So I saw the Zune on Engadget, and it is FAAAAT.

A simple brushed aluminum ring around the girth of the body, and a bit more rounding/tapering at the edges, would do a lot to visually 'slim' the device. Right now, it looks like a cheap plastic snap-together, and if that look is typical of the final production models, the market will downgrade it accordingly.

I once read, somewhere, that Apple's strength in the iPod line was making a useful device that is simple to operate and has a well-made look and feel. If Microsoft cannot capture that effect, a 3" screen isn't going to tip the scales.

Another bloated product from Microsoft... (it had to be said)

So the 30GB iPod is an ounce lighter and substantially thinner. Many people would agree that it looks better, although looks are subjective and I'm sure the Zune is making someone drool (I'm thinking bricklayers in particular). A larger screen shouldn't make the device thicker - it suggests a lack of attention to detail when making the device, and not obtaining the optimum packing possible.

The wireless is near-useless. A total gimmick. You can't even sync with it (currently) and this is the most obvious use (Zune in dock attached to hifi syncing with computer in another room). The music lending/previewing is a joke, even if there were lots of people with Zunes around. Not to mention that you can use a Zune to find other Zunes in the area, handy if you're a pickpocket or mugger.

I hope Microsoft saved money on the design of this thing, if they're going to leverage their monopoly in the software arena to muscle in on the portable music arena by selling the Zune at a loss. It would be really nice to have a product that was better than the iPod on the market, to drive competition, but this isn't it.

I still don't know why Sony doesn't make a portable video player utilising the PSP hardware (the screen in particular) and an internal hard drive instead of the UMD POS. If it was sexy, it would sell, despite Sony's awful reputation in the online community.

ZUNE IS HUGE LOL!

well, someone had to say it.

I am not interested in ANY other portable media player until there is an interface box for my car stereo that I can control it from the actual head unit and not use some stupid aux input with RCA's or whatever just plugged into the headphone jack on the device. Once theres something like that, I'll be interested. Till then, iPod for me.

Although I believe zune will capture a small marketshare it don't believe it will make any real impact on ipod sales. For something to beat the ipod it needs to be alot better. The screen and wifi is great for zune but are by no means a killer app. Apple still has it beat for capacity, form factor, interface, software, and aftermarket support.

IMHO zune needed:
-lower price (something MS can easily afford)
-higher res screen (too low for quality video)
-better battery life (big screens and video decoding takes power)
-bluetooth headphone and synch capability instead of wifi sharing
-at least equal capacities with ipod

Size is the biggest criteria for me. Making it bigger because of the screen being bigger is somewhat OK, but since the # of pixels is the same the increase in screen size isn't that great an advantage.

It is just too fat... I don't want that thing in my pocket. Then again, I am not looking to watch videos, but rather just listen to music.

For me, the only considerable advantage is that it plays wmv files in addition to mp3 and aac. It sucks that it doesn't support Ogg Vorbis (no surprise there though...)

Those photos need TR Melamine lovin'.

Tepid.

I am half of the demographic that this is aimed at, I think; but I can not generate any enthusiasm for Zune. It looks OK. "OK" is not the reaction that MSFT needs to be generating, they need WOW OMFGBBQ!!1 or something a lot stronger.