Zune HD 32 GB Video MP3 Player (Platinum)

I remember second-guessing my decision to buy the Zune the instant I opened the package...why was I buying this Microsoft media player when everyone I knew had an iPod? I myself own a 2nd generation nano and a first generation shuffle, I love the iTunes store (even if the software is too bloated and slow now), and I like the idea of being able to install thousands of apps on a device I own.

I realized I had bought the device simply for its visual appeal - the player is sleek and minimalistic (with an air of masculinity) and the navigation is nothing short of stunning. I've played with the device for countless hours and still I'm captivated by how beautiful the user interface is. I have appreciated Apple's functional and organized approach to their devices and it always seemed years beyond any mp3 player I tried from Sony, Samsung, Creative and others. While I won't declare Zune's navigation 'better' than the iPod's, I will say it is a pleasant surprise. I feel like I'm looking at a work of art whenever i glance at the player...It is very well thought out and incredibly well executed. It is not just pretty, it is fast, functional and very responsive.

However, I started having second thoughts after installing the Zune software...it wasn't iTunes and I was startled by the minimalist appearance of the store. I wanted more featured artists, more sales, more suggestions. After suffering one day of iTunes withdrawal I started seeing the zune marketplace for what it is....a music lover's paradise. I had never considered a music subscription service before, but once I signed up for the Zune pass I didn't know why I hadn't done it sooner. I love to listen to new kinds of music and often buy cd's on a whim - sometimes the album turned out to be a goldmine and other times it was a dissapointment, but now I could spend the equivalent of 1 cd to get as many songs as I wanted and I wanted a lot (I filled up 8 GBs in the first 2 days). I just shell out $15, d/l as many songs as I want and choose 10 songs to own - sounds pretty sweet. Now I use iTunes as a resource like imeem or Pandora to hear about new artists/songs and get them from Zune. While the Zune marketplace isn't as great as iTunes, it still has a lot of content and will eventually get better (starting with the abolishment of the point system).

The true magic happens after the player is loaded with songs. I have never heard a better sounding device in my life - I don't know if it is the hardware or the headphones, but the sound quality has never been richer. And tht was it...I was in love!

I have sacrificed apps for longer battery life, a big screen for portability, safety for a beautiful risk, and $15 for sonic nirvana and couldn't be happier.Get more detail about Zune HD 32 GB Video MP3 Player (Platinum).