Get it, folks? (Also, non-shopped photo here, if you care. You probably don’t.)
While waiting for our music ban to kick in (again, you’ll all be receiving letters in the mail shortly detailing when and where you’ll be expected to hand over your music-related goods), I spent Thursday thinking to myself: “You know what I really want for some reason? A Zune HD.” Seeing as though I’m strapped for cash—you saw the lengths I recently went to in order to upgrade my three-year-old iMac—spending $236.79 for the 16GB model was definitely a decision I did not take lightly. (I actually had to calculate when my next student loan payment was due before I committed to buying the device! So if you think, as some of you do for some reason, that we’re “on the take‚” I can only reply: lol.) The thing is, I primarily use a Mac, and last I checked, the Zune software—which is great, by the way, and makes iTunes look like an old dog—only works in Windows. What to do? Sure, I have Windows all set up on a separate partition, but I really only boot into it when I want to play, say, Half-Life or Deus Ex for a little bit. That is, I had no intention of switching over to Windows full-time just to be able to use a Zune HD.
All that said, I’m happy (I guess) to report that using a Zune HD even though Mac OS X is my primary operating system really isn’t that difficult. Yes, I do need to boot into Windows to use the Zune software, but with a little forethought I can keep those boots to a minimum. The result is that I continue to use my beloved Mac OS X for my everyday computing, but now own and can use effectively what could be the best looking portable media player on the market today.
BORING!
So what’s my secret? I use iTunes. Yes, yes, like Chris Jericho insists, I’m a total hypocrite. Not two paragraphs ago I slagged off iTunes, but the fact is that it’s the easiest way to organize music on a Mac. (I understand that Windows users tend to hate iTunes, but I’ve never used iTunes for Windows for more than two seconds, so I can’t speak to that.) The simplest way to put it is: I let iTunes organize all my music on the Mac partition, and then tell the Zune software to look at “/Users/nicholas/Music/iTunes/iTunes\ Media‚” for all its music needs. There’s a setting somewhere in the Zune software, something like, “Where is your music stored?” So I point it to that folder inside the Mac partition (I guess Windows 7 can read HFS+ partitions now), and then the Zune software adds it to its music index. It’s important to keep in mind that the Zune software never copies the music from my Mac folder to Windows, but rather builds an index that it uses to organize your music.
LESS BORING!
“Bottom line it for me, Deleon.” (Also, it’s “Deleon,” not “DeLeon,” as Newser wrote the other day. I also don’t write for “TechGear,” and yet somehow people accuse us of being sloppy!) OK, boss: I use iTunes within Mac as I normally do, and then simply tell the Zune software to look at the resulting, totally organized iTunes folder. That’s it.
What does this accomplish? For one, I can live in Mac completely as I normally do, making zero concessions or compromises, then boot into Windows occasionally to sync my music to the Zune HD. I don’t have two separate music libraries or anything, but rather the master Mac iTunes library, then the Zune software builds an index and syncs the music to the Zune HD based on said library. Is it an elegant solution? Maybe not, but it definitely works and is dead simple. What would be simpler? A Mac version of the Zune software, but I don’t see that happening any time soon.
Now, all of the above makes several assumptions. The biggest one, of course, is that you have access to Windows (maybe even Windows 7, I’m not sure about Vista or XP’s ability to read an HFS+ partition so according to that guy down there, we can thank Snow Leopard’s drivers for Windows’ ability to read HFS+ partitions, so presumably any Windows version that works with Bootcamp will be able to read your Mac partition). Those of you with a <.edu> e-mail address can buy Windows 7 for only $30, so if the Zune HD even remotely interests you I’d say to seriously consider buying it. The second assumption is that, Windows in hand, you’re comfortable with installing it on your Mac and setting up Bootcamp. My guess, though, is that if you’re reading us here at CrunchGear you’re probably advanced enough to figure that out. If dual booting isn’t your thing, and don’t mind spending more money, you could simply install Windows using VM Ware or Parallels and have a Windows virtual machine at the ready for whenever you’re looking to sync your music. In my experience, after the initial Big Sync at the beginning, I rarely have to go back into the Zune software to sync; I’m not adding new albums every 30 minutes.
In any event, I hope this has shown to you that it’s not so difficult to live in a predominately Mac world, and still be able to use the Zune HD. Now I’m off to play World of Warcraft till I pass out. Thank you for your time.
No versions of Windows can natively read hfs+. Your ability to do that came from the boot camp 3.0 drivers in Snow Leopard.
Another reason for me to get Windows on a MacBook.
He never said they read natively.
I too use Mac 99% of the time. I bought te Zune HD and love it. I have a windows laptop (daughters) for Zune syncing. Love the Zube HD UI. Absolutely stunning video. Awesome device. Those who won’t use it because it is a Zune are really missing out on a great gadget.
I use a PC, but love my iPod Touch ^^
Interesting article, I all ready have a iPhone so I won’t be looking in to a new music player anytime soon. But I do like the zune. Not as much as the iPod Touch, but I do like it. Also mupromo is having a deal this weekend to get VM for $35. If I had the zune I would use VM and not bootcamp just for ease.
These updates you keep putting on here about the Zune HD are making me go crazy. I wish I hadn’t had to go drop $600 bucks on a new computer the other day or I would already have it. Reading that it is seriously good is the only thing that keeps me from dying from having to wait.
Truth is, as functionally/aesthetically pleasing as the ZUNE 4 software is, you’re missing out on the very best part: The ZUNE Pass Subscription service.
I’ve long grown tired of the whole Apple Ipod music buying paradigm, as it’s just really bad value.
Now I pay 14.99 US for a 1 moth subscription to The ZUNE Pass and get to keep 10 of my selections forever, while renting the rest on the music (millions of songs)for a mere 4.99 US a month.
I have too many iPods to count, and have no reservation in saying that the ZUNE HD/ZUNE Pass ‘ecosystem’ is vastly superior in almost every way to Apple’s archaic money waster.
I’d like to actually see Microsoft make a solid phone to compete with the iPhone. The Zune HD is great, but getting one of those wouldn’t let me get rid of the iPhone. If they sold a phone, I’d be able to replace my iPhone.
I actually really like the concept of paying $15/month and getting all the music I want, and keeping 10 of the songs. That seems like a much better model to me than buying each song/album individually.
You’re doing it wrong: You should get a PC, but buy the Apple gadgets.
My next computer, whenever that will be (no real reason to upgrade just yet), will most definitely be a PC, though I’ll probably hackintosh it.
I would not hackintosh it.
While the Zune HD is a nice PMP it seems so limited in functionality compared to the iPod touch for the same price.
Also– I like that all my playcounts and ratings from my iPhone sync back to my iTunes account (makes organizing my music much easier)…
I don’t know, I just couldn’t give up all the integration that the touch/iPhone offers when using a mac– not to mention the iTunes/AppleTV remote app is a lifesaver at parties.
Zune also syncs playcount and ratings. It also lets you compare your tastes with friends who are also on the Zune network (your Zune tag can be attached to your Xbox Live gamertag, making it easy to find friends.)
It also shows you users with similar listening tastes, and recommends music that they like, but you don’t have.
And that won’t work based on what Deleon (did I get it, right?) is recommending — so you’re comment is pretty useless or Deleon’s article is.
Zune will sync playcounts and ratings with a Zune library, not an iTunes library.
Ah, but wait. With the ZuneHD you can subscribe to the Zune Pass (once you get a taste you can’t go back) and get unlimited music and 10 free downloads a month. And all the DRMed music can be SEEN by itunes, but not Played by it. You can however stream it all to a 360 from your windows partition if the Zune SW is running. Soon you’ll spend more and more time in the “dark side” and forget you ever had that silly Macintoy thingy :)
what microsoft really needs to do is sell a zune pass + netflix subscription bundle. i’m thinking $19.99 a month is the sweet spot for unlimited music (maybe only keeping like 5 songs instead of 10) PLUS the ability to rent 2 netflix movies at a time, as well as stream their entire instant movie collection. if they really want to own the living room – which they totally do – this would be a killer bundle. hopefully someone from microsoft reads this
Why anyone would buy a Zune instead of an iPod Touch is beyond me. The Zune is much more limited in just about every way. Does not even sound as good as an iPod Touch. Crazy. Zune pass may be the reason for some but the reality is that subscription services have done poorly because people want more control over their music. Plus its Zune pass or nothing since none of the internet radio apps work No HD radio is not even close to a substitute. Besides if you want a subscription radio service on your iPod Touch or iPhone you can get that with Rhapsody for the iPhone.
There’s not a single claim made in your post that isn’t false or sadly misguided…
Pity Really
What good is internet radio on a Touch? If leave your hotspot, it won’t work anymore. An FM/HD radio will work anywhere there’s radio reception.
And if you’re going to sit at a desk and listen to internet radio, why not just use your computer?
It’s not clear to me what the advantage is of the Zune HD over the iPod Touch for Nicholas, particularly since he’s a Mac user. Is the Zune HD subscription service that much better than internet radio and Rhapsody, that it negates the advantages of the iTunes app store?
I certainly would not want to lose my investment in apps. I think Microsoft will have a hard time winning over many other converts from the iPod/iPhone world. (Moreover, the Zune HD subscription plan would force me to spend significantly more on music than I currently do…and than I want to do.)
That being said, it should do well on the non-iPod side of things, and over time could develop into a worthy competitor.
More entitlement. I have x but I long for b and so I’m going to go out and replace x and yes I’ll need to buy new software and partition and I might even have to rent rather than own my songs but this is new and exciting and so what if it is Windows you should go out and buy one too because well the economy is in the shits and we should do everything to help them out whether we really need the product or not and besides we’ve got all this space to fill and I said I would help fill some of it.
Why is it that people who have never used the Zune Pass always think that you have to “rent rather than own my songs”? You can still BUY songs and albums. You get 10 songs to keep forever every month on the Zune Pass. PLUS, you have access to just about any music you might want on the Zune Pass. All for just under $15 a month. How can anyone argue with that? How much iTunes music can you listen to for $15?
This depends on how much music you purchase each and every month. Initially my music purchases were quite high, and would exceed 10 songs/month. I currently can’t think of 10/songs a month (120 songs/year) that I really want to keep. It’s the reason I don’t do Rhapsody. So for $5/month (or less) I can listen to all of the music I want to (my library) plus buy new songs I really like. And use internet radio to broaden my horizons.
Zune HD is fantastic for someone who wants music tastes change often and wants access to as much music as possible. And doesn’t need significant non-music functionality. There’s probably a reasonable market for such a person. But I’m still trying to figure out why Nicholas switched. I think he’ll lose more than he gains.
For me, I can’t live without my apps (from medical to social network to games).
I suppose Zune HD would be a good choice for a former iPod classic user?
Really?
I could think of thousands of albums I’d love to own, were it not for the tens of thousands of dollars it would take to buy them all.
Off the top of my head I’d move to have more hard bop, free jazz, jazz fusion, afro-cuban jazz, dixieland, jump blues, 50’s R&B, rockabilly, minimalist classical, atonal classical, chamber music, medieval (recreated), ska, dub, celtic, african, traditional japanese, traditional indian, downtempo electronica, ambient, dubstep, darkwave, field recordings, bluegrass, and americana — and that doesn’t even count any forms of actual rock.
I find your tastes in music rather boring if you don’t know of any music you would want to own that you don’t already. Either that, or you have the better part of a terabyte of music stashed away on a drive somewhere.
I like to listen to a reasonably wide variety of music, although perhaps not as wide as you. But I much prefer free radio for doing so. At the end of the day, there are very few pieces I’d like to own long term. But that’s me. Moreover, I lack the time.
Please do read my statement above, “Zune HD is fantastic for someone who wants music tastes change often and wants access to as much music as possible…”
Just use Doubletwist, basically iTunes functionality for any media device on a mac
Doubletwist.com
It’s amazing that so many people fail to see that the Zune is an incredible media player. The apps and everything will come. For now you just get the best media player.
Why didn’t you get the Creative Zii? It’s the iPod killer.
I’m a Zii (EGG) developer, and though the hardware is quite ‘capable’ (years ahead of the iPod Touch) we’re still in the very early stages of firmware/software development.
Bottom Line: The Zii EGG is not a consumer-ready platform, and to think so is to be seriously misinformed.
Because people want popularity not something obviously not that may people will use or be interested in. I would not want something that looks like I am the only that uses.
I am blown away by how people are so personally invested in their pmp that they become upset when someone doesn’t use the same thing they do. “But…but…APPLE!” Get over it, man. You can still like your iPod touch. No one is stopping you. There’s no need to act like you’ve been betrayed just because everyone doesn’t agree with you.
And acting like you don’t understand what is desirable about a product when it’s been spelled out in detail several times makes you look either juvenile or so stupid that you can’t understand what you’re reading. I doubt that’s the image you’re interested in presenting.
Just let it go, and enjoy your Apple product.
I think you’re missing the issue. Of course every device has strengths and weaknesses, and for each type of device there’s going to be a market. The Zune HD is a reasonable music player that might even become a more powerful media/app device in the future.
But yes, I’m confused as to Nicholas’ choice to switch to the Zune HD. It requires him to reboot into Windows to sync music and he loses out on tremendous app functionality (at this point). He does get access to the Zune marketplace and subscription plan, but could have used Rhapsody on the iPod side.
I’ve gone back over the article and can’t figure out his thought process, except perhaps that the Zune software beats iTunes? Perhaps I’m stupid, or perhaps the article was uninformative.
Yeah right there with the “but..but..apple”. It is not the end of the world with no apple. Also bring things to others as B*tching and moaning for use on apples does not work. As for me I could care less if no apple computers. I can still live just as good without them. I would not pay twice as much for something that gives me just as a pc that plays 3d games normally. Why does a computer like mac have to be juiced up to play games. That makes no sense. Anything that cost from $2000 and up and does not play all 3D games for the next 5 years is a waste of money.
I have windows but I’m using an iPhone and my wife is using iPod touch.And we love it.
So you chose a Zune HD. To gain hardware, you shorted yourself on iTunes content and that’s what having a PMP is all about. That’s like buying a $5,000 HD TV and hooking it up to an outdoor antenna in the Northwest. Of course, if you’re not much of a TV watcher, then it doesn’t make a difference. You can watch your one or two shows in perfect clarity. Personally, I’d rather watch 1000 channels of merely OK quality, but that’s just me. Content delivery is what drives sales, not just hardware. That’s why VHS beat out BetaMax. And why the iPod Touch will easily beat the hell out of the Zune HD in sales.
I can understand you buying a Zune HD, as long as you already have a Touch or iPhone. Enjoy that Zune. In a couple of years you’ll have a fairly limited edition device on your coffee table to use as a conversation piece during a TV commercial.
I’m not a TV watcher, nor a big movie guy so video content is 100 percent irrelevant to me. I also don’t own an iPhone, nor do I ever plan to. I got the Zune HD solely to play my plain ol’ MP3s. When I buy music, I buy it from Beatport, which sells 320 kbps CBR MP3s, and those work on every device in the world. It’s the Internet: there’s plenty of content out there that’s not iTunes (or Zune Marketplace).
Good for you.If you use device only for music.It is good.But some like perfect device(mini portable computer with ipod)so they choose iPod touch
Well apparently these ‘individuals’ aren’t s aspiring to any degree of perfection when it comes to sound quality, screen quality, software quality, subscription quality, radio (HD or otherwise) quality…
Enough, I’m sure that I’ve made my point i.e. There’s Nothing Remotely Perfect About The iPod Touch.
??? I’m not sure an audiophile would consider any portable music player to have significant sound quality.
I think the iPod Touch/iPhone folks are simply noting that these products are good media players that do a lot more than just play music. Leaving the iPod world cuts you off from that goodness.
Nobody will/should deny that the Zune is a good music player. And if you’ve never entered the world of app goodness, there’s nothing to miss.
“you shorted yourself on iTunes content and that’s what having a PMP is all about.”
Since when did having a PMP become all about iTunes content? I’ve never purchased anything from iTunes, and I’ve owned two iPods and have an iPhone. I enough content to fill up my iPhone several times over without ever thinking of using iTunes to find that content.
Your argument is completely incoherent.
High Definition 720p video playback is a primary reason for some people to buy the Zune HD instead of the new iPod Touch.
Although there is no discernible difference watching 720p videos on your media player’s small screen, there are many users who not only want to watch movies on the player but also to be able to watch those movies when they arrive at a hotel or a friend’s/relative’s house. For this group of people watching the iPod Touch’s 640×480 SD videos on an LCD or Plasma screen is unbearable. It’s 720p HD videos that people truly want to watch on the big screen.
You can buy as many 720p movies, TV shows, and music videos that you want on the iTunes Store. But after you pay for them and download them, Apple does not allow you to load these videos or play them on your iPod or iPhone. This is not only stupid (from a marketing stand point) but it is also unfair to the people who purchase these videos.
Let’s face it, if this was Microsoft selling 720p videos on it’s Zune Marketplace, and then disallowing the purchasers to play those videos on their Zunes, we’d be throwing figurative tomatoes at Microsoft for being such a sleazy company, and also laughing our asses off at the stupid people who bought HD content for their Zunes.
It’s well known that Apple’s HD playback restriction has nothing to do with the hardware (which is perfectly capable of playing the 720p videos you buy from the iTunes Store). It’s a restriction that Apple has placed on iPod Touch and iPhone users for no apparent (or sensible) reason.
Until Apple finally allows iPod Touch users to play back their 720p videos, people who really want this important feature will buy the Zune HD (or another 720p capable media player) instead of Apple’s product.
Just be sure to point out the additional amount of money you need to shell out to get the HD content to your TV ; )
I personally think it is really cool that they have inscribed “For our Princess” on the inside of the device, dedicating it to a fallen colleague — and NOT tried to make any PR off of it.
I only found out when I read an article of a Zune HD teardown.
People will be fans of what they want to be and buy from that company. And the Haters on both sides will always be there too.
But not even the biggest Microsoft-Hater can argue about this pretty cool thing the Zune Team did. That seals the deal for me…
can i listen to terror on zune pass?
Yes.
Can I listen to your whining on the zune with pass? No, good god I am happy now.
Why use boot camp for the zune software when you can run windows inside OS X? If VMware Fusion or Parallels is too much money, try http://www.virtualbox.org/. Totally free and just as good as the costly alternatives.
I cant justify adding another gadget to my pocket. Make a Zune phone and we cant talk business :).
Almost a viable solution for me, but what about itunes playlists? If I primarily use my mac and itunes and make an awesome playlist I want to sync to my zune hd, then i would have recreate it in the zune software…that’s a deal breaker.
Actually, that more like Just Plain Laziness – IMO
Given the current demand for the ZUNE HD I feel confident that your not buying one will result in another’s joy at actually getting one..
Won’t the zune soft work with crossover? That’d be the way I’d try it first, and failing that stick to Parallels or Fusion. Bootcamp’s very useful indeed, but my mac’s ALWAYS on, and a reboot (or rather, two reboots) always feels like wasted time…
I have no issues whatsoever running ZUNE 4.0 on any of my Macs using Fusion – Zero!
The Zune HD is great. And, since it has wifi and can access the Zune Marketplace, you could, in theory, keep you library up to date without ever connecting it a computer.
The device allows you to delete content using its UI, and you can search for, an download new content via wifi.
Believe me, this device is worth it.
Macs are not all the fuss is about. I rather have something to learn more off of than something so simple that you don’t learn off of and have to pay more for repairs than needed, because too lazy for microsoft to learn yourself how to use it right.
Just because Ipod touch can be used on both platforms does not mean it is better, it just means the people are that are too lazy to use microsoft products need that ipod made so they the option for it, but will never use it. Sorry, I just can’t stand people that use macs, and all there life they act like it is the end of the world if they have to switch from a mac to a windows platform. If I had a choice I would use both no matter the concequences of either, but man I never seen so many that would die for macs. I would not.
i just switched to a mac and an iphone. the reason people dont want to switch back is because the mac stuff works. really works, not can be made to work or will work if you give this or that company this much money every freaking year for blah blah blah… three months with a mac, no issues. i used to spend three or four hours a week fighting with windows xp and stupid ram eating programming. i would not disgrace my mini by booting windows, its like a car seat in a lambo. anyone wanna buy a zune brick? i have no use for it, wont sync with my mac, cant add songs, and i can replace it for half what i paid for it.
1 Year with a Vista 64 bit OS Laptop. 4 Months with a Beta Win7 and now official Win7. No problems at all. That is with OCing my 6gbs of RAM and my 3850… did i mention this is in a laptop that i got for $1,000?
ON TOPIC! i’ve used my friends zuneHD a few times and am very impressed. Im looking for a pmp for tons of music and some video. The apps will come and when they do it will be even better. It is definatley a personal choice though, some people like iPods others like Zunes.
Definatley going to pick one up once the paycheck comes in.