Anyone have a Zune?

[dja2k]

I just got a Zune for $99. I hate the damn software though, but anyways besides the point. I am not about to create a Zune account and have Microsoft track my usage and also pay $14.99 a month. Does anyone know if Zune Reator (http://www.zreactor.com/) a legal, a good deal, and does it work? Do you know of any other alternatives?

dja2k

[jrmhng]

I hear the software is an improvement from the first generation though. Is the Zune any good? I might get one this towards the end of the year...just dont like ipods.

[wilbertnl]

Let me suggest Cowon (http://cowonamerica.com/). Excellent codec support and my X5 player has no DRM limits.

[dja2k]

Well for 30 GB and at $99 shipped, I was tempted besides its really a Toshiba designed by Microsoft. Its small for the pocket and has a nice 3" screen. I wasn't about to pay more than $100 for any mp3 player just yet. Its only the brown color one, but I right away bought a silicon case for it. I was asking about the music services because I was interested in the music, video, and podcast material but Zune Marketplace isn't right just yet and was looking for an alternative. I found out that zune reactor website is just a site that posts links to torrent sites and uses its own p2p program for mp3, so that definitely isn't legal.

dja2k

[dNor]

Gah the original's software was MISERABLE. The Zune itself was fine, save for it's mediocre-to-terrible battery life. Both issues were /supposedly/ adjusted in their 'v2'. Sorry I can't offer alternatives.

[dja2k]

Whats so bad about 12 hours music, 3.5 hours video? Also hardcore speaking, supposedly you can squeeze 14 hours of music as its explained here (http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/21/stretching-the-zunes-battery-life-to-14-hours/). Anyways, like I said I bought it for $99, 30 GB's, MP3 and MP4 video, 3" screen. I couldn't resist :D .

dja2k

[dNor]

-{ Quote: "Whats so bad about 12 hours music, 3.5 hours video? Also hardcore speaking, supposedly you can squeeze 14 hours of music as its explained here (http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/21/stretching-the-zunes-battery-life-to-14-hours/).

dja2k" }-

That's not even close to the actual battery life of the original Zunes. 5 hours was max for music with about 1 for video, on two units I used. Never heard of anyone, including friends and customers, who had much better battery life of the originals. Around 10 hours music/2 hours video was the best I came across once.

[lodore]

12hours for music thats really quite bad.
the know the old ipods had 8hours battery life for music and that ment charging them once a day. my sony music player for hard drive has 35hours battery life.
erm this may sound stupid but doesnt the zune work with windows media player 11?
lodore