'Is that a black Ipod?' No, It's a Zune. 'What's a Zune?'

With the world domination that is the Apple Ipod and their "It's so uncool to use Microsoft" slogan, the superior Microsoft Zune is left in the dust.

I travel fairly often and have found many passengers next to me using their Ipods. We often compare our products for a few minutes and chat about what's great and not-so-great about them. Low and behold, they more often than not are amazed at the beautiful large screen, ease of use and superior quality to that of the Ipod. They mostly stare longingly at my Zune for the rest of the flight.

I compare the Zune to the Ipod for obvious reasons, as the Ipod has the entire digital player market eating out of the palm of its hand. Here's why I choose Zune:

1. The screen - I love watching movies, tv shows, podcasts etc. The screen is huge, about 30% larger than the comparable Ipod. For such a small screen to begin with, that's a big difference. When using video, it also goes into landscape mode.

2. Wireless Capabilities - More and more people have wireless networks, so you don't have to connect your Zune to your pc to sync, just turn it on! It also has the ability to wirelessly scan for other Zunes in the area for file-sharing. Ipod? Nope & Nope.

3. FM Tuner - Built in to check local weather, news etc.

4. Earbuds - The earbuds you get with your Zune are premium earbuds and they are great. They block out the sound and they're very clear. Best of all, they're black so you're not a target for theft.

5. Zune Marketplace - Online paradise for Zuners. You get unlimited downloads for $15/month.

Extras - Lighter than the Ipod, snazzy backgrounds for customization, preloaded audio & video to expand your musical horizons, you can use it right out of the box, no all-night charging, touch sensitive controls, great packaging, helpful online support.

Overall, I've been completely thrilled with my outside-the-box Zune. I'm glad I did my research before buying an Ipod like everyone else.