Customer Reviews

Zune 120 GB Video MP3 Player (Red)

5 star:		(273)
4 star:		(86)
3 star:		(41)
2 star:		(51)
1 star:		(113)

 

 

No matter your opinion on Microsoft, the amazing fact remains that every time they update a Zune they include a free software update for all past Zunes making them nearly identical as the new Zunes. I am sure one day this may stop due to the fact that the new hardware will require a different type of OS that won't work on the old Zunes (i.e. a Zune Touch or something). Until then, I am have been a very happy past/present Zune owner for this reason.

I owned a Zune 30 for 2 1/2 years prior to buying the Zune 120. My old Zune worked perfectly and was not a factor in my decision to upgrade. Did I need the extra space? Not really... but I wanted to try out the touch/click "squircle" before the new Zune games were launched. I read that some games may not work (or work as intended) with the Zune 30 since it does not have the touch sensitive pad. We'll see how true that is when games are put on to the Marketplace.

My opinion after owning the Zune 120 for a couple weeks:

The Good:

-I am a rabid/avid fan of the Zune Pass. I don't mind renting music, in fact I LOVE it. It really opens me up to new bands without wasting $10-20 on an album I may hate. For $14.99 a month [for unlimited downloads on up to 3 Zunes and 3 Computers] I can download from more songs than I can fathom and not be upset if I pick a few tone-deaf artists along the way. If I love an album enough to keep it I can buy it from Zune or Amazon or whomever. If you think about it, the Zune Pass could save you money by allowing you to test out bands before committing to a purchase. Also, if throwing a house party or having guests over, you can download music for your guests that you might never consider buying for yourself.

-Audible support now available. Not sure how much I will use this feature yet but for now I like it and am happy I am not closed off from this option.

-WiFi: the options are now amazingly more advanced and now having WiFi on the Zune makes sense. Being able to download songs over a WiFi connection is huge. McDonald's is teaming up with Zune and will be offering their WiFi connection to Zune owners in the near future. While iPod does this with Starbucks, there are many more McDonalds than Starbucks in the U.S. Though not sure if this is a good thing ;)

-Channels!!!: I love the new channels built into the software. As a Zune Pass subscriber I love taking advantage of this. The software makes a "channel" once a week of songs it thinks I will like based on a genre (I have a "My Classic Rock" channel, "My Rock" channel, and since I share my Zune Pass with family members a "My R&B" channel). I choose which, if any, channels I want to subscribe to (so I can skip the R&B one if I desire) and it downloads a playlist of sorts that changes every week. Also, I can subscribe to other generic channels (i.e. "Rock" Channel, "Punk/Ska" Channel etc.) not tailored directly to me if I so desire. This has been a great way to sample new bands/music that have relevance to my music style. Of course if you love a song/artist you can always permanently download the songs. If you are an avid gym buff or runner there are some very cool channels titled "Walk" "Jog" and "Run" that have songs which consist of the same range of beats per minute to keep you moving at a constant speed. Very cool.

-Mixview: Much better looking than "Genius" on iTunes since Mixview uses album art and artists pictures rather than plain old text and Mixview's suggestions seem more relevant to me than Apple's "Genius." This can always change in the future as each product develops and I am excited that there is competition in this arena since it can only make this better and better. If you don't know what Mixview is, it is Zune's way of gathering data based on your music preferences (and the preferences of others) to recommend new music to you. Pandora (the Internet Radio website) does a BEAUTIFUL job at this. It's free and I would check it out if you have never used it before. Amazing.

-Battery Life: Much better than the Zune 30 which is a nice surprise. Leave WiFi off for a longer battery life.

-Accessory Compatibility: the charger, dock, remote, car charger, etc. from the Zune 30/80/120 all work together wonderfully. If you have the version 1 dock you will need to remove the plastic insert in order to have the 80/120 fit. It only takes a few seconds and is very painless. I would add a link to websites that show video/pictures on how to do this but Amazon removed two posts in the Zune forum where I did this. Do a search, it's out there. The cases for the Zune 30 do not work with the 120 but the 80 is the same size and both use the same cases. Heard there are problems with older FM transmitters working with the newer Zunes. Not sure how prevalent this problem is as I use an AUX jack in the car.

-The Squircle: This is the only "big" difference between the Zune 30 and the 80/120. It did not take long for me to get used to using this but my learning curve may be shorter than others as I am used to swiping on my iPhone and now clicking seems more difficult for me. (You can turn this feature off if you just want to use the squircle as a click pad.) When I went to buy a case I found that most cases covered the squircle and was concerned it would mess with functionality. I want to report that it did not take away the ability of the Zune to notice my movements. However, the case makes it not as smooth of an action as the bare squircle (I have a silicone cover that makes my finger "stickier" against the case so the glide isn't as smooth). Something to think about when purchasing a case (which I would recommend.. see "The Bad")


The Bad:

-I LOVED the Zune 30 casing. That was one beautiful thing that the Zune had over the iPod. The iPods scratched and showed wear very quickly and the Zune 30's casing was virtually indestructible. With the new casing (party in the front/business in the back... the reverse mullet) it seems that the possibility for scratching is now higher. The shiny front is a fingerprint magnet and the matte black back has a silver/gold metal underneath (as evidenced by Microsoft's Zune Originals website where you can have your Zune engraved professionally.. they "scratch" [engrave] a design and the gold/silver color appears). Not sure how deep you would have to scratch to get to that color and I won't volunteer to be a guinea pig. Sorry!
I highly recommend getting a case and I am a sucker for buying a screen protector as the Zune is nearly all screen on the front and should remain beautiful and scratch-free.


The "I don't care"/ "No opinion":

-The Clock: There is a clock now.. and I don't care. Many did so they will be happy. No alarm built-in, so beware clock lovers. (Microsoft updates the firmware and software quite a bit so you never know if this could be added soon.)

-Buy from FM: I hate the radio in my smallish town. There are only a couple decent stations but they aren't good enough for me to stop listening to MP3s and tune in. For those who have better stations and are in to Top 40 or what is new on the charts this may be an amazing option for you. Getting artist and album info over Zune's FM radio could be helpful if your DJ never states the name of an artist (like so many don't) and, if you really like the song, you can download it immediately or tag it for download later (depending if you are in a WiFi hotspot or at home with plug in hand).

-Headphones: the Zune 30 came with "run of the mill" headphones, the Zune 80 came with "premium" headphones and the Zune 120 went back to the "run of the mill" headphones. I use third-party headphones ($100+) so I don't care what comes in the package. Others might so here it is.

-Games: as of today's date, there are no games available for download on the Zune Marketplace. This is supposed to change soon and I sure hope it does. However, there are two games that come loaded on the Zune when you plug it in to the computer and update (Hexic and Texas Hold 'Em). Apple has the upper hand here and has done wonders with the App store. I hope Microsoft takes note and does something like it with the Zune. Heck, I hope the do something even better so then Apple steps up their game even more... and around and around we go. Competition is great for consumers.

I think here is a good place to mention that I love my iPhone 3G AND my Zune and I need to have both in my life to be happy (in the materialistic sense). I don't listen to music on my iPhone due to limited space (after adding apps, photos, podcasts, etc. there isn't much room for music) and also because Apple does not have a subscription music "rental" service. Ideally I would like to see Zune make a phone similar to the iPhone or the iPhone to have a subscription based music service (both phones would need a large capacity drive) so I could carry around just one device (either iPhone or ZunePhone depending on the offerings). Until that day I live in harmony with my Zune 120 and my iPhone 3G.

I love my Zune. After 4 iPods (in a span of 10 years), I decided to try something different. I never really had an issue with my pods, but I was curious about the Zune. I decided to purchase the Zune 30 a year after it was released. The player [Zune 30] was extremely durable, and I loved the device interface; although hated how I had to click in order to scroll down. There was much to be improved.

Fast forward two years and several major Microsoft updates later, I now own the Zune 120. I absolutely love it. The capacity is enough for me at the moment; although I'm a music junkie. The playback quality of the songs is noticeably better than the quality my iPod's. The features, such as wireless sync, song sharing over the air, and the Zune Pass are wonderful. I lended the Zune to my girlfriend for an entire week so she could discover some new music (over 8000 tracks on my Zune), and she came back wanting to purchase one herself.

Pros:
- Great interface
- Wonderful sound quality
- FM radio + buying songs from FM
- Wireless syncing
- Sharing music over the air with other Zunes
- Improved software (more usable than iTunes, in my opinion)
- Support for podcasts and audiobooks
- Zune Pass
- Purchasing and streaming songs off Wifi
- Free updates every few months; they recently added games.

Cons:
- Battery life could be better
- Included headphones are good but not great.
- That's all I could think of.

Final word:
I still use my iPod nano and video from time to time, but I love my Zune more. There's nothing wrong with iPod's, but if you'd like to give something different a try, by all means give this a try. You can't go wrong with purchasing one.

Extra:
Living in a populated city like NY and taking the train to school every monrning, and coming back in the afternoon, there's always at least one other person on the train with a Zune. Sometimes I get random "let me send you a song" request. Totally discovered a few new artists from random people with the 'send' feature.

The Zune is overall a great product and I would recommend it to anyone. This review makes some comparisons to the iPod Classic because many are familiar with the iPod Classic and are debating between these two often.

Positives for the Zune:
- Sound Quality exceeds that of the Classic, while the classic is good it has too much focus on the low end and really isn't all that great in the mids. The Zune has great balance meaning it plays low/mids/highs exceptionally well, matching the 5th gen iPod in my opinion. [Tested with Bose Around The Ear Headphones, won't be noticed much with cheap/stock ear buds]
- Interface is wild and more modern than other MP3 players. You'll feel like you are in 2008 with the device's interface. You can also customize it, while customization is limited to changing the wallpaper its still something not many other players have. [including the classic]
- The large screen is nice for video..I haven't ran into any pixelation problems that some people report with the resolution of 320 x 240 on that size of the screen..however your mileage may vary. The screen is much better suited than the dinky 2.5 screen that is on the Classic.
- Navigation with the Zune pad is a breeze and better than the Classic. A few reasons being that a) you can press the buttons to adjust volume in your pocket [the classic relies on luck that you can actually get the touch sensitive wheel to respond through your pants], b) the zune pad sticks out from the unit which makes it easier to feel for than the classic which the click wheel is pretty well flush with the unit itself, c) you can navigate with pin point navigation, use the touch function to scroll fast and the click function to get precise.
- Microsoft continues to make improvements to the product like the Zune 3.0 release that adds the FM Radio feature that allows you to add music off the radio to your cart or with wireless download the song directly to your Zune. Clock is introduced [a feature that was lacking that people constantly complained about, MICROSOFT LISTENS!], and the Wifi Marketplace is also introduced which allows you to browse the marketplace wirelessly as well as preview/download songs instantly if you have a Zunepass.
- The software on the PC looks very modern..where as iTunes has virtually remained the same since its release on the PC. The software has the ability to combine albums with a simple drag n drop which allows you to combine singles into their full featured albums with a simple click. Getting Album art is easy as well as track listings for a album if you are missing tag information..if you are missing tag information and the software can't find it, it will give you a drop down list of all albums on the CD and allow you to choose which track is the right one..none listed? No problem you can keep it its current track name. Manual Sync is NOW supported officially, meaning the device can run independently of your Zune Collection. The software can actually work with a external drive, when I tried with iTunes 7.6 it would close by itself. Mixview is nice, you can simply right click a album click mixview to get a view of several related artists to find new music with.

Neutral:
- Zune Pass, almost all the music on the Marketplace supports it..some might be annoyed with the fact you have to pay $15 a month forever unless you want to lose your songs, some might also have a problem with not owning the music or that some songs aren't available for the Zune Pass. I personally think its a great concept and I have absolutely no complaints about paying $15 for all the songs I can download.
- Smudges and scratches might be a problem for some if you are really picky the new gloss front is prone to scratches from metal objects [keys, coins, etc.].
- Its made of plastic which could be taken either a) a good thing because its lighter b) a bad thing because its obviously not as tough.

Negatives:
- Software is still behind when compared to iTunes but improves with every update. Some complaints include, Rating system is a "Like, Don't Like" System giving you very limited options when you find songs that aren't GREAT but are OK..you either have to hate it or like it. If you are in a certain spot in your collection and click Marketplace then go back your spot is lost and Zune software returns to the top of your list. The same happens when you are at a certain spot in the marketplace as well, you leave and you end up reseting the marketplace back to home.
- Marketplace layout is very generic and needs some serious tweaking where as the iTunes Store is very precise the layout of the Marketplace is just sloppy, there really isn't much browsing you can do unless the artist is new because when you browse through artists in a specific genre they aren't in alphabetic order they are just scattered about I assume by popularity.
- Premium Earbuds are gone replaced with generic earbuds.


Overall a great alternative to the now dying Classic [which didn't get any upgrades beyond battery and the genius feature..unless you consider the 120GB a upgrade from the 80GB model last year]. I do not regret my purchase and would recommend it to anyone.

Length:: 2:27 Mins

Getting Pretty Close 2 PERFECTION!!!!

I actually wanted to rate this thing 4.5 Stars. But that option was not allowed. I just picked this up at my local Target and i must say it's a great device. I had the 80GB Zune & traded it in for the 120. This is essentially the same device nothing major has been done to it. The exterior is a really minor face lift. Inside are some new quirky features that have been added in such as purchasing songs from the radio, buying songs when you are at a wi-fi hotspot in public (Starbucks or McDonalds etc), and now video games has been added in. You get 2 free games with the new Zune 3G software update. With the update also includes a clock added in on the main menu on the upper right hand corner. I do love the Zune interface its one of the best. I love the touch/scroll wheel as well. It has the best of both worlds type of feel to it. Also i reserved my right to give this device 5 stars because it still has the clunky software and if the software update over the weekend proves to be the finishing touch that will make this MP3 player awesome i will revise my review. I know some people hate iTunes & some people love it. I think iTunes is great and its very user friendly and customization is beyond simple. Other then that, the Zune software at this time is really bad. Ironically the V1 software was actually better and as many people know the shocking thing is that this MSFT product isn't even compatible with its own MSFT Windows Media Player (Ironic huh?). Also i do wish the battery life was the same as the iPod. I always carry my USB charger with me to avoid losing battery power when traveling around. But with the gorgeous huge screen that rivals the iPod Touch and extra memory this MP3 is pretty close to being almost flawless. Hopefully with the right word of mouth, a better software upgrade, and some advertising Zune will soon become a household name =)

Pros:
Great UI/Menu
Slim & Sexy look
Big screen 3.2 Inch screen
120GB memory upgrade from 80GB
Wi-Fi Music buying features
Wireless Music Sync
Video Games
FM Radio
Sending music to other Zune devices via Wi-Fi
$14.99 monthly fee gets you unlimited music downloads

Cons:
Battery Life Could use a bit of extra juice
3G Software still not that much different

Length:: 7:39 Mins

Zune 120 review including new hardware, firmware, features and games. Comparison with Zune 80 from last year.Zune 120 GB Video MP3 Player Black (2nd Generation)

I may be jumping the gun, but I picked this up last night. I have been awaiting shipment of a 80 gig model when I ran across this 120 gig in a local store for $3 LESS than the 80 gig (which I'll return as soon as it arrives).

To be up front, this is my 1st mp3 player, so I may be easily impressed, but I have done lots of research and asking around and the iPod brand just did not seem to match my needs. I have a 64 bit operating system on my new computer and Microsofts Zune seemed to be the only one that was clear on having software supporting 64bit sytems.

Everything about this Zune has been very easy to use and get used to. The only thing I would have done differently for ergonomics is put a feeler in the middle of the touch pad so you know you are in the center by feel, A small indention, something.

The unit feels very solid and of high quality, and what makes the 3rd gens different from the 2nd and 1st will really be found out Sept 16th when the 3.0 Software is made available ( adding a Clock and added radio features are a few known enhancements). I really do like the monchromatic look of the 3rd gen without the silver back and the lack of chrome around the touch pad...very attractive! The less bling the better is my motto. Oh, and the radio reception is fantastic!

I dowloaded (or is it uploaded?) almost 2000 songs, my complete computer library in just a moments time...very impressed!

The 120 gig works well with the existing home Dock (using the 80gig adapter plate) and the sound quality far exceedes my expectations.

Image quality for the menus and album art to my 1080p 46" Plasma is a bit to be desired, but the video quality is pretty good. I did buy this mostly for music storage and playback, so I wont let that interfere with my overall 5-star score.

I am very happy so far!!!

I highly recommend Zune with Zune Pass. I have a mid sized music collection. (I think I have 7000 MP3s ripped from music I own). If YOU LOVE MUSIC, subscription makes total sense. I can't think of any reason a music lover should choose an iPod over a Zune - EVEN IF YOU ONLY BUY MUSIC. Read on for my reasons...

I am a 30 something guy who hasn't been swayed by the masses when it comes to choosing an MP3 player. I use iTunes to buy/rent movies, and was using RhapsodyToGo and a PlaysForSure device for subscription music. My mp3 player was an older model, and small. So I was faced with the decision of upgrading to something new. Frankly I wanted a device like the iPod or Zune that SUPPORTS PlaysForSure because I like the Rhapsody service. (This is my only MAJOR complaint with Apple and Microsoft - and my voice only joins the chorus - Give us a device that will Play ALL MY CONTENT, regardless of where I bought it.) So with that criteria, I had to decide between iTunes/iPod - and Zune/Zune Pass.

First I had to decide which was the better device; regardless of what I wanted to do with it. So I went up to the local Big Box to demo both devices...

**For the first time in recent memory Microsoft has taken Apple to school on the USER INTERFACE.***

The Zune simply blows the iPod out of the water on Ease of use, feel, navigation, etc. I had never touched a Zune, and I *instantly* knew where to find EVERYTHING on it - and could find it, quickly and easily. I picked up the iPod and fumbled around for about 10 seconds, and knew immediately that the Zune was easier. Another KEY feature was the size of the screen, and the size of the text. While I would never recommend it ;) , tuning to a new song on the road is much easier with a large, easy to navigate interface. Now add the Wireless interface to the mix, and I was quickly sold on which DEVICE was the better machine. (I can walk into my house and sync my ZUNE with my PC over my WIRELESS connection- That rocks.)

Next - I had to decide what I wanted to do with it? Buy Music? Rent Music? Watch Video? If all I wanted to do was watch MOVIES from iTunes on my player, I was in trouble. However, Zune does have the most popular TV shows available.

-Buying music - Well I don't buy music, but if I did, I can get most everything from the Zune service, and if I have to buy from iTunes, I will find a way to convert it if it doesn't already come as an MP3. I don't really buy music anymore anyway, I rent it- so...

Renting - The idea of having to dump Rhapsody really irked me. It's a great service. But the future of PlaysForSure doesn't feel solid to me, so...

Zune Pass: This is great software, the social features are great, it doesn't hog system resources, it has a beautiful interface, and it mirrors the interface on the Zune device. It is much more advanced than iTunes. Library management is a breeze and navigation is effortless. The only minor complaint I have is that managing the "now playing" list could be a improved with click and drag. (This could be me not figuring it out yet -which is the only thing I see that goes counter to the ease of use of everything else associated with this device.)

Zune Pass Content: Okay, no doubt Apple has it all over Microsoft right now on content, if for no other reason than the movie collection. The Music selection on Zune is acceptable though, and if you like PodCasts and popular TV you won't be disappointed.

In the end, I cannot think of any reason to buy an iPod, other than to say, "Of course I have an iPod." So if you are looking for a fashion accessory, read another review. (I am not qualified to determine if an iPod is sexier than a Zune. -though I'd say its not.) If you are looking for the best MP3 player - look no farther than the Zune.

***
One final note: There is more to the Zune than I have covered here. Look up info on the Social features, sharing music and discovering new music. Microsoft has really done this thing right. (And make no mistake, I love to bash Microsoft- but in the case, its just not deserved at all.)

This is my 2nd Zune 120 and this is one guy who couldn't be happier. I had a problem downloading the software but was able to get live help and we had it up and working in less than 30 minutes. I find the software and the Zune easy to use and I'm 58 years old!!!! So what's the big deal with a couple fingerprints on the case. Buy some Windex!!!! I got several docks (one for my PC, one for my Stereo and one for the radio at work) and 2 car kits. Canceled my XM radio, put away my cds and I'm enjoying listening to the music I want to hear!!!!!

When you have a problem with your Zune, you will want to have it repaired. You will first search for a local store to have your Zune repaired at. You will go to Best Buy hoping that they can repair your Zune at their repair center but alas, they cannot. So you will go home and search the Zune website for information about getting a Zune repaired. You will pay $80 for your repair. You will ship it to Texas and wait patiently for approximately 3 wks for its return. Finally UPS will drop off your Zune. You will open the box and realize that it isn't your Zune at all but someone else's refurbished Zune. No big deal- as long as it works! But it won't work. You will plug it into your computer and it will make strange noises before displaying a msg that reads "contact support." You will go to the Zune website. It will have you try a number of troubleshooting tricks before giving you a shipping label to allow you to ship it back to them yet again. You will be unwilling to part w/ your Zune for another 3 wks so you will call tech support before boxing it up. The automated system will not recognize the word "Zune." It will transfer you to a person who will ask for all of your information before telling you that Zune has its own service line. She will transfer you. You will be on hold for 26 mins. Then a recording will say "We're sorry but we are having difficulty connecting your call," and disconnect on you. So you will send the Zune back to Texas for repair. UPS will bring you a box about 3 wks later. This time the Zune you receive will not even be the same color as the one you'd originally sent out. But whatever- so long as it works! But again, it won't work. It will connect to your computer this time and take 2 and a half hours to download your music to it. You will have it playing in your car and all of the sudden it will stop playing, make some posessed robot noises, then display "contact support." You ship it to Texas. It comes back. Guess what? The THIRD replacement they'll send you WON'T WORK. You will call support. You will wait on hold (only 12 minutes this time) and someone will actually pick up this time (lucky!). The representative will apologize and say that this time they will give you expedited shipping for your Zune's trip to Texas. She'll tell you that she's putting a note on the service request to make sure that the next one they ship to you actually works. This will strike you as odd b/c you are a strange creature who thinks that they should be checking the refurbs before sending them out regardless. You will vow that if the next Zune they send doesn't work that Microsoft will regret their mistreatment of you. But you will realize that there's no throwing punches at Microsoft. You will wait for your next junk refurb and write a nasty review of the Zune product that no one will read- hoping to put a dent in the sales of a corporation who at the end of the day will never even know you exist.

Zune 120 GB Video MP3 Player Black (2nd Generation)

May 6, 2009 update: Still love my Zune 120. No problems or issues. I use it daily and it's running perfectly. Also, I brought it with me to Italy for two weeks and it was great to be able to change a couple of settings on the fly and tune in to Italian radio stations. Handy!

Initial Review:

A friend gave me an old iPod of hers when she upgraded to the iPhone. It was nice. I liked it. An old (I don't know which G; maybe 2G or 3G?) Little 2GB guy. Anyway, I outgrew it so decided to do a little research before choosing something. I know that Apple kinda has the corner on the "cool" of this market, but personally I think the iPod and iTouch (and therefore the iPhone, too) are u-g-l-y (ain't got no alibi). So if there was something sexier out there with good reviews and capabilities, I would definitely be interested. This is, after all, the very first MP3 player I've ever purchased. I wanted it to be a great one! Anywho, after much reading of Consumer Reports reviews and CNET reviews and such on the 5G iPods and the Zune, I decided to give MSFT a chance. I loved the way the 2G Zune models looked, with the big screen. And I wanted to listen to the radio, too. Luckily I was able to cancel my Zune 80GB order before it shipped, just as the 120GB model was released/announced. Whew! I got it today and charged it at work on my laptop and listened to the radio on the commute home. Now that it's loaded with all my music, pictures, videos, and podcasts and I've had a few hours to fool around with it and upgrade the software to 3.0 - BLISS! No complaints. Not a one. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Zune, my first (purchased) MP3 (and more) player. Way better than what Apple has to offer at present (for the same price), IMHO.

Full disclosure: I'm both an AAPL and a MSFT shareholder, so I want both companies to live long and prosper. Glad to see MSFT making a formidable crack at AAPL's iEmpire.

Cool discovery on an oops!: Doing chores around the house while listening to my Zune, I accidentally dropped the Zune (on the carpet, thank goodness). When this happened the headphones came unplugged from the Zune and when I put them back in, nothing happened. No sound, no nada. The lock was on, so I knew I hadn't accidentally hit any buttons with some effect. I was worried, but then realized that the Zune automatically paused my music and went into standby mode (the semi-off mode you can also reach by holding down the play/pause button). Tested it again, on purpose this time, and the same thing happened. Very cool! When I turned the device back on (by hitting the play/pause button) I then hit the play/pause button again and my music came back on, exactly where I'd last left it before the fall (and subsequent reenactment/test).

Smudges: The screen and control area are prone to smudges, but I bought a Griffin brand clear (hard) plastic (protective) case for it and not only does it look great, but the smudge factor is now a non-issue.

Battery life: So I've only had my 120 for about 48 hours, and I think I only charged it to 90% on the first day. After playing around with it since then (lots of HEXIC, a little video, radio, music AND HEXIC simultaneously, etc.) the battery was drained and needed to be recharged. I'll have to keep better track of the b-life now that I let it charge fully for 3 hours. Anyway, found some great battery life extension tips on CNET. Google "Make your zune battery life last longer" if you're interested. The tip I found the most helpful was number 8 (I didn't realize I hadn't been turning my Zune all the way off 'til reading this): "Be at the main menu for these procedures: To turn the unit off if you are going to come back to it in about a hour, (or a school day): Hold the play/pause button down until the screen goes dark. To turn the unit completely off, if you are not going to be using it for about a day or several hours, do the following: Hold down the back button while holding down the down button on the touch pad until the screen goes dark. Now the unit is completely off."

Games: Totally addicted to HEXIC, one of the two games that comes for free with this Zune. It's like TETRIS but with hexagonal (six-sided) blocks. It's way too much fun. You can listen to your music or the radio while you play the video game. Love it! Which isn't a shocker seeing as how I loved TETRIS as a kid. But it's really nice to be able to play games and listen to music, radio, or a podcast at the same time. Very cool.