Zune HD Review: Finally, an iPod Competitor?

By Rachel Rosmarin
published

The Tom's Guide review of Microsoft's new Zune HD makes a few things clear: the Zune HD is not an iPod copycat, the Zune HD is a serious competitor to the iPod Touch, and the Zune HD is not perfect. However, with this product Microsoft is showing that it (finally) knows where the Zune is headed. Head on over to Tom's Guide to find out why.

Our review focuses on differences between the iPod Touch and the Zune HD, the hardware and software interfaces, and various ways to get media on the device without buying it outright.

Rachel Rosmarin
22 Comments Comment from the forums
  • doomtomb
    Zune HD is where it's at
    Reply
  • techguy911
    Archos is much better then either zuneHD or ipod touch you can record tv when put in its base it can record tv or off any video source neither zune or ipod can and it had real HD no video conversion needed plays all major file formats and has more storage than both and plays back to your tv when in base in FULL HD.

    Reply
  • tomsguiderachel1
    techguy911Archos is much better then either zuneHD or ipod touch you can record tv when put in its base it can record tv or off any video source neither zune or ipod can and it had real HD no video conversion needed plays all major file formats and has more storage than both and plays back to your tv when in base in FULL HD.Hey TechGuy911, We're very interested in Archos and plan to bring you reviews of the latest Archos products ASAP!

    -Rachel Rosmarin, Editor Tom's Guide
    Reply
  • tipoo
    I want one really badly...Damn U.S Only launch. No love for us Canadians, eh?
    Reply
  • mlopinto2k1
    Has anyone even heard about Creative's Zii? That looks like a pretty bad-ass unit right there, if I might say so... but I already know where this is headed.
    Reply
  • math1337
    The Zune HD is not just an iPod competitor, but a vastly superior product, capable of crushing the iPod touch and wiping apple off of the map.
    Reply
  • war2k9
    math1337The Zune HD is not just an iPod competitor, but a vastly superior product, capable of crushing the iPod touch and wiping apple off of the map.
    Only when microsoft decide to support it a 100%, remember hddvd.
    Reply
  • Sicundercover
    techguy911Archos is much better then either zuneHD or ipod touch you can record tv when put in its base it can record tv or off any video source neither zune or ipod can and it had real HD no video conversion needed plays all major file formats and has more storage than both and plays back to your tv when in base in FULL HD.
    Though I agree with you that the device itself is amazing, the media management software is garbage and is in no way on par with either iTunes or Zune. However just like Zunes software in the beginning this too can be corrected.
    Reply
  • JohnnyLucky
    iPod's are forbidden where I work due to the nature of the work. Same thing will happen with Zune.

    Reply
  • techguy911
    sicundercoverThough I agree with you that the device itself is amazing, the media management software is garbage and is in no way on par with either iTunes or Zune. However just like Zunes software in the beginning this too can be corrected.
    Archos has no management software that it is tied to i use to use windows media player 12 but i have been using media monkey, i even got it working with itunes with a little work.

    It works with any of the itune alternative programs media monkey,song bird, winamp.

    It is both a portable media player off base and on the base it's a home media player i can stream video wireless from my pc to my tv through the archos on the base it has a remote control /w keyboard for use on the base.

    When i go to the doctors office i always bring it for watching video nothing beats it, the new archos 5 looks nice.
    Reply