and then maybe someone other then Bill Gates will buy one

I am consistenly unimpressed by the design of the Zune. What surprises me about MS is that they could not foresee that the design would be probably be as/more important than its capabilities. Otherwise, how can you explain why they came out with a product so completely unattractive as the Zune. A thinner, Flash based player is a good start but they need to get some innovative design consultants to create an appealing look for the Zune.

So why is this news?

MS was saying this (flash based Zune) before the Zune v1 was even launched. Just a rehash of old/known statements.

I don't like the Zune, but i didn't want to hate it when it first came out. It's fine that they want to make it thinner and better, the iPod is the same way; each generation is lighter, thinner and has more features than the last.

But the thing is, with the iPod being such a runaway freight train of a success, the Zune is the best that Microsoft can come up with? It's not ugly, it's not bad: it's just not good.

And people are complaining about re-releases of iPods! haha

My guess is:
-true Wi-Fi means browsing the internet/downloading songs you've selected whenever it connects
-a Nano competitor
-touchscreen
-overall smaller, sleeker design with cues from the 360

In short, it takes some of the best ideas from the iPhone and puts them in a useful device. Don't get me wrong, the iPhone will be a tremendous product but battery life will cripple it. People will continue to carry an mp3 player and a cell phone until battery tech can guarantee them sufficient talk/playback time.

You had to expect they would immediately start work on a 2nd Gen player, especially considering the tepid response of the initial release.

What will be interesting is if they actually design the thing themselves instead of rebadging a Toshiba player.

i call it, apple syndrome. Symptoms include VERY slow progression into modern technology, and re-releases of everything. 6 times. The next step, will be creating the "gates-phone 360". possible touch sensitive controls. there will be v1-v7

I dont feel like waiting that long...SO i''l buy the 1st gen Zune. Its UI is far better then anyone elses, and it has bottons...not touch sensitive crap.

You people just cant get over the name...If it was made by Apple you would be like "WOW, Jobs is a GOD, A bigger screen ipod! Sweet! Aplle is so smart and innovative, and MS sux!"

get a life, The zune is a damn good player.

i like my zune, im not sure what anyone is complaining about w/ the music and video and fm radio playing. its doing good for me. its smaller than my nintendo ds which i was using w/ a homebrew thing for mp3 playing. i think its already a nice sized media player.
not too much skill to navigate the main menus w/ my eyes closed.

All the negativity towards the Zune is based more on the hate for Microsoft than anything else. I have an IPOD, I have a Zen, and guess what, I just went out and bought a Zune 4 days ago. I love it. Like Gilliam said, navigating with your eyes closed is a snap. I have the menus memorized already and I can click my way to music in no time, and in the dark.

The Zune Marketplace has all the music I can handle. Sure, there are some artists that are not covered there, but the same rule applies to every other service out there. Trust me I know this because I have subscribed to most of them out there at one time or another.

The Zune is an excellent start by Microsoft. I look forward to firmware updates that will open up new features. Check out the hack sites for Zune and see what they have to offer. And quit whining.