Last year I asked my husband to get me a new iPod for Christmas, as my old one had gotten swiped. He is not a gadget-type fellow so he went to the store and asked a sale person to help him pick one out. Thank goodness for that salesperson! The present I opened on Christmas morning of 2007 was a blood-red Microsoft Zune. It was as shiny as a new car and it didn't have one single scratch on it. I couldn't wait to plug it into my computer and fill it up, which I'm still working on. A year later, I still love my Zune just as much as the day I got it.

The Microsoft Zune comes preloaded with all the necessary software, a set of headphones, a sync cable (to link your Zune to your computer), and a user's manual. Once you plug the Zune into your USB port, the Zune Marketplace program loads to your computer and you are ready to go. The Zune can hold music, videos, and pictures and is even equipped with an FM tuner. The pictures are crystal clear and the videos show the finest details. The Zune Marketplace, which is where you can download songs and create playlists, is easy to navigate. Finding and downloading a song is very simple at the Zune Marketplace. Every song I have ever looked for has been available - and I try to stay current on music of all genres.

The only bad aspect of having a Zune, which I am happy to say has improved dramatically in the last year, is that accessories and other Zune products were difficult to find. For a while, Target was the only place to purchase Zune accessories and they maintained minimal stock. Lately I have seen many Zune items at Toys R Us, Target, Amazon, and Best Buy.

If you are considering purchasing a Zune for yourself or for a loved one, I urge you to go for it. While it may be a little more expensive than other digital media players currently on the market, the quality of the Zune is well worth it.