NOTICE: This entry was written for the Zune30, Some problems have been addressed on the Zune80, see changes on parenthesis.
After at least 2 months of playing and owning a Zune these are my gripes and praises for the device:
PROS:
- Bright and large 3" LCD screen, Even Larger on Zune80!
- Clear Radio with RDBS
- Interface is easy to master and is actually more efficient to use.
- Form Factor and construction - It is very sturdy, and does not attract scratches so no need to buy those silicon covers! It also looks good too! (sans the sweat of my palms)
- Wallpaper customization and image zoom mode.
- Magnetic buds for Zune30. The R and L magnet in the earphones help you know where to put the right bud in which ear, even in the dark. (the R is the embossed one)
- Zune pouch that was included. It cleans and keeps your zune protected.
- Supports Podcasts
CONS:
Zune Software...It just lacks something....a lot of things actually...(seems okay now)Useless WiFi(wireless synching is now enabled)- 3 days or 3 plays crap (removed 3-days restriction)
Album art is low-res (only 250x250 I think)(zune software update fixed this)- Can't be used as a HDD drive, even with patch! have to press sync and upload your data at once for it to be stored
- Video format could've been more!!! (Xvid, Divx codes should have made it!)
- Dust seems to accumulate in the small slits around the device.
Battery seems to lose power quickly even on standy-by (is this only happening to me?)(fixed with firmware update)
As you mave have noticed...It seems that I have listed more cons than pros for the Zune. It does have it shortcoming as a first-generation device. Most of them I already knew even before buying the device so it's actually tolerable and my fault :) Zune is only less than 3 months old, and with a very late headstart to the market leader, what they have come up was actually a pretty good device, except for some nuances that could've been fixed before it was officially released.
I am hoping that for future firmware and software updates...The following could be addressed (Ranked in terms of importance)
- Hard disk drive support - We need this.
- More video codecs please..Xvid, DivX and if possible, MOV
High resolution album art support(already did)- Some cool Wifi features other than synching
- (any other..? )
What are your complaints on the Zune as a user? and suggestions on future fixes and features?
