A company that has never until the X-box been really known for cool styling and attractive packaging, Microsoft keeps on building its creative side in the styling and presentation of the Zune. Anyone who has ever picked up one of the Zunes in a store is immediately struck by the presentation and the packaging.

A great thing about the Zune is the body’s resistance to fingerprints. Unlike many other MP3 players the Zune does not absorb every single finger mark you place upon it keeping it cleaner and more attractive looking, and not needing a cleaning all the time. The rubberized styling of the body also makes it feel considerably more rugged than much of its competition. You won’t feel afraid to carry it somewhere where it might get bumped a little. That’s a big draw, as these players are supposed to portable, and the fear that any bump or nudge will shatter one into a million pieces is not at all appealing.

The Zune is also a little heavier than some of the competition in a similar market. Some find this aspect annoying, while others like the substantial feel. The back is also made of brushed metal, which makes it much more scratch resistant than other model’s backing. People don’t want to feel like they have to keep a portable device in a velvet case, and this helps that a lot.

The screen is a fantastic feature of the Zune with a great size and super bright display capability, it makes looking at the Zune a pleasure. Watching videos on the screen appear crystal clear in a quality that is very surprising from such a  small machine.

All in all, the Zune is a sexy little device that is just as pleasant to look at as it is to use. The styling of the thing is hip, sheik and sleek looking. The fact of the matter is that in today’s image conscious society nobody buys anything that they will ever be seen with, from watches to cell phones to yes, MP3 players, without considering what it is going to look like and what others will think when they see it. The Microsoft Zune could sell itself strongly for that factor alone.