Zune HD preorders … and a sneak peek at some Zune HD cases

"No one has disagreed that it looks bad. I just hear a lot of people making EXCUSES." Actually, you called them "a bunch of freaks" for disagreeing with your notion that it's a big deal. And when I called it out, you went on your Hannityesque rampage against me. Good job.

lketchum, Our discussion crossed topics by accident I think. My issue regarding small was how the unit (or existing units) feel in my hands. Not about cramming a lot of text on a small screen. And again, my point was that they could have mocked up a better screen shot.

OK, so here's the thing: You think it's a disaster. Others think it's not a disaster and is probably a "design choice". I guess that's enough justification to call them names.

Shark, Please point out where I said anything regarding the Zune was a "disaster". lketchum, I don't have a problem with the iPod Touch interface. I'm not talking about the UI being small (though it could be an issue with my fat fingers), I meant actually holding the device itself...it's partially why I hate cell phones...they're too damn small. Next time I'm in a Best Buy or something, I'll have to check out the Zune...I'm not in the market for a new player right now, but you never know what could happen.

Shark, Please point out where I said that the cutoff "e" was a disaster? Thanks.

Are you asking me to point out where you used the word "disaster"? You didn't, but go ahead and feel free to reread some of your comments. While you didn't use that exact word, you did say a lot to imply that it was a flop as far as UIs go.

Wow, you guys see a criticism, and blow it way out of proportion! Yes, having a cut off letter looks bad...UI flop?! Give me a freaking break! I'll say it one more time... If I submitted a screen for check in that had letters cut off, and expected a commodities trader to use it and be happy, I'd have to deal with my boss, and the screen would need to be reworked so it didn't look like an oversight. Why can't you guys say, "Yes, letters shouldn't be partially cut off", instead of railing on someone for making a criticism of an obviously flawed image? Waethorn, I didn't know that my opinion was the barometer of success for the Zune HD. I hope the Zune HD does well...it will give Apple more incentive to improve their iPods. But, based on the MS's track record in this area, I doubt it will happen..... We'll have to wait and see I guess.

Shark, You are the guy that will take anything out of context to prove a point. Instead of quoting me out of context, why don't you tell the truth, and show that those quotes were in response to other people, and not me just posting over and over again the same thing out of nowhere, which would be obsessing. Or better yet, why don't you just stop trying to prove...whatever point that it is you are trying to prove. You are failing miserably.

If the entire UI was otherwise conformed to the screen and did not utilize cut-off objects as UI elements, I would agree that it would be a poor design choice to have a single letter partially cut-off. However, This is not the case. The Zune HD's UI is very fluid, with various 3D effects, and what you are seeing is a portion of an environment on which the UI elements are placed. The intended effect is abolishment of the notion of the screen edge as a boundary -- this is most evident when you drill down into the various areas of the UI, where the title is placed at the top of the screen, enlarged, darkened, and much of it is cut off. Enter the 'Music' section and you will find 'Music' at the top of the screen is mostly cut off -- but you still know that it says 'Music'. Additionally, when you enter a submenu, the main menu 'rotates' like a door opening to the left -- and you clearly see the whole 'e'. This actually is not very different from the current Zune, which also cuts off long lines as a design choice. They could've easily used one of various methods to bring all of 'Marketplace' on-screen, but they chose not to. Considering only an image of the main menu with no other knowledge of the UI, it looks like an error was made. Only once you see the UI in action do you realize how much the choice makes sense. Does it look good? That just depends on the individual, I suppose. As a motif, I like it. It emphasizes nonconformism throughout the UI, without compromising usability or readability.

Planetarian, Well said man, well said.

Perhaps also worth noting is that the bottom half of 'podcasts' is also cut off. This may make more sense in general as an indicator that the menu continues below the screen, but it is consistent with cutting off the e -- as an indicator that the UI is not conforming strictly to the screen.

check this one out, demoed by Brian Seitz of the Zune team: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JtMnkNh8jY