HD Radio and Zune HD Tops the Top 10 MP3 Gadget List

Thursday, December 10th, 2009

CNet gave high marks to Zune HD in their end of year gadget photo essay piece:

The good: The Zune HD's brilliant OLED display, HD Radio tuner, long battery life, movie rentals, and subscription music integration finally give iPod expatriates something to shout about.

The bad: You still can't use the Zune with a Mac; Marketplace purchases require "Microsoft Points"; video format support is limited; audio quality lacks advanced controls; you'll need to purchase a dock accessory for HD video output; application and game selection stinks; and the recommended music subscription plan puts the real-world cost higher than the iPod.

The bottom line: The Zune HD delivers one of the best portable music and video experiences money can buy. At a time when many people have shifted their focus to games and applications, providing a killer media experience may not be enough for potential Zune buyers.