The Zune was introduced to a not so enthusiastic public in 2006.  Microsoft listened and came up with the new Zune 80 GB.  This new PMD has made an impact.  Microsoft kept the best of the old and added some cool new features.

The four directional Zune pad is great for navigating through the music and videos.  You can use it to scroll with a soft touch or click it up, down, left, and right.  You can easily go through the play list to find the song you want.  If you hold the Zune pad down there is an accelerated scrolling feature that kicks in.  The big letter on the left side of the display shows where you are in the list.  You can scroll through by artist, song titles, or genre.  

Another great feature the Zune 80GB has going for it is the way the Zune pad works with videos and Pod Casts.  The big 3.2 inch screen offers an excellent view.  Yet when you turn the Zune 80GB sideways to watch the video, the Zune pad control options rotate with it.  You don't have to worry about which is up or down.  You can also fast forward through the video in 30 second intervals.

The drawback to the Zune 80GB is that it must be synchronized before you can use it.  The cool thing is the Zune has wireless syncing so it can automatically sync to the user's PC.  The user can use it with the wireless network they have or when ever the Zune 80GB is docked.

The Zune 80GB will let you share files with other Zune users in the area.  With built in Wi-Fi the :MD will search for other Zune users in the area.  You can share videos, songs, pictures, and Pod Casts.  The user you send the information to will be able to view or listen three times a day for the next three days.  If they decide they want to buy the file, the Zune Marketplace has it available.

The Zune Marketplace is where the Zune user can find millions of files for their Zune 80GB.  There are albums, Pod Casts, music videos, and more the user can sync to the Zune.  You can buy files by the file or purchase a Zume Pass for $14.99 a month for unlimited downloads.

Zune also offers a great community for it's users.  Zune Social is where the user can see what everyone else is listening to or watching.  There are hints and tips to maximize your Zune experience.  The Zune community is a great place to see what everyone else is doing to their Zune.

All in all the new Zune 80GB has come a long way in just a short time.  The new features are great.  The users are a lot happier with the new Zune.