Being in the the tech site community for a couple years, I know that getting your opinions heard is easy said than done. While the size of Aximsite / Mobilitysite's readership is pretty damn big, they have nothing on Crunchgear, so it's great to see a regular commentor and GotZune Blogger get some Crunchgear love today.

Jaxim got his Blind Review linked to from Crunchgear's main page today. Great Job sir.

I don’t own one of the new Zunes that just came out this past month, but my friend allowed me to test his out pretty thoroughly and I was able to ask him what he didn’t like about it.

I must say I really enjoyed it. However there are a “few� things that I thought were lacking with the device. Despite these deficiencies I would still purchase it over an iPod classic. Read on…

read the rest here...

Note: This is his big chance at a Zune 80 too. Head over and help him win a Zune 80!

Tell the world about your review and have your friends comment, vote, and generally create a ruckus. Sometimes friends are slow and don’t know how to vote. Those friends can leave comments.

Best Buy shows in stock, but not available for in store pickup, online only.

Amazon is showing to be in stock on December 16, 2007.

Also, NowInStock is showing Best Buy and Ebay only in stock. This is going to cut it close for Santa..

The Zune 80s are online for order now in all their custom glory. Bad news is that there are not any color choices as some hoped.

Head over to Zune Originals to get yours!

Cnet has published their "official" battery test results today...

Cnet gets the following:

• Zune 80 Wifi On - 18.5 hours
• Zune 80 Wifi Off - 22 hours

My 1st Round got:

It's really funny that these came out today since I started my 2nd round test today at 7PM CST. I am testing the Zune 30, Zune 80, and iPod Classic 80 this time. All three have the same album ripped in MP3 format this time, so all 3 are using the same content only. They are all at 1/2 volume with earphones connected and WiFi off.

Our CNET Labs have just published the results of their Zune 80 audio-only battery drains and the numbers are somewhat disappointing. Microsoft rated the Zune 80 for 30 hours of audio playback with the Wi-Fi feature turned off. Lab testing revealed that the Zune 80 is realistically capable of 22 hours of audio playback with the Wi-Fi feature turned off, or 18.5 hours with the Wi-Fi feature enabled.

While 22 hours is certainly better than the 13 hours we got from the first-generation Zune, it's nowhere close to the 45 hours we were able to get from the competing 80GB iPod Classic.

ABC ran a bit as part of a Christmas Buyer's Guide about Stocking Stuffers and them getting all high-tech and stuff. Guess who made it into the stocking? I wouldn't be posting it if it wasn't a Zune huh?

Microsoft Zune

Microsoft's new 80GB Zune music player seems to be outselling the Apple iPod Nano, at least for the moment. A Thanksgiving week report noted a shortage of the new Zune media players ($249) on the Web and in retail stores, suggesting it gave Apple a little run for consumer's money. Don't expect it to last though.

Zunes should be back on retail and virtual shelves very soon, so these sleek-looking Wi-Fi enabled music players are an option for your stocking if you're ready to fork over some big bucks.

ABC News: Stocking Stuffers Go High-Tech

Microsoft's numbers say up to 4 hours on each of the Zunes, we got real close to 4 on both as well.

• Round 1 - Zune 80 - 3:40 | Zune 30 - 3:15
• Round 1 - Zune 80 - 4:10 | Zune 30 - 3:48

I didn't change a thing on the two tests. I can only suspect that the disparity is due to the actual charge times.

I will charge them back up and run a couple more times before I move to the new MP3 full drain test again.

Both devices are fully charged and have been on their cradles for more than 5 hours. The only video on each of the Zunes is Linkin Park, Live in Texas. I ripped this video from my DVD at 25 fps @ 320×240 using SPB Mobile DVD. This is a program I have been using at this resolution on my Pocket PCs and Phones.

Both Zunes have headphones plugged in. The volume is at 10 out of 20 and the brightness is set to high. Since I have only this one video file on the Zunes ( 1:15 Minute Concert ), I will check them on the hour and restart the movie each time.

2:20am CST, I am starting the Video test on the Zune 30 and Zune 80 to test battery life. Microsoft claims up to 4 hours for each device.

Both devices are fully charged and have been on their cradles for more than 5 hours. The only video on each of the Zunes is Linkin Park, Live in Texas. I ripped this video from my DVD at 25 fps @ 320x240 using SPB Mobile DVD. This is a program I have been using at this resolution on my Pocket PCs and Phones.

Both Zunes have headphones plugged in. The volume is at 10 out of 20 and the brightness is set to high. Since I have only this one video file on the Zunes ( 1:15 Minute Concert ), I will check them on the hour and restart the movie each time.

I am going to keep a running list of Zune 80 Cases available for purchase. I am not going to list multi device cases, just those that are made for the Zune 80. The list is going to be short for now, but as new models are released, I will add to it. If you know of one that is not listed, let me know.

So, I have 1000's of songs on my Zune 80 and guess what it does from 8am to 5pm... It's a radio. I have just come to the realization that all I am using the Zune for at work is as a radio. I have some pretty nice powered desktop speakers on my desk. I just jack in and tune in to Sports Talk! We are fortunate enough to have an FM sports radio station. All this music and functionality and I use it as a radio at work. Funny.

Previous to the Zune 80, I used a Sansa Connect at work to stream Yahoo Music Stations. I used the Zune 30 at home docked and a/v out jack to an older powered subwoofer 3 speaker desktop setup. I use my iPod 30g Video for cutting the grass. My iPhone sits there charging waiting for some accessory to review with it. The rest of my players sit in the graveyard waiting for a photo opportunity with a newer device.

How do you use your Zune?