Editorial Review
Music and entertainment, your way. That's what the Zune 8 GB Digital Media Player is designed to deliver. The Zune easily connects you with your music, videos, and pictures wherever and whenever you want, and unlike the iPod, it even has a built-in FM tuner so you can keep up with local news and sports. Your Zune gives you the power to wirelessly share full-length tracks, playlists, pictures and podcasts with your other Zune-wielding friends, and it is available in four bold colors. And when you receive songs that you just can't get out of your head, you can easily tag the songs and buy them the next time you sync up. Whether you're listening to music, radio, or rocking out to the latest music videos on the bright, roomy screen, the Zune allows you to tailor your entertainment, right in the palm of your hand. Watch a demo on Zune.
The Zune easily connects you with your music, videos, and pictures wherever and whenever you want, and it is available in four bold colors. |
Share full-length tracks of your favorite songs, albums, playlists, pictures, and even audio podcasts with other Zune users. (Red Zune shown here with Dock Pack v2 with remote, sold separately.) |
Store up to 2,000 songs, 25,000 pictures, or 25 hours of video. |
Get all your favorite music at the Zune Marketplace. |
Simple, Innovative Controls The Zune is a breeze to use with new, intuitive touch controls. Don't subject yourself to cumbersome, slow scrolling. The innovative new Zune pad makes browsing your music, video and picture collections fun and effortless. You'll fly through your favorites and get to just what you're looking for in no time flat. This powerhouse device stores up to 2,000 songs, 25,000 pictures, or 25 hours of video. (Please note that music estimates are based on 128 kbps WMA files, with length of 4 minutes each; pictures transferred to Zune will be optimized for Zune screen size; and video estimates are based on 500 kbps WMV files with 128 kbps WMA audio tracks.)
That's a lot of entertainment, and you'll appreciate it even more with the Zune's awesome screen. The super-slim, ultra-portable Zune sports a durable, 1.8-inch color screen that provides uncompromising portable video viewing. This Zune also comes equipped with headphones and three pairs of foam headphones covers. Your favorite music, videos, and pictures have never looked and sounded better.
FM Radio
The Zune also features a built-in FM radio tuner so that you can listen to local FM stations or tune-in programming while you're at the gym. Advanced tuning capabilities allow you to see the name of the song that's currently playing on select frequencies.
Wireless Sync
We're all exhausted by the cables and wires that tangle up our lives. Luckily, the Zune is one device that doesn't require another cord. You can easily connect to your home wireless network and sync your Zune with your PC collection of digital goodies. You can also sync using the dock, AC adapter, or speaker dock accessory (not included).
The Zune Community and Marketplace
Zune is all about sharing and community. At the Zune Online Community, you'll discover, share, and leave your musical mark. Create a Zune card and Zune profile page to reflect your musical identity. From the Zune Online Community, you can invite friends, share song recommendations, post comments, and browse member pages to unearth new tunes and connect to others who share your musical tastes.
When you're ready to purchase music and load your device with new tunes, turn to Zune Marketplace. With more than 3 million songs, DRM-free MP3s, music videos, audio/video podcasts, and more content added every day, you'll certainly get your fill. The store is always open and just a mouse click away. You also can choose between the download or subscription packages--buy individual songs and albums, or snag a Zune Pass subscription with all you can eat access to discover and explore the nooks and crannies of artists and genres.
Zune-to-Zune Sharing
Once your Zune is loaded with good stuff, you'll be ready to embrace wireless Zune-to-Zune sharing. Share full-length tracks of your favorite songs, albums, playlists, pictures, and even audio podcasts. You can listen to the full track of any song you receive up to three times, and you can even pass along songs that are shared with you to other friends. If you find a song you really love, you can easily add it to your wishlist and buy it later when you sync to your PC. When it comes to syncing and importing your music, the Zune makes it easy. Zune software can automatically import your existing music, pictures, and videos from iTunes and Windows Media Player in a variety of formats, including your existing playlists and song ratings.
Recorded TV or Movies to Go
The Zune will also automatically import TV shows or movies recorded using a PC running Windows Media Center in Windows Vista. Record all your favorites, sync to your Zune, and hit the road with your favorite TV shows right in your pocket.
Your Games. Your Music. Your Way.
Another awesome feature is the Zune's compatibility with the Xbox 360. Plug your Zune into your Xbox 360 to customize the soundtrack in supported games. You also can stream music, pictures, and videos from the Zune software on your PC to your Xbox 360 console using a wireless connection. Whether you're staying in or going out, travelling or working, the Zune can be right there with you, providing loads of entertainment direct from your pocket.
What's in the Box
Zune 8 GB Digital Media Player, headphones, sync cable, and three pairs of foam headphone covers.
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Customer Reviews
Very Happy - and a Built-In FM Tuner! 
2008-07-16
I'm very happy with my 8GB Zune. The fact that it has a built-in FM tuner gives it a big edge over the Nano, which requires an extra add-on piece of hardware for FM. The FM tuner is excellent and gives the station genre, song name, and artist name. My daughter has a 4GB Nano and she's jealous because I got my 8GB Zune for less money and it does more.
no zune for me 
2008-07-14
the zune looked to be just what i wanted. but it was not, to use the zune you must have an internet connection. to use the zune you need to load software from the internet on to your computer, you can not put it on a flash dive then load it and i have no wireless lapton. so i returned my zune.
Better than an IPOD 2008-07-13
For a long time I waited for a product that I could say was worth using and finaly the ZUNE came out wow great product
Zune 2008-07-10
I think the zune is best media player and best the ipod by 3 to 1. I know that the Iphone came out and everyone wants one but they cost money around $599.oo with no deal with deal $299.00 from at&t. Zune 3 is on the way out in 2009. The zune makes its easy to buy songs not $0.99 you pay $14.99 monthy or $44.99 every 3 months and with that you get all the music and podcast you want. The videos cost around $1.50, but if you are Driving who needs videos. I got the 30gb model and planning to by the zune 3.
Cool as an iPod? No way. More loved? Yes! 2008-07-10
We have 4 in our family (myself, my wife and 2 kids). Over the years we've had several iPods and recently we have a mix of Zunes and iPods.
IPods are great. My wife has an iPod Touch and we've had several previous iPods over the years. However, our Zunes get far more use than the iPods these days.
Here's why:
1) Subscription Service - Microsoft's all you can eat subscription service costs about $16/month. It supports up to three devices. That covers, me and my kids (my wife insists on using only her iPod). The kids and I get gobs a new music as it comes out.
2) Easier to use software - Surprisingly, the Zune software is easier to use than iTunes. Hard to believe, but my wife has no end of problems syncing her iPod and finding stuff she wants to download. My kids (11 and 7) don't have this problem with the Zune software.
3) It works with Tivo2Go. If you have a Series 2 or 3 Tivo connected to a home network you can download TV shows to the Zune. Yes, this is also true for the iPod, but it works very will with the Zune too. My kids have been watching old movies (The Adventures of Robin Hood w/Errol Flynn and Captains Courageous w/Spencer Tracy are their favorites from the TiVo - not to mention Mythbusters).
4) Microsoft has good customer service with the Zunes. I had a HD version die and they replaced it promptly after providing proof of purchase. The warranty is for 1 year I believe.
The big wins at our house is the subscription service. Lot's of great choices (including currently released albums) for 3 devices for about the price of one CD a month. That's hard to bet and makes us very happy.
This particular Zune model is especially nice. It's nice and small, but with the same interface as the large Zunes. Movies play very well on this device. The battery life seems quite a bit better than the HD Zune I have, especially when playing movies. Hopefully it will be a bit more robust than the HD media players. I had problems with both iPod and Zune HD units dying (or is it wearing out). I'm very happy to make the transition to solid state storage with this unit. 8G seems reasonably large for my needs - I don't really need to store my entire music collection on my media player. I currently have 4 full length movies, about 30 albums and several Zune recommended playlists with room to spare.
Granted it's not a iPod Touch, but to be frank, all my wife does is fiddle with her iPod Touch. She doesn't really use it to watch video's or listen to music. I think the iPod Touch is really targeted to folks with a short attention span -folks who'd rather be reading their email or browsing the web than enjoying good music or a classic movie.
This Zune might not be as cool as an iPod Touch (or an iPhone for that matter). But it's an excellent media player with a great subscription service. That makes the Zunes far more used in our house than our iPods.
So don't let your smug iPod owning friends tell you their iPods are better. Just smile and enjoy all of the new music you've downloaded legally for a pittance.
Zune 8GB Digital Media Player 2008-07-23
I love this Zune!!! Bought this for a technically challenged person and loved the ease of use. I know it won't be shoved in a drawer somewhere and not used.
Excellent 2008-07-21
Great for road trips and passing the time The Zune does everything very well and I have no problem managing all the songs via the Zune Application.
I recommend this over and Ipoo in terms of reliability and less likely to be stolen.
Good but lacking 
2008-07-21
I was fortunate enough to win the 8gb Zune from Pepsi Stuff. I have owned it for about three months and enjoy the concept of an MP3 player. However, this one has some issues that would not have me buy another Zune (or replace it with this brand when/if mine fails).
The Zune software does not offer track leveling (setting a consistant volume for your music) unless you go through their marketplace (a way to purchase music). Therefore a third party software like media monkey or mp3gain must be used.
The Zune software assignment of album art is bad. It assumes that the customer has one folder for each album in their collection. If you don't (like one folder of singles) the program adds an album art file to the folder and assigns it to every song that doesn't have the album art embedded in the mp3 tag. If you digitized your cassettes and LPs (as I have) this creates album art being assigned incorrectly. Using a third party program like media monkey allowed me to correct this issue easily. However, why do I continually have to use third party software?
Songs must be added to your Zune through the Zune software. However, if you move your music files and fail to correct the location in you zune software BEFORE connecting your portable device, the program removes the songs from your Zune requiring you to reload the music.
I also discovered that the Zune software fails to import any MP3 files using a variable bit rate (vs constant bit rate). Therefore, in order to load any songs having a VBR you have to re-encode them to a constant bit rate.
The case I purchased for the Zune required modification to allow the connectors from different brand headphones to properly seat. In my case, in order to use my Bose headsets, I had to cut a larger opening in the case to make a good connection to the Zune when it was in the case. A bad design.
One positive note in winning this device, I discovered Amazon.com MP3 downloads. That is a great service (but the search engine could be improved).
Again, overall I enjoy having an MP3 player. However, I would not purchase this one for a gift or to replace mine when it breaks. Microsoft has enough problems with it's software and should probably stay out of the hardware market.
Menu more navigational then IPOD 2008-07-18
I would definitly say yes, of course most of have owned multiple ipods in the past and i'm in that group as well. I just bought my gf an 8gb ipod nano and i was tempted to buy one as well, but i wanted to give the zune a try.
I'm glad i did, the best thing about this is the navigational menu on the zune, i thouht the ipod was easy..this is just simpler and cleaner and easier to use interface. There is clicking but not as much and hardly any scrolling involved navigation. The zune is lightweight, wireless which is pretty amazing and the screen looks so much better on this then the newest nano. Microsoft did an excellent job with this MP3 player.
Plus i love having the FM tuner, seems like a little deal but it sure is nice to have when you just want to listen to something different, sound is excellent on the device and the packaging it came in was quite a surprise. Very applesque like, and the best thing is that it's cheaper then the 8 gig nano.
Give this MP3 player a try and i'm sure you won't be dissapointed. It's and excellent alternative to the ipod.
why? 2008-07-17
who in the world would buy the zune when you could buy an ipod??? Makes no sense
