wait...since when has a trackpad been used for a media player?

The ipod trackwheel only works in 2 directions, while the zune is a full trackpad, like on a laptop (see the new starship game yet?)
and stop comparing it to an ipod touch, thought that was already settled a while ago

[L @ Dec 7th 2008 12:52PM]

Seriously Engadget - give us an ignore feature already!

[3rdman @ Dec 7th 2008 12:54PM]

You have anything to back up your comments, iEye?

[erwin @ Dec 7th 2008 12:57PM]

i think you have some kind of a problem, like an Apple-illness or something like that...really

[Sy @ Dec 7th 2008 12:59PM]

Zune? Microsoft still making those?

[Samboini @ Dec 7th 2008 1:56PM]

Children? Your mum's gash still making those?

[The Joker @ Dec 7th 2008 3:34PM]

Thread-crapping? People still doing that?

[musback @ Dec 7th 2008 12:59PM]

So, shall we give him a Zune then?

[CraigJ @ Dec 7th 2008 12:59PM]

"ipod trackwheel only works in 2 directions"

Plus play/pause, forward, backward, menu and center click. In reality both are equally functional and it is a simple a matter of preference. Personally I prefer the iPod's scroll wheel, but that might have something to do with the fact I've been using it for 6 years...

[Kris120890 @ Dec 7th 2008 1:02PM]

S-t-o-p S-p-a-m-m-i-n-g

[Kris120890 @ Dec 7th 2008 1:04PM]

Does that make buttons outdated.

[Sam Zebian @ Dec 7th 2008 1:08PM]

ENGADGET, PLEASE BAN iEYE!

This guy is the most Apple-worshiping fanboi alive!

AND WE HATE FANBOIS!

his comments are always low-ranked. Don't just ban his username, ban his IP from ever trolling engadget again! please, for the love of god (and us who actually like the Zune, like myself).

He gives apple fanbois a BAD NAME, and that's pretty hard to top.

If there should be a good feature engadget should add, it should be community petition ban, where you get up to 75 or more (maybe 50) community users of engadget to sign in to a petition (you see what I did there?).
THEN we can ban iEye! Please engadget, do one of these two!

[GiF @ Dec 7th 2008 1:10PM]

@ Thatonekid

The iPod USED to use a trackwheel (where it physically moved), then in the 2nd gen they introduced the Touch Wheel (without buttons), then at 4th gen they introduced the Click Wheel. It doesn't rotate around, like a trackwheel.
People still like to use the Click Wheel for its simple design and functionality.

[Brian @ Dec 7th 2008 1:11PM]

Are these Zunes the 3rd generation, I thought the 2nd gen Zunes had silver outlining the pad whereas 3rd gens had color matching rings around the pad?

[ZoonaFoon @ Dec 7th 2008 2:54PM]

While the new models of Zunes "called" Zune 3.0, the software is what really got the overhaul and deserves the v3.0.

These Zunes could be better characterized as Zune 2.5 'cause all that really changed was the capacities. And BTW - the Black Zune is the only one to have the ring the same color as the device.... this was apparent when Zune 3.0 was released and there were these blue, red, even WHITE Zunes embedded in the software...

For more on the WHITE Zune 120 - go here: http://www.zuneboards.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=584&Itemid=1

[poematik14 @ Dec 7th 2008 1:14PM]

I just bought a black 120 a few weeks ago :( I like the blue one...

Oh, and Zune software is the best music software I have ever used. It has alot of stuff that reminds you of Pandora, and alot of the stuff that iTunes tried to rip off and call their own, in true Apple fashion.

[Brian @ Dec 7th 2008 1:15PM]

You wouldn't want to block his username or ip, those can be changed quickly, just block the email address (which can also be changed), but after awhile it'll get tiring.
There really just is no good quick and easy way to block annoying people online.

[a ham sandwich @ Dec 7th 2008 1:16PM]

dude i seriously hope you come to engadget's holiday party in new york. we'll give you a holiday present.

[poematik14 @ Dec 7th 2008 1:21PM]

My entire filmmaking class consists of mindless iTards. If Apple would fix their community, I would consider buying one of their products.

If you think iEye is bad, you should see the idiots in my class. They dont even know what GPU stands for but they think their white plastic macbook can run COD4 better than my gaming desktop...o_o

[3rdman @ Dec 7th 2008 1:23PM]

@ Craig

I was referring to only the touch functionality, because otherwise, the zune also has up, down, left, right
In my opinion the zune is easier to use just because of the back button. I still haven't gotten used to pressing menu on the ipod, and not pressing the backward button

[3rdman @ Dec 7th 2008 1:27PM]

w00t, love how the games and updates all work on my Zune 30! ty microsoft!

[Robot Overlord @ Dec 7th 2008 1:34PM]

Screw iEye, let's go after Ocean (clak)

[holycow @ Dec 7th 2008 1:38PM]

MS please oh please include premium earphones with the Zune 120!

[WixosTrix @ Dec 7th 2008 5:58PM]

on the site it does say they include premium

[WixosTrix @ Dec 7th 2008 6:03PM]

well on zune.net it says just headphones, but in the zune store it says premium headphones. so i guess if u buy online you get them.

[roach @ Dec 7th 2008 1:47PM]

If I get an iPod as a gift:
I would be angry because I hate this crap
Then I would be happy cuz I can sell this crap
Then I would be angry because nobady wants to buy this crap at full price
Then I would be happy cuz I get to buy a DOS shirt

[Jake B @ Dec 7th 2008 1:59PM]

Yeah no joke, I have an ancient Zune 30 and it is so dope that I can update it to be just like the new ones. Apple would force that dough out of their customers by not allowing update between models. Plus Zune Pass is the SHIIIT! You pay 15 a month, get unlimited music, and you get to keep ten songs a month forever. Sounds like a way better deal than Apple Store.

[Matt @ Dec 7th 2008 4:32PM]

So you think paying 175 bucks per year for unlimited music and you ONLY get to keep 10 SONGS is a good deal? lol pathetic

[L.M.L.Y.P @ Dec 7th 2008 4:52PM]

Matt....
10 songs per month for one year...
10 songs X 12 months = 120 songs by the end of the year yours to keep.
the difference goes to the unlimited music ( $5)
$5 x 12 months = $60 for unlimited music for a year.

Where as itunes, each of those songs cost you $1. so if you get 15 songs a month. it cost the exact same as a zune pass for a year.

Pathetic?

[Evan @ Dec 7th 2008 2:01PM]

Ah, I wish there was Zune software for the Mac....

[ZoonaFoon @ Dec 7th 2008 2:43PM]

Hey Mactards who keep complaining about the Zune Software not available on Macs:

It's called bootcamp... the same program you all use to boot any Windows program!

Get off your lazy arses and get it and quit your belly-aching will ya?

[Abuzar Baloach @ Dec 7th 2008 9:13PM]

Do you know how awkward it is to boot into another OS to sync your PMP.

I LOVE my Zune, but if I had a Mac I would just get an iPod.