Packaging

Often the box a product comes in will be the difference between someone looking and someone pulling the product off the shelf and putting it in their cart. Here Microsoft has had some problems. Their packaging is typically boring and unless you know what you are looking for it is not going to grab your attention.

With the Zune HD Microsoft has taken a different track. They are using similar packaging to the iPhone/iPod Touch. Here we have a hard case done up in flat black. There is an attractive image of the Zune HD on the front and a listing of the Zune HD's benefits in large block letters on the back.

The sides give us capacity (16GB in this case) as well as the required logos for HDMI and HD Radio.

Once you crack open the box you can still see the similarity to the iPhone in the way the Zune HD is packed away inside. In addition to the Zune HD Microsoft gives you a set of headphones (complete with three different color foam covers), the Zune HD USB connector cable and a ton of PR material. Some of the PR stuff is good, though, like the Zune Pass 14 day trail offer; but we will talk more about that later.

For the Zune HD & AV Dock the packaging is not as exciting. Microsoft went to a plain white box front with a picture of the Dock and Remote. It is not as exciting as it could have been and probably should have remained flat black like the Zune HD box.

The back does return to the flat black, but with the way the front is laid out it is unlikely that this side will get looked at by a passing consumer.

After you get past the packaging you find that Microsoft has included everything (with the exception of a Toslink cable) you need to use the Zune HD AV Dock with your existing home entertainment system.Microsoft has also included adapters to allow you to use this dock with other Zune models.