... that had 80GB Zunes yesterday. I know that they sold out fast in some markets too. gasusan2005 was unfortunate enough to have a problem and went to return her for another and they were out when she got there.

I purchased 2 at Circuit City yesterday too.

Reading the comment thread a post on Engadget ( Zune 80 not available in stores? ), it seems that this was pretty much all Circuit City all of the US.

Oh well. I got mine!

I don't think that those angry that they can't find one should be attacking Microsoft though. The fact that Circuit City had them shows that they made it out to retailers. Could the problem lie within the Targets, Wal Marts, and Best Buy stores?

In typical Apple loving, Uncle Walt fashion, Walt Mossberg reviews the Zune 2. I can't blame his views, some are right and some are guided by allegiance. We, Zune Supporters, are the same way though.

Anyhow, Walt spends countless paragraphs telling about the Zune followed buy a, "But Apple has done....". I have been waiting on this review, I knew it would make for some good reading. I love reading his non-Apple reviews.

Count this, 4 paragraphs basicly reviewing Apple's Wonderful line of players. I have an iPhone, its a good 8GB Player, but Itunes is horrible.

Unfortunately for Microsoft, Apple hasn't been standing still, either. It now has its own large-screen, wireless model, the iPod Touch, with a radical "multi-touch" interface like the iPhone's. The screen on the Touch is larger than the one on the bigger Zunes and is much sharper. Its Wi-Fi allows you to browse the Web, watch YouTube videos and even buy music without a PC - none of which is possible on a Zune - though the Touch is $50 more and holds much less content than the new full-size Zune.

Microsoft's new Zunes are directly aimed at the iPod Classic, Apple's full-size, high-capacity model, and the iPod nano, its compact version. But, here again, Apple has been on the move. The 80-gigabyte Classic, which costs the same as the 80-gigabyte Zune, is slimmer than the Zune and has a flashy new interface, if a smaller screen. And the eight-gigabyte nano, which costs the same as the eight-gigabyte Zune, now plays videos and is much smaller - yet has a larger screen. Neither of these iPods includes Wi-Fi.

In addition, Apple has spiffed up its iTunes software, adding various features, including the addictive Cover Flow, which allows you to flip through all your albums with just a flick of the mouse. Cover Flow also shows up on the nano, the Classic and the Touch. Even the new Zune PC software has no interface as compelling.

And Apple still trounces Microsoft in the selection of media it sells. The iTunes store offers more than six million songs, about double what the Zune Marketplace offers, and dwarfs Microsoft's selection of Podcasts and music videos, as well. Plus, Zune Marketplace still doesn't sell any TV shows, movies or audiobooks, while iTunes does.

Read the Rest of Walt's Review

Here is my Zune 80 Photo Gallery. Click the thumbs or go here to for the gallery.

Just a menu walk through along with some device comparisons.

This is a super long video showing the operation of the Zune 80 and some comparison shots with other popular devices.

A tale of two super sized gadget blogs...

Ryan Block of Engadget and Jason Chen from Gizmodo have different outlooks on the whole Zune thing.

To start off, if you don't remember, Ryan Block had one hell of a time getting the software to work for him last year with the Zune 30 launch. I am not making excuses for him, but I am sure that is still on his mind, especially since it wasn't a wide spread problem.

Well Ryan goes off on the software 1st and foremost. He complains about the lack of Mac Support. Now, I have to believe that the market share of MAC OWNERS that would consider buying a Zune has to be very small and most likely not worth the development cost. I am not slamming Apple Users, but the core Mac User Base or at least the Apple folks I know, would never consider buying a Micro$oft product.

All and all, Ryan says no to Zune... Not worth it. He recommends other non-ipod choices instead. Read Ryan's Take.

Now, the Gizmodo guy that likes to shove things into his pants likes Zune and recommends them.

Check out Jason Chen's Take too!

More Video. Yep... This time it's not mine, it's Cnet's again.

This video is a demo of the Zune 80 doing TV Out.

Source : Cnet

The demo spanned a 4-5 minute period but I cut out about 2 minutes of waiting for the sync...
The Zune 2 can wirelessly sync with your library on your PC.

Some comparison shots of Zune 30 and Zune 80

Zune 30 on left and Zune 80 on right (syncing)

Zune 80 on top of Zune 30

Zune 30 on left

Zune 80 on right

[Chris will get some better photos and video tonight!]

Ok, Susan and I both planned to buy the Custom Zune 80 today. Well, that plan fell through since they won't be on sale until December. I mentioned here that I was going to go ahead and get one, so Susan couldn't be outdone and she ran out to get one too.

Stayed Tuned for our 1st Impressions... The 1st thing I can say as a teaser is that the Premium Earbuds are AWESOME! The best "Comes with the Player" Earbuds i've ever heard. Now these are no Ultimate Ears, but they are pretty damn nice.

Anyhow, later today I will have some photos and such for the masses.

When I saw the personalized 80 GB Zunes weren't available until December, I decided to go ahead and get one now. Walmart and Best Buy had only the 4GB and 8 GB Flash Zunes, but I was able to locate one at Circuit City (in the stock room).

(more...)