After using the Zune for several weeks and delving into the Zune software, the Zune Marketplace, and the Zune community, we realized that the Zune was created by music lovers for music lovers.  iPods and other MP3 players are for people who just want to listen to music. If, however, you love music, you want to experience new music, and you want to get the scoop behind the music, the Zune is the perfect player for you.

The Zune, however, doesn’t let down people who like to listen to the spoken word.  It can also be used for podcasts, audio books, and FM radio.  There is even support for games.

Both the Zune hardware and the software are excellent. We loved the scratch-resistant glass-covered LCD, the Wi-Fi capabilities, the easy navigation and the friendly interface. All in all, the Zune is a fully capable music player with a wealth of unique and useful features.

Pros:

• Large fonts on the main menu
• Wireless syncing
• Excellent FM Radio
• Great software
• Glass screen
• Great controls
• Intuitive interface
• Supports a wide variety of audio and video formats with automatic transcoding

Cons:

• Hard ear buds
• Battery not user replaceable.
• Lack of accessories compared to the iPod
• No EQ
• No video out support