Zune 2: Reviews are coming in, the iPod may have some competition

Posted November 13, 2007 at 12:52 AM by Robert Nelson

Section: Audio, Portable Audio, Portable Video

The launch of the Zune 2 is now less than a day away and we are starting to see quite a few reviews coming in from those lucky enough to have gotten test units. Beginning tomorrow the Zune 4, Zune 8 and the Zune 80, along with the Zune Marketplace update will be readily available.

The original Zune received more than its fair share of critisism and quickly took second place to the iPod, but the new lineup may just shake things up a little bit. According to a PC Mag reviewer; “We’ll just come out and say it: The 80GB Zune trumps the iPod Classic.“

Forget all that. Leave the past in the past, because the new players and updated Zune Marketplace are worthy competitors to Apple’s dominant iPod and iTunes combo (and even best the Apple offerings in many ways).

Statements like that really make me rethink the Zune, which is not bad considering I am a dedicated Mac and iPod user. Overall the Zune 8 and 80 were praised for easy navigation, excellent graphics, wireless PC sync, customizable rear panel, wireless file sharing and a navigation pad that works well. However it seems a lot of the praise led back to the “vastly improved” Zune Marketplace, which I suppose is the key to a successful portable player. One drawback that was mentioned with the new Marketplace was in regards to the limited video selection, which can (and most likely) will be improved with time. It seems that the iPod and iTunes may have some competition.

Read [PCMag.com]