Zune HD and $15 music downloads

[Wula]

I just found out about this Zune HD that Microsoft came up with sometime ago. I am kind of interested in it and if it is any good since I have been looking for alternatives to the Ipod. Since for now I have been using my PSP for most of my portable music needs. Since its faster for me to work with that then a Ipod(and transfering music to others is always nice) :3 Sure some of the features seem real gimmicky and call for the fail boat. But at least it establishes the essentials which is what really matters.

And with me I am one of the few that don't want to have a Ipod because of the simple fact of "everyone else has one". And I would rather support competitors that try to make the market diverse instead of the one product one way thought many like to have. Since if we didn't have competition or money would be so much easier to get. Which brings me to the next thing. I notice M$ is doing a nice promotion with their service. $15 for unlimited downloads for like a a couple weeks I think it is. And I gotta say. If it actually catches on and gets enough people to sign on. It may be finally something to compete with that bloody iTunes stuff. Since we know how all those other music paysites end up :/

So if anyone else can provide more insight on this topic it would be nice. Since this is all I found out in like the last 30 mins of checking stuff out.

[Kithop]

And I would rather support competitors that try to make the market diverse ...

So you want to buy something from Microsoft, who holds a monopoly in the OS market and is actively promoting things like the Zune and Xbox to tie into as many others as possible and bring them all under their umbrella? :P

I understand the not-wanting-an-iPod sentiment, for sure, but while I haven't looked for media players for a while, I've heard a lot of good things about Creative's offerings, and I believe there's the odd Linux-based device as well.  If you want to support a diverse market, research and pick the genuine 'best' product for your budget and needs, not whoever tries to weasel their way in with deals like this. :/  Just my sentiment...

[Wula]

So you want to buy something from Microsoft, who holds a monopoly in the OS market and is actively promoting things like the Zune and Xbox to tie into as many others as possible and bring them all under their umbrella? :P

Well I am looking at just the music aspect not the company as a whole. It is like saying if I went with a iPod just because Apple has the whole "i" life series going on that I should buy a mac, iPhone, etc. etc. to complete the experience.

If I did end up buying a Zune doesn't mean it is going to motivate me to go buy a 360 again after I sold my last one to get just 1-2 gimmicky features. The 360 is a poorly designed console. Anyone can see that. But now the original Xbox is one of the best things I own that has came from M$ so far <3333

ANYWAYS don't want to get started on game system stuff >.< you gotta admit $15 for unlimited downloads for a set time vs $1-2 per song is a friggin good deal in my book. Especially when you are looking into/trying to cut back on piracy.

[Kithop]

ANYWAYS don't want to get started on game system stuff >.< you gotta admit $15 for unlimited downloads for a set time vs $1-2 per song is a friggin good deal in my book. Especially when you are looking into/trying to cut back on piracy.

I didn't mean anything about game system stuff, I'm talking about the fact that MS has a monopoly with Windows and will do anything and everything in their power to stifle competitors with illegal or borderline tactics that they've been called out on time and time again.  Plus, I bet all that music is DRMed Windows Media crap that will die as soon as they give up on it ('PlaysForSure', anyone?) in a few years.  If you want to buy music online, buy non-DRMed tracks, at least.  MP3s, FLAC, even the iTunes Pro stuff technically should work on any MPEG-4 capable player, not just iPods.

It's your money and your decision, but I'm just saying you should research it. :)

[Silvermink]

Plus, I bet all that music is DRMed Windows Media crap that will die as soon as they give up on it ('PlaysForSure', anyone?) in a few years.  If you want to buy music online, buy non-DRMed tracks, at least.  MP3s, FLAC, even the iTunes Pro stuff technically should work on any MPEG-4 capable player, not just iPods.

Yeah, they'd have to pay me to accept DRMed music. I'm glad iTunes is all DRM-free now.