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Microsoft Zune 8GB Red

75

Good

Avg User Rating
1 User Review | add yours »

Pros
Wireless syncing
Intuitive controls and interface
Cons
A bit bulky

$98.97 - $177.17
From 14 Merchants

Pricing: Average: $180 (9/9/2008)
Performance: Good: 73
Features: Fair: 63
Design: Very Good: 82

Find out how these four scores, and their relative weights, combine to produce the PC World Rating.

Pricing

Average: $180

Performance

Good: 73

PC World Tests
Maximum Usable Output Level, Average (dBV)	-4.6
Total Harmonic Distortion and Noise, Average (%)	0.13
Signal-to-Noise Ratio, Average (dB)	80
Crosstalk, Average (dB)	-44
Frequency Response Deviation, Average (dB)	3.1

Features

Fair: 63

Capacity
Built-in Capacity	8GB
SD card	No
mini SD	No
micro SD	No
Memory Stick Micro	No
Compact Flash	No
Smart Media	No
xD Picture Card	No
Memory Stick	No

Battery
Replaceable Battery	No
Hours of Play (Per vendor)	24

Screen
Screen Size (inches)	1.8
Screen Resolution	320 by 240
ScreenType	Color

Size
Dimensions (inches)	1.6 by 0.3 by 3.6
Weight (oz.)	1.7

Connections
Line Out	No
Firewire	No
Headphone output	Yes
Microphone input	No
USB	Yes
Video Output	No
USB Host Adapter	No

Audio Formats
AAC	Yes
AIFF	No
Apple Lossless	No
ASF	No
Audible	No
FLAC	No
MP3	Yes
MPEG4	Yes
OGG	No
WAV	No
WMA	Yes
WMA Lossless	Yes
Voice Recording	Voice Recorder:No

Radio
FM tuner	No
FM Recording	No

Online Music Compatibility
Itunes	No
Rhapsody	No
Napster	No
Sony	No
Yahoo	No
Other	Zune Marketplace

Online Subscription Compatibility
Plays For Sure	No
Other	Zune Marketplace

Video Formats
Video Support	Video:Yes
H 264	Yes
MPEG4	Yes
MPEG2	No
MPEG1	No
DivX4	No
DivX5	No
WMV	Yes
Motion JPEG	No
XviD	No
Other	DVR-MS

Photo Formats
JPG	Yes
BMP	No
PNG	No
GIF	No

Hardware List
USB cable	Yes
Firewire cable	No
Dock	No
AC Adapter	No
Case	No
Remote Control	No

Other
Included Hardware	AC Adapter, dock, case and remote control all sold seperately.
Included Software	Zune software

Warranty & Support
Labor Warranty (years)	One
Parts Warranty (years)	One
Weekday Support (hours)	16
Saturday Support (hours)	16
Sunday Support (hours)	16
Toll-Free Support	Yes

Reliability & Service
Summary of results for all of brand's products in this category	Microsoft's tepidly received Zune music player debuted in our Reliability and Service survey, receiving middle-of-the-road ratings in every MP3 category. An iPod killer? Probably not.

Reliability of brand's products in this category
Reports of product arriving with problems	Average
Reports of products with any significant problems	Average
Reports of problems that render a product unusable	Average
Buyers' rating of product's	Average
Overall satisfaction with reliability of brand's products in category	Average

Design

Very Good: 82

Microsoft Zune 8GB (Red) Review

by Eric Dahl, PC World

- Is full wireless syncing support appropriate for a flash-based player? Microsoft's $199 8GB Zune certainly ships with a raft of features, but unless you need a light player with wireless functions, you'll probably be able to find better values elsewhere.

Read Complete Review »

User Reviews for Microsoft Zune 8GB Red

Reviewed by: AlexanderAkulick

Duration of ownership:

Strengths: Mineral glass LCD cover, beautiful red finish, touch pad and click controls, easy interface, loaded with custom settings and menu features, very thin and light, FM radio with digital information

Weaknesses: Supplied earphones are a little too large for my ears. Doesn't come with a protective leather case.

Overall Evaluation: The 8 GB. offers great sound whether using the FM radio or the the other media formats. MP3s, WMAs, CDs, or purchased media, are simple to install using the software interface - and the conversion and sync to the player keeps storage use way down without compromising sound quality. I purchased Sennheiser PXC250 headphones and overcame the poor fit of the factory supplied earplugs - but even the earplugs offered great sound reproduction. Stereo separation using either the radio or media formats is remarkably excellent using whatever stereo headphones you connect. Treble and Bass response is also high to very good. You won't be hearing any distortion from the Zune so long as the media was good to begin with - and the FM radio is a strong one offering 20 pre-sets and a very easy and fast station search feature. That radio also formats for European and Japanese stations if travel is in your schedule. Operation of the Zune is flawless, and you get updates to improve the firmware with each new advancement. Just connect the Zune to your computer, the software program will open, and you can install the latest firmware when prompted. One thing to note is the software doesn't install to Windows XP Professional X64, and there are two different versions for the X64 (64-bit) and X86 (32-bit) Operating Systems that are supported. I use my Zune with Vista Ultimate X64 and XP Professional 32-bit with zero problems. The 8 GB. size also offers enough storage to prevent the need for frequent changes to the stored music. The small physical size of the 8 GB. Zune makes it an ideal companion while working or working out. I keep mine protected in the belt case that came with the Sennheisers I purchased, while the Zune isn't in use. You will want a protective case of some type to protect the Zune - although it has survived several drops in my use without protection and has sustained no damage. Still, I might have just been lucky. The battery life is also excellent. The FM radio is the largest power hog of the features and even it will play all day long before needing a battery recharge. I typically use my Zune 2-3 days before it needs a recharge. The video screen also consumes some power, but the Zune will play a four hour video from a fully charged state to a full discharge and the settings features can lower the amount of time it stays on when not watching a video. Hold onto you hat. The wi-fi will blow you away! I have my Zune paired with my Linksys WRT350N router with my computers and it works like a champ using the latest security protocols (your computer actually sets this up while you use the USB charging/data cord). No it's not wireless-N, but it is wireless-B and G. That also allows you to sync your Zune with the Zune of another - and transfer media back and forth. If you were expecting anything cheap about the appearance of the 8 GB. Zune, forget it. This is one solid little candy bar you'll really enjoy at 1.7 ounces. Also, consider the Zune to be "feature rich" as it definitely is. The only exception to the quality found here might be the factory earpieces - but they are easily replaced! I already hear an echo in the back of my head - "iPod who?".