A Tale of Two Zunes: the Zune 30 and Zune 80

[Jason Dunn]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKLybcCwaV0

Ok, so sometime tomorrow you'll have the new Zune software, and you'll have updated your Zune 30 to the new Zune software. But you might be wondering, does the new Zune 80 [affiliate] offer any improvements over your Zune 30 (other than hard drive size of course). What's the performance like on the Zune 30 with the new firmware - is it as snappy as the Zune 80? This video should answer all your questions.



I don't really have any bloopers in my videos, although I did make some verbal flubs, but if you listen closely to the start of this video, you can hear me let out a big sigh. I think I'd be working on these video reviews for three hours straight, and I was starting to get a little tired. The things I do for you Zune lovers! ;-)

[Jason Dunn]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKLybcCwaV0

Ok, so sometime tomorrow you'll have the new Zune software, and you'll have updated your Zune 30 to the new Zune software. But you might be wondering, does the new Zune 80 [affiliate] offer any improvements over your Zune 30 (other than hard drive size of course). What's the performance like on the Zune 30 with the new firmware - is it as snappy as the Zune 80? This video should answer all your questions.



I don't really have any bloopers in my videos, although I did make some verbal flubs, but if you listen closely to the start of this video, you can hear me let out a big sigh. I think I'd be working on these video reviews for three hours straight, and I was starting to get a little tired. The things I do for you Zune lovers! ;-)

[hack30]

I noticed in one of your videos you had the first Zune Dock and the second Zune Dock side by side. How does the Zune 80 fit into the the first generation Zune dock?

Thank!

[Jason Dunn]

Originally Posted by hack30

How does the Zune 80 fit into the the first generation Zune dock?

It doesn't - only the Zune 30 fits into the original Zune dock. The new Zune dock, which I got in the Zune A/V pack (I'll review that later), has three plastic dock adaptors that you swap out depending on what Zune you're going to connect. Most people don't have three different Zunes like I do, so it's not as much of a hassle as you might think.

[hack30]

Shoot! I've got two of the first gen docks and was considering getting the 80gb model. But to have to get new docks.....that's just silly. I thought it was going to be backwards compatible.

Thanks for the info!

[Rocco Augusto]

Very nice job Jason! I'm excited for tomorrow!

[dscellen]

I assume the new Zune software works with the Zune 30 as well?

[Jason Dunn]

Originally Posted by hack30

But to have to get new docks.....that's just silly. I thought it was going to be backwards compatible.

Yeah, I hear you. I think it was probably a compromise they made to make the Zune 80 thinner - the connection plug is near the front of the bottom, whereas the old Zune it's in the middle.

[Jason Dunn]

Originally Posted by dscellen

I assume the new Zune software works with the Zune 30 as well?

Yup, you bet. When you dock your Zune 30 it will update the firmware to 2.1. Check out my video here:

http://www.zunethoughts.com/news/show/23466/

[MarxMarvelous]

How much did you have loaded on the Zune 30? Would you say that a lot of the hiccups (spinning wait cursor for a few secs) have been fixed?

Thanks!

[Jason Dunn]

Originally Posted by MarxMarvelous

How much did you have loaded on the Zune 30? Would you say that a lot of the hiccups (spinning wait cursor for a few secs) have been fixed?

I had about 10 GB of music, around 800 photos, and maybe 5 GB of video. Everything seemed quite snappy, and I didn't notice any slowdowns. I've honestly been playing with the new hardware more though, so I haven't had a lot of hands-on time with the old Zune...the new hardware is just so sexy.