Let the games begin! Put Apple and Microsoft in the ring and see who’s left standing. What’s the battle over? Portable media players. I bought my iPod about two years ago and never looked back. I carry it with me whenever I leave the house, just in case I’m left with a spare minute to kill. The Zune is Microsoft’s answer to the iPod, in a market completely dominated by the signature white earphones. We are living in an iTunes nation. After a month of trials, would I trade my mint green iPod for a sleek black Zune? It’s Jobs vs. Gates again…this should be quite the throwdown.

This was a tough assignment. I am, admittedly, not the most technical person on the planet. Don’t get me wrong, I can use Word, surf the net, and check email like no other, but when it comes to introducing new technology into my life, I get nervous. Microsoft is promising me everything I have and more by introducing the Zune. The question isn’t whether I’ll like it, but rather, can they convert me? Unfortunately for them, that’s the issue all around as there is already a heavy favourite in this category. Can Microsoft beat Apple at its own game?

They’ve got their work cut out for them, but on paper and in practice, the Zune has it all. It comes in three different sizes, 4, 8, and 80GB (the 30GB unit is being phased out for Canada), and they range in price from $149.99 US to $249.99 US (Canadian prices TBA). Available in a range of colours, there are also ways to customize your Zune to make it truly “you.” The larger capacity version comes with a 3.2 inch colour video screen to watch videos or check out your pictures, and they all have wireless syncing capabilities. They even have their own touch control pad to compete with the iPod’s ever popular click wheel. I’m telling you, they’ve covered all the bases. You can watch the latest episode of The Office, tune into cheesy morning radio banter, and rock out to What is Love by Haddaway on repeat, all on your way to work.

Technical bits aside, with the Zune comes access to Zune Social. This is where it pulls away from the iPod. A Facebook-esque application that focuses on music, you can add friends, send them messages, see what they’re listening to, update your profile and status, see the most played songs on Zune Marketplace, and post comments to various Zune, and non-Zune related forums. I personally spend enough time on Facebook to write a real book, so adding yet another distraction to my day probably isn’t registering into my plus column. For today’s generation however, this is a major selling feature. Who doesn’t want to know what their crush is listening to at this very moment? Love In The Club by Usher? Swoon.

Zune Marketplace is the iTunes of the Zune world. You can purchase songs, videos and podcasts by getting a Zune Pass or purchasing Microsoft points. A Zune Pass allows you unlimited downloads with unlimited plays on up to three computers or devices and as long as you keep your Zune Pass account up to date, you can keep everything you download, for $14.99 a month. Purchasing Microsoft points allows you to buy things one by one, should you prefer it. And if you’re not sure if a song is worth the buck, but you know it’s on your friend’s Zune, he/she can actually send it wirelessly to your Zune so you can sample it (free) for up to three plays.

The device itself looks pretty slick. I even pulled it out a few times on my way to work just so that other people would think I was cool. This of course makes me incredibly not cool, but hey, it’s all I got. It was easy to use, pretty intuitive in its setup, the sound and video quality were really good, and the battery life? Just as good as my iPod i’d say, if not better. I’ll admit though, I saw someone pull an iPod Touch out beside me once and immediately felt trumped.

Zunes are slated to hit Canadian shelves within the next couple of months but Zune Marketplace won’t be available until the Fall. This makes absolutely no sense to me. Didn’t Microsoft learn the perils of non-simultaneous releases with the Apple iPhone debacle? I guess not. At least you’ll be able to complain about that with your fellow Canadian users on Zune Social, which will be available with the player’s release.

So, the verdict is in. For a first time buyer, the Zune is a completely viable option. It’s cool, full of features, and the quality you’re getting is great. Microsoft has the full package going. The problem of course is that everyone, including my 11-year-old nephew, already has an iPod. I think the fact that I’ve referred to everything in this column in terms of its equivalent speaks volumes.

For this music lover with an iPod and various iAccessories in her iPurse at all times, I don’t think you’ll have much iLuck with the iConversion.

A Peek at Stasia’s Current Playlist:

No Air by Jordan Sparks & Chris Brown
1234 by Feist
Foundations by Kate Nash
Touch the Sky by Kanye West featuring Lupe Fiasco
Piece of Me by Britney Spears
Edge of Seventeen by Stevie Nicks
Ruby by Kaiser Chiefs
Clumsy by Fergie
Smile by Lily Allen
The Long Way Around by Dixie Chicks

What we’re working on…

Next week, Stasia‘s got The Goods on the new Outlast All-Day Lipcolor + LashBlast Volume Blasting Mascara, both by CoverGirl.

Got a great new product that you think could make it on Stasia’s shopping list?
Email us and tell us about it!