Zune HD unboxing and hands-on
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted September 15th 2009 1:28AM
posted September 15th 2009 1:28AM
Obviously we've got a proper review coming soon, but we take this stuff pretty seriously and don't like to offer our opinion till we've spent some quality time with a device. You can expect a look at both the music and media playback capabilities of the ZHD, as well as the new Zune integration into Xbox Live, Windows Media Center, and all other kinds of connected-world goodness. Till then, feast your eyes on the galleries below, and quietly curse Microsoft for handing us a neutered Zune.
Update: As a commenter points out below, these devices are being sold to end users in the same condition our unit is in -- namely, without any real functioning software. It's a pretty unusual move for a company like Microsoft to put devices into the hands of consumers with no functionality at all, but it seems the Zune team was cranking till the last minute. Let's hope all the hard work pays off!
*Jealous*
Oh well. I'll have mine later today.
What's the rush? This article shows hardware is a piece of crap without useful software.
No games, no third party apps mean no moola! ;)
I want one and I am an Apple fanboy. Is it bad?
That is one sexy gadget. Shame it won't ever see adoption like the iPods because when people think MP3 player, they think iPod thanks to the barrage of advertising we get at what seems like *every* *stinkin* commercial break for *every* *stinkin* show on *every* *stinkin* channel.
.... and Apple poked fun at Microsoft's advertising budget.... ohh the irony.
@Jean
No, it just means you are finally coming to you senses.
jagster,
Get real. What Zune trying to do is already done with iPod Touch 2 years ago.
Copycats don't get adopted like the market leader for good reason. Why Hyundai
luxury cars don't get adopted like BMW or Benz? Same deal with Zune.
@Novak
Oh, yes, I forgot, Apple invented and was the first one out with an MP3 player... that's why they own the market now. You're right, no sense in any product ever coming out if there is already a similar product on the market.. that just does not make sense... who would do that?
@Novak
LRN2ANALOGY
Some of the earliest Lexuses(Lexi ?) were angle for angle copies of Benzes, and Lexus routinely outsells MB.
Hyundai doesn't compete with BMW due to differences in build quality and specs.
Sorry to say, but the HD has better hardware than the iPod.
jagster,
I didn't say iPod is the first mp3 player. iPod became the market leader by innovation.
Zune just follows. Someone has to be a follower and there is nothing wrong with that.
Just responding your point about why Zune won't see adoption like iPod. That's all.
remote has squircle(-ish)!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqOuIGD3Ksc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFJ-2OUnc5I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgB7ZrcnUgA
Here's some reading while your waiting on your Zune:
http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2009/09/14/from-oled-to-tegra-five-myths-of-the-zune-hd/
I have a Mac so I should want the iTouch... but I use my 360 all the time and want a ZuneHD to connect with it and the HD radio feature...But Apple says the iTouch is a 'gaming device' but I want a 'media device' so that means I should get the Zune... but I'll have to use bootcamp all the time... I hate decisions!
so..you're going to go out and buy a non-functioning device? when is software which makes the HD fully functioning going to be available?
The 5 Myths article was the absolute worst "review/myth buster" I have ever read. To start, if you're going to write something showing a products misleading marketing, than stay on that product. When ALL your myths refer to Ipod Touch, than it just reads as Fan Boy talk.
Now that a sweet gadget to have
here's my theory.
microsoft made zune a long time ago in 2000.
apple ninja's came in and stole the plans.
ipod was released
and this is the zune team getting back at them.
I know it's 1:30 in the morning. Thank you Joshua. Now about that video...
10:34 p.m. Pacific, no store update. I'd say we're not "official" yet, since the thing is pretty much a brick until you can get the software.
That said, this thing is going to be great!
The Microsoft is on the West Coast so I wouldn't even bother expecting anything before 12:00AM Pacific.
Agreed, but I figured they might have it up early since I'm sure stores on the East coast are selling it at midnight.
If my Zune 80 dies, I might have to pick one of these up.
Then I guess you'll have to wait a while.
In all seriousness though, Zune's don't have a history of breaking though. Compared to iPods (and I'm NOT trying to start a comparison war), I'm just saying I've had tons of iPods and they've all managed to commit suicide on me while I've had my Zune 30 since launch and nothing has ever gone wrong with it.
Microsoft.... it's a love/hate relationship. Damn RRoD's!
I know. My Zune 80 has survived quite a bit of abuse, and I find this really surprising, given that it is an HDD player. And I know those Zune 30's were built like tanks, too. The only thing that could hurt those players was a leap year bug, for crying out loud.
Hahaha yeah, which was surprisingly frustrating for me though. But yeah, they might be thick as hell, but they really are like tanks. I don't know why I held off on the 80 though, I've wanted one for so long. Well at least until this was announced, and I usually hate touchscreens with a passion. Damn OLED!!
I'm waiting for the, "...but guys, the "e" in marketplace is cut off. Durrr..."
I dropped my Zune 80 off the table onto a concrete last year at NVISION and it died. Was so sad, I had just got there. I got it RMA'd (easiest RMA I ever submitted) and the current one I have is kind of on it's last leg. Sometimes the touch pad becomes unresponsive so I have to wait until I get home to install games so it restarts and sometimes it loads and goes to a black screen so I have to keep restarting it and beating it until it fully boots. One of these happen at least once a month. It's a minor annoyance but I'll be glad when I get the HD next week to semi replace it and then really glad when they release a 64 GB model and retire my 80 indefinitely.
@anus1220
Maybe that's their evil pliot to force everyone to upgrade to the latest iPod, but I've seen people still running around with iPod mini.
I wonder why the quality bar of iPod is dropping that quickly in the past few years.
the 30gb i got on release day lasted a year with me and continuing on its 3rd year under my father even as a welder and mechanic. The down button on the click wheel stopped working but i replaced it with a $5 clickwheel part i found on ebay and its running like new again.
Zunes just do not fail. I've had the Zune 30 since launch and almost want it to stop working so I have a reason to buy a new one. These things are just rock solid. Aside from that minor Toshiba driver bug, I've never had my Zune crash, hang, freak out, glitch, blow up... nothing, not a single problem of any sort. How many years has it been now?
Microsoft gets a bad rap on their hardware, but if you think about it, almost all their hardware not named "XBOX 360" is rock solid and well built.
One of our zune got run over by our car, and it still working. only got a crack on the screen but it was working.
@anus1220
Well by that measure, I've had my 20GB iPod 3G for longer than the Zune brand has existed (it'll hit six years old this November.) The failure rates on iPods and Zunes are probably roughly equal, with more noticed on the iPod side due to the sheer volume moved over the past 8 years.
I'm still holding onto my Sansa E280. What a great mp3 player.
@ anus1220
Please. Don't give us that crap. I have an ipod 30Gb (5.5G) after what, 3 or 4 years, it's still going strong and I use it every single day. The only thing I've notice is that bettery life starting to get shorter.
The reason you hear more prople about Ipod crapping on them is simply because there are so many more ipods out there. What 20 millions ipod touch vs what, 100 000 zunes? There are bounds to have more ipod breaking than zunes with that number differences.
I'm not flaming here, just trying to give people perspective.
Getting a few delivered to me later, can't wait =]
A few?! Can I have the extras? Kidding, kidding. Unless you really will...
Ordering mine Thursday. Gotta love those other colours!
When do the other colors come out?
sweet might pick this up, all i want to know is if this is better than the ipod touch? because im debating rite now on what to get
Go to your favorite electronics retailer, compare, and decide. Don't listen to someone else tell you which one is better for you... this isn't something difficult to compare and contrast.
@jagster
If your advice were true in every case, then websites like Engadget wouldn't exist. Sure, it is often helpful to compare two devices in person -- to get a feel for the difference between user interfaces, for example. But retailers don't let you "test drive" an iPod Touch for days, weeks, months or more. So asking if someone, perhaps a veteran iPod Touch owner, thinks that the Zune HD will be better is a legitimate and informative question.
I would wager that most people who visit Engadget have some desire to "listen to someone else tell [them] which one is better for [them]." We don't listen blindly, and we of course factor in our own opinions, but educated reviews of technology are helpful in deciding how to spend our hard-earned pimpin' dollars, yes?
Sexy. Still waiting for my paycheck.
I bet Zune Guy is wishing he didn't have his tattoo covered-over after seeing comments like this. Too soon, Zune Guy! Should've had more faith in your ink!
Beautiful. As long as touch controls are easy and intuitive to use, it looks like I have found my next PMP for use on the motorcycle!
please don't.
@stripenyu
Some people focus better when there's music in the background, I do on my motorcyle or bike. Just don't use death metal or Linkin Park etc while riding LOL!
@stripenyu and +rankers...
You wouldn't understand, you are the dumbasses in your cage that pulls out in front of me all the time... It is you, not I that needs to stop screwing with their radio/makeup/cellphone and pay attention.
Finally a good photo of the Zune HD for an article...
Hello from seattle? Do they all say that?
Yes.