Note: I know that some readers of this blog swore a blood oath against Microsoft in the 12th century. This post is not so much for you. . . or is it!?
Reading a little bit about Zune on the internets today, I came across something interesting. A blogger* out there named Nick Starr wants to give Zune a fair and balanced review, after using it exclusively for one month.
And he's asking his readers to donate half of the cost:
I’m going to give up any and all use of my iPods for an entire month and use the Zune exclusively, even my cute little new shuffle.
During the month, I will give updates about features that I find useful and ones that annoy me. At the end, I will write an entire Ars Technica style’d review of the Zune covering EVERYTHING and anything about it. . .
Here’s what I’m proposing. I’ve installed an Amazon gift link over on the right hand sidebar. Once I get 1/2 the cost of the Zune in donations, I will pitch in with the other half and make the purchase. That means I need $125 in donations, otherwise this thing isn’t going to fly.
The catch: he's considered by many to be an iFanboy, but one who'll be willing to write a balanced review:
I’d like to give the Zune a fair shot. I know I’m considered to be quite the Apple fan boy, but I also can stand back and look objectively at something to provide a fair and balanced review of it.
It's a really cool idea. Heck, I'm actually so interested in the results of this that I've got 1/2 a mind to just send him my own personal Zune player. Anyways, I've said before that I (we) love feedback. So I'm really interested to see how this develops.
*To head off any speculation/accusation right away, no-one, including me, from Microsoft has ever spoken with Mr. Starr. The idea to raise money for a Zune is entirely his own. I'm posting this on my blog because I think it's interesting.