It seems like everyone has an mp3 player; a necessity for students, joggers and bored cubicle residents. With the iPod as the most popular MP3 player in the market, most people think of the Apple product when purchasing their first music gadget. This month, iPod will meet competition with Zune, Microsoft?s recently released MP3 player.

Selling at about $249.99, the Zune is cheaper than the iPod and has much to offer. It currently only comes in the 30 GB model, storing up to 7,500 songs, 25,000 pictures or 100 hours of video. The Zune plays WMA, MP3, AAC, JPEG, WMV, MPEG-4, H.264 audio and video files.

The Zune was officially released nationwide on Nov. 14. Stores like Best Buy have already shown customer interest. Best Buy sales associate, Ryan S., said that around two to three Zunes are purchased a day at the Elk Grove location. What is it about the Zune that have customers turning away from iPods and other MP3 players?

Pros:

The Zune gives customers three color choices: white, black and?uh, brown.

The 3-inch color screen is slightly larger than the iPod, allowing videos to be viewed in portrait or landscape mode. Ryan S. prefers the Zune?s picture clarity. “The LCD screen is a lot clearer than the iPod?s,” he said.

While the Zune and iPod?s 30 GB models are relatively the same price, the Zune gives more bang for your buck. The Zune comes with a built-in FM radio tuner, a feature you would have to buy separately for an iPod. The Zune also comes with free pre-loaded music, music videos, film shorts and background art.

Probably the most unique feature of the Zune is its wireless sharing capability. With a range of up to 30 feet, Zune owners can instantly connect with other Zunes nearby, sharing music and pictures freely. This gives the Zune some precedence with music lovers, allowing listeners to share full-length tracks for free. This may sound too good to be true, and it has a catch (due to legal music sharing issues). The recipient of the free track can only listen to it for up to three plays in three days. Afterward, it can be flagged and left on the device for future reference (like a reminder to purchase it). Pictures that are shared are free to keep forever.

While sharing music and pictures with friends and family seems normal, it is the 30-foot wireless range that extends this normal sharing community. Yup, you can even view what strangers walking to class are listening to ? and they?ll know about your odd love of “Jethro Tull” too. Eek! But don?t panic – you can choose to adjust privacy settings, block unknown users or just turn the wireless option off if you want to avoid becoming overwhelmed by everyone?s taste in music.

Cons:

The Zune weighs slightly more than the iPod, at 5.6 ounces versus iPod?s 4.8 ounces. The Zune?s boxy shape is also less appealing than the iPod?s sleek design. For the iPod user, Zune?s interface may take some getting used to, with a large center button that can be pushed in all directions (no click wheel!).

The Zune comes with its own software and marketplace, a nice integration, yet a frustration for current iPod owners who have to import songs from iTunes into this new system – almost like starting over. The marketplace also takes some getting used to, with songs bought with purchased Microsoft Points, about 79 points per song (Best Buy estimates this at 99 cents).

The Zune is currently only compatible with PCs. Before iPods gained popularity, Apple had limited compatibility to Macs. Now it seems like Microsoft is playing the same game.

Karen Balmes can be reached at [email protected]