The reviews are flooding in for Microsoft's iPod challenger Zune and they're extreme on both sides.
It's taken Microsoft five years to release a competitor for the iPod, so they've had a lot of time to learn good from bad, but it seems most of the criticism levelled at the Zune is due to its inflexibility. The Zune cannot be used as a hard disk, it has many DRM issues, Microsoft are in bed with Universal Music, dishing out a portion of each sale to offset apparent piracy costs, and it is surprisingly incompatible with many Windows programs.Some critics have been scathing, indicating a hatred for Microsoft's corporate dealings more than anything else. The Chicago Sun-Times was particularly nasty, concluding, "The Zune will be dead and gone within six months. Good riddance." The New York Times questioned the point of releasing an "unabashed copy" of the iPod.
But many mp3 player rating sources on the internet have been highly complimentary, comparing it favourably to the equivalent iPod, praising Zune's interface, sound quality, feel and construction, and its WiFi capabilities (which, admittedly, only allow song transferred to play for three days).
Once again, we'll have to wait and see whether the Zune catches on.
