Cracking open the Microsoft Zune
The Microsoft Zune box
Portable media players are all the rage. View this gallery for an inside look at Microsoft's new Zune. From the device's packaging to its software and the device itself, here's what you get (and how it works) when you buy a Zune.The Zune comes in a box resembling Apple's iPod, in that it's square and features separate compartments holding various components.
About Erik Eckel
Erik Eckel owns and operates two technology companies. As a managing partner with Louisville Geek, he works daily as an IT consultant to assist small businesses in overcoming technology challenges and maximizing IT investments. He is also president o...
Full Bio
Erik Eckel owns and operates two technology companies. As a managing partner with Louisville Geek, he works daily as an IT consultant to assist small businesses in overcoming technology challenges and maximizing IT investments. He is also president of Eckel Media Corp., a communications company specializing in public relations and technical authoring projects.
I've always wondered whether these images are available in a zip package for those on slow links - dial-up really! It would be good to view them off-line at speed as opposed to having to make a cuppa while waiting for each download...
Why is Tech Republic doing such a LAME advertisement for ZUNE? Where's the Comparisons to IPODs; the Good vs Bad points?, and Etc; Any NONTECH person can walk into a store and see this? What does this have to do with anything (OH how cute the box is...?) OK GUYS GET WITH IT HERE.
After 5 photos, I too was beginning to get the "Bash Microsoft" feeling from this article. what kind of HHD is in the Ipod, how many updates will the IPOD require, and how long will it take, is itune the only software that ipod will work with, what about the battery, is it available to the public to replace, I've heard this can't be done with the ipod, so-what that it has a toshiba HHD, who makes the HHD for the ipod? I think I've gotten my point across. how about some fair side-by-side so some of us the really want to be informed if we decide to buy one of these units.
I love the one I have, and it required no intrusion into my privacy to set up my player, upgrade the firmware, etc. I regularly use my Zen player for 8+ hours a day, listening to audiobooks while I work. It has performed well; some info on the possibility of user replacement of the battery would be of interest, for when the battery performance declines.
I have one also, and love it. Its rugged, nice battery life, and I'd like to see what makes it tick also. As gdavidxxx said, I'd like to know what would go into replacing the battery. Anyways thank for doing the zune, i love these break me open threads
Over 20 (boring) pictures of the installation program advertisement screens, but not even a single picture showing the player in operation? I am disappointed.
I feel the same way, too. But hey, give the guy a break! There is nothing 'tech' to share with M$ products anyways. Even the battery life is 'propriety information' that TechRepublic could not disclose. It's in the EULA, by the way. So what do we have? Another 'image-is-everything' crap from M$. I need to go and buy myself an iPod, thanks to this nice ad from M$, er, TechRepublic.
I appreciated the look at both the insides and the "experience". The "experience" is a large part of what we buy today. The box and software is part of that. By the look of "senior Program Analyst's" icon, a stick figure banging his head on the wall, I take it that he is simply frustrated with everything. Please post something of value, not venting.
What does pics of the package the device comes in have to do with the "Experience" of the device. I can place a device in the same box that has a 50% chance of not lasting 10 minutes before it is useless. When My users come up to me and ask "Im considering buy a device like the IPOD what can you tell me about ZUNE?" what am I supposed to tell them from this article? That it looks nice and has a nice looking/arranged box it comes in? I came out to the article to gather some "Tech" info about Zune and only find information which I could have gotten from a standard Retail Chain employee (from another department). I expect more from a website calling themselves "TECH"Republic. Thats why im "Frustrated" much of the time. More and more this is what i find when Im looking for GOOD tech infomation.
However what one could take away from this article of picture about packaging is that as usual Microsoft has more invested in the packaging and software updates (probably trying to find pirated XP's in the back ground) than they do in the product. There should have been a comparative analysis as well.
Thanks for the unboxing, software setup, and internal images of the Zune! I'm actually more interested in this product after seeing this. I'll be anxious for Microsoft to combine the Zune player with WMP some day. Also, I agree with the above comment... Any info on the embedded OS?
The Zune SHOULD be cracked open...WITH A 9 LB SLEDGE HAMMER. My nephew got one of those as a Christmas gift. What a disaster....... 7 hours later, untold numbers of updates from Microsoft & HP (HP home computer) the Zune was STILL not recognized by the PC, running XP Media Center 2005. Isn't this just exceedingly funny...the Zune works with all versions of XP, EXCEPT Media Center 2005...the one version you would expect the Zune to work with properly...something about a "Media Player [Zune] and "Media Center" XP.
Sorry to hear that it did not work for your nephew. Mine worked perfectly right out of the box, took about 20 minutes to setup (both updates and crating my library) and I use it everyday. It is elegant, accepts all kinds of MP3's from any source (no iTunes needed, yea!), and plays my photos and videos as well. I am thinking about capturing some TV programs so I can watch them while I exercise. I have a Dell Inspiron laptop, about 2-3 years old and a current Win XP. I had about 6 gigs of music and photos already on the laptop and used Windows Media to work with them. I did not like having to sign up for an account, but I think this is optional, only if you want some community features like sharing with other Zune players, etc. My only complaint is that now I have the Zune player software AND Windows Media player. They should be one, IMO.
as usual you are required to go through the constant updates that are compulsory with micrsoft products. what if all i want to do is store mp3's on the thing do i still have to create another useless account, just to use another glorified mp3 player.
iPod/iTune is just as annoying. All the major players are trying to lock you into a product and feel the need to keep offering you the latest gizmo/feature etc.
I would love to see a portable device like Zune that was not so reliant on Windows. Instead you have an alternative with a Linux install and you can use the open source options out there. Honestly how much information does Microsoft want off you as you have to continously as stated earlier sign up for another site with request for different info which put together with other sites could give your life story. A simple straight forward linux/open source alternative.
If you can take out the 30GB of HDD then you can as easily switch with a 120GB? Also; can you dissect the proprietary socket or port? Thanks!
I have heard of people putting the 80gig hard drives in them and 60gigs. so possibly 120 would work?
I haven't purchased one yet, but I am getting interested. This looks much better than the original shot I saw of one when they initially came out. It looks like iPod isnt the only choice now. Do they work with Linux, perhaps with Wine?
I used to have so much fun disassembling clocks when I was a kid - of course I never got them back together again ;-)
CALVARY GREETING TO YOU OVER THERE! I AM VERY GREATEFUL TO SEE YOUR DEFERENT PRODUCT INSIDE MY BOX AS YOUR MEMBERSHIP I PRAY THAT GOD WILL ALWAYS GRANTE YOU ABUNDANT BLESSING ALL IN JESUS NAME. 2NDLY I WANT TO BE LIKE YOU, I NEED YOUR HELP AND YOUR ASSISTANCE TO BE WORK IN YOUR COMPANY AS ONE OF YOUR ENGINEER STAFF OVER THERE, I WILL VERY GREATEFUL IF YOU CONSIDER MY REQUEST THANK gOD BLESS. ADEWALEHINMI ADEYEMI 141, IJOKA ROAD AKURE, ONDO STATE OF NIGERIA
Hmmm, hey you forgot to take a picture of the guy you bought it from at the store. Next time, give us the cracking open of the device, NOT the box! Sheeeesh!
I love the technical comment at the end that it contains numerous ics. If it didn?t it would be the size of a house and probably wouldn?t work to well. Duo!!
We combined both the unboxing and cracking open gallery into this single Zune gallery.