I love my ipod...and I sort of disagree. I played with the Zune at Target. I agree, the brown is pretty s****y, but I like:

1) Menu structure 2) The display (bigger, a little sharper) 3) Control responsiveness

Overall, this is not a bad product (it is not too big!), and hopefully will inspire the ipod to add some new innovations, such as (but not limited to):

1) Wireless-listening to someone else's ipod but not downloading songs--sort of like broadcasting/transmitting

2) bigger screen (truly cinema aspect ratio)

3) Radio (FM or sattelite).

Remember, the company's that do not have competition tend to stagnate.

Just my too sense (sic.)

why is everyone so h*** bent on having a useless RF radio when more than half of the owners of FM-enabled MP3 players NEVER use that feature? The whole reason *I* bought an iPod was to *escape* the trite offerings of radio in favor of music and artists I actually like and wish to support. Stop trying to muck up my MP3 player, if you want FM go buy a Nokia phone - they all seem to come with them, bluetooth, and a camera. Happy now? A cell phone that plays FM radio, just as useless as an iPod that does the same thing.

I doubt Bill Gates truly gives a s*** about Apple's ads. I mean, come on, what's to really worry about when you're the richest man in America? Let's put that into perspective. You're doing good if you make $75,000/year. At that salary, who thinks about buying a 50 cent newspaper? For Gates, the same relative amount is $333,000. My guess is he doesn't grit his teeth all that much.

1) I would like to listen to NPR or the news on the train (podcasts don't cut it)

2) 50% don't use it, but 50% do.

I have the little FM adaptor for the ipod--interface is nice BUT it causes odd reboots and adds about 2.5 feet to headphones. Plus it goes in the dock connector, so you can't charge and listen to radio.

I am always curious why so many people need to vent agrily at others opinions.

Gorloth - yes, your Zune will stop working, until they release the Zune patch in January!

(Someone gets a Zune and a new PC for Christmas, they won't be able to use them together. Amazing but true - and what does that tell you?)

I like to listen to NPR or Air America. Plus occasionally there ARE radio stations worth listening to. There is a funk/R+B format in some cities, I think they call it MEGA, it's really good if you like that music. Imagine hearing Bootsy Collins and Parliament/Funkadelic on your FM while you're working out hard! Now that's what I'm talking about. There's also a dance music format out there I like. Some people like to listen to Tom Leykis, or you might want to hear the traffic report before you get back to your car.

So stopping harshing on us who want a radio receiver on our iPod!

test Zune:

After a few times going down the wrong set of menus, my son took it from me and after working it for about a minute and finally getting it to shuffle all songs, he put it down and said, "Wow, that really sucks."

ROTFLMAO! didn't it occur to MS to do some hands-on testing with their target audience? They might have found this out. And let me be the millionth person to say, "BROWN????" Good lord... I try not to be a knee-jerk MS basher but they make it all too easy when they do s*** like this.

but rather a criminal organization, convicted felon, saboteur and bully.

...they will keep the Zune on the market and if necessary pay people to have them. The dumb anti-Appleheads (who already bought one this week, watch sales slide next week even further) will have them and people who don't know better will buy them and it will grind on. Not that long ago we were saying 'wow, this DOS stuff is really rubbish. How can anyone think of using anything but a Mac?'. The difference was the price but MS used that as leverage, it wasn't the only reason.

If MS decide to leverage this, Zune will get a bit of market share and Zune 2 might actually work a bit. It's going to be like Windows again - against all logic, they will get users.

But this time, it really is unthinkable they will get majority share.

I want an Apple PDA, anyway. come on Steve...

...woulda been a good name.

or LouzerPod even better.

well, ibugv4,

Unless Apple requires you to use FM with your iPod I don't understand wtf is wrong with having FM on your iPod. You don't have to use it but like dynsight and I have been saying, many people would. Probably more people would use it than they realize.

I've stopped taking my iPod to the gym because I can't use FM to get the tv station while on the cardio. I'm certainly not going to be watching videos. I just need something to play my music and get FM. Currently, I'm using the W810i for all of that plus having a phone at hand (great phone btw).

I still love my iPods (I have 3) but there is always room for improvement. The Zune may suck but it's the 2nd and 3rd generation that will be better. Hopefully, Apple keeps innovating.

The scroll WHEEL on the Zune DOES NOT TURN. Isn't that MS design in a nutshell? I can't get past that. They imitated the look, but not the function...

Hey, if the iPod could create a "halo effect" for Apple, maybe the Zune could create the "pitchfork effect" and lower sales of PCs. Let us pray.