I didn't get home until late last night so I am writing two articles tonight. Even though I am home even later than I was last night.
Yesterday while I was at Target and Best Buy I had a chance to look at the new Microsoft Zune MP3 player. I was not impressed. As I played with the device I had to wonder if I was even supposed to be impressed. I mean it comes in three colors – white, black and brown. No electronic device has come in brown since the 70s and that was because the 60s used up all of the colored inks and everything in the 70s had to be brown.
I am not a huge fan of the iPod, but at least it's elegant. The Zune is a nogahide (fake vinyl leather that they make couches and coats out of) iPod. It tried to be sleek and elegant but it comes out looking like the fancy Kia next to a Mercedes.
The screen is nice. The buttons and functionality are easy to use, but there is nothing about it that makes you feel good when you use it. There is no shiny chrome trim, no touch screen, and no hidden features.
There are three cool features to the Zune – but none of them are really selling points.
1. It has a built-in FM radio – something that lots of MP3 players have, but the iPod does not.
2. It has a built-in FM transmitter – this means all you need is an FM stereo in your car to listen to the Tunes on your Zune.
3. (This is cool) There is a magnet in the headphones. The headphones are loose ear bud style – a style that typically gets tangled easily. The Zune's headphones can still get tangled, but at least they will get tangled together.
