Apple created a big buzz when it launched its iPod product lines a couple of years back. It has been the leader in the mobile media player industry. With the launching of Zune Player by Microsoft in 2006, has iPod met its match?

Microsoft Zune is not entirely a copycat of an iPod. It has a wider and larger LCD screen: a 3-inch wide screen with a 320x240 resolution. Its five-button controller is something similar to an iPod. It weights 283.5 grams with the dimensions of 11.2 x 6.1 cm x 1.4 centimeters. Microsoft Zune is also proud of the added durability of its players. Its casing is made out of rubber plastic material that minimizes scratches.

It has 30 gigabyte of space (its hard disk is manufactured by Toshiba) where you can store your music files, favorite videos, and pictures. Because of the relatively large hard disk space, Microsoft Zune appear to be bulkier than iPod. There are numerous file formats it can read including .mp3, .wma, .wmv, .jpeg, .mpeg-4, acc and h.264

Microsoft Zune is RDS-enabled, this means you can also listen to your favorite FM station anytime. It also supports video out playbacks. You can instantly enjoy your Microsoft Zune the minute you buy it from the store. It’s preloaded with great music that would definitely satisfy your appetite for good music.