any zune owners

[Tiggeroo]

are you happy with this? Does it matter what generation you have?

 

[FayeW]

I bought 30gb Zunes for my husband, daughter and son last Christmas and they all love them! My husband uses his alot, particularily to watch movies during his commute to and from work. The video is excellent. He loves that it he has an option to listen to the radio ( I don't think Ipods have a radio transmitter).

 

[Tiggeroo]

I just bought my son the 30gb video. I got a very good deal. I was worried because it is the older edition but from what I can see you just need to update the software. My son travels and will love to watch movies. He also likes their download service with a flat monthly fee.

 

[bicker]

All three generations of Zune, so far, all run the same software, and all have the same connections. It is a great device. It's subscription service, "Zune Pass", which Tiggeroo alluded to, is fantastic: $15 per month for unlimited music, that you can carry with you on your portable device. I believe the subscription model ($15 per month for unlimited music) is offered only by Rhapsody and Zune Marketplace. It is a very significant competitive advantage that Rhapsody-compatible devices and Zunes have over all other MP3 players.

This was discussed in another thread a few days ago, and at that time, I checked (because I was curious) what we've gotten from the subscription service, so far... My wife and I have downloaded a total of 3,670 tracks from Zune Marketplace, via the subscription service, since we started using it earlier this year. We probably don't listen to all of those songs every month, but my wife has logged 19,974 plays, and I have logged 7,010 plays, since we've started the subscription service. I know I've gone from listening to practically no music, to carrying my Zune with me practically all the time, and enjoying it greatly. The impact of the subscription service is most noticeable in that we're listening, now, primarily to artists we recently discovered, rather than, as was our tendency before, just the same old artists that we've been listening to for decades. I cannot say enough good things about subscription music.

However, one thing that recently changed may push you towards Zune instead of Rhapsody: Now, for the same $15 per month, you not only get the unlimited music subscription service, but you also get to choose 10 tracks each month for which you can download DRM-free MP3s -- i.e., these are tracks you can keep forever, even after your subscription lapses. If you figure you're buying 10 tracks a month already, at $1 a piece, that means the unlimited music subscription service is only costing $5 per month. A very good deal.

 

[bicker]

The 30GB is the oldest generation, I believe; note that it actually has a feature the later generations do not have, an equalizer.

 

[stinkerbelle7531]

I love my zune. After my first was stolen, I bought a refurbished (30gb) off of ebay.

 

[Laura]

I have the first-gen 30GB Zune. I love it. It has wireless capability, and one nice feature is that when I'm listening to a song on the radio with the Zune, I can just push a button and either download it then and there if I have wi-fi access or put it in a "cart" to get later.

 

[bicker]

I forgot about that feature: The Zune has FM radio, and with many radio stations it presents song titles and artists (and the ability to put the song in your cart or download immediately, as Laura mentioned).

 

[Tuffcookie]

Okay, bear with me, I'm technically challenged! ...My son tells me his dad is getting him a Zune MP3 player for Christmas. Is this something he will be able to use without a subscription? I hate to think I will be stuck with another monthly bill in order for him to continue to use it.

He previously had an Apple Nanno I-Pod and I paid per song for him to use.

TC

 

[Laura]

Okay, bear with me, I'm technically challenged! ...My son tells me his dad is getting him a Zune MP3 player for Christmas. Is this something he will be able to use without a subscription? I hate to think I will be stuck with another monthly bill in order for him to continue to use it.

He previously had an Apple Nanno I-Pod and I paid per song for him to use.

TC

No subscription required, it's totally optional. I haven't used one. You can put your own CDs on the Zune or buy songs online.

 

[bicker]

Yup, you can use the Zune with any MP3. The subscription is over-and-on-top of that, if you choose. It is totally optional (but very tempting!)

 

[Tuffcookie]

Thanks, that's good to know!

TC

 

[JCJRSmith]

I have a 30GB Black Zune that I have had for over a year and a half. I use it every day - right now I am listening to "Close to the Edge" by Yes from the Yessongs album. My wife got me a 120GB Zune for Christmas - good thing as I am out of space on this one.

I like the fact that even my first generation Zune has the features the newest ones have. Every time Microsoft has offered a firmware update for the Zune to add new features, it has gone flawlessly.

My 10 year old daughter has a 30 GB Zune we got her for Christmas last year. She loves it and uses hers every day too.

BTW - best software I have found for converting your DVD's so you can load them on your Zune is DVDFab (www.dvdfab.com).