Zune 80GB Review-Larry Holmes inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame

Lump of the Morning to you. Wednesday is review day at BUMPnLUMP but before we get into that how about a warm Bump n Lump to Larry Holmes for being inducted into the boxing hall of fame. The Easton Assassin was the last (and maybe only) Heavyweight to ever challenge Marciano's 49-0 record. Holmes went 48-0 before losing a close decision to Michael Spinks. Larry was the last dominant heavyweight fighter prior to Tyson. He held the heavyweight crown from 1978-1985 and defended the belt 20 times. Things I remember about Holmes:

1. He had one the all time best jabs in boxing.
2. When he beat the snot out of the "Great White Hope" Gerry Cooney
3. When he dissed Rocky Marciano after his loss that would of tied the record. His quote was "If you want to get technical about it, Rocky Marciano couldn't carry my jockstrap."
4. But my all time classic moment was when he puked going back to his corner during the fight against Holyfield. Classic YouTube moment.

OK so now to my long ass but detailed review of the Zune 80 GB Digital Media Player Black (2nd Generation). I still have not taken a sip of the iPod Kool-Aid, there are so many other mp3 player options out there if people took the time to look around. Anyways here we go:

Let me start off this review by saying I bought this Zune to replace a Creative ZEN Micro 5GB from 2004. It was an awesome mp3 player that if you don't need video or photo viewing still holds it's own against a lot of the current mp3 players out there. I replaced it because I finally filled up the 5gb of space. I was hoping to replace it with a newer version of the ZEN Vision M but that product never came out. Creative decide to go the Flash route and came out with the very cool new ZEN. I almost bought it but could not justify the $250 price for only 16gb of storage when I could get the Zune with 80gb of storage and a much bigger screen for the same price. Now Creative has a 32gb ZEN but they want a whopping $320 bucks. If the 32GB was $250 I would of picked it over the Zune, but it isn't sooo....I gave you all the background because even though I love the Zune it is lacking a bunch of basic features that my mp3 player from 2004 can do, that's why I am a bit frustrated.
Let me go over what I like about it.
Size: It's not a huge brick anymore like the first Zune was, it is much thinner and lighter. This was very important to me because 90% if the time I use my mp3 player at the gym. This Zune probably would look corny on an arm band, but as for a belt clip it would work fine for gym use.
Ease of use: Menu system on Zune is very basic and so is the Zune software. This is a pro and also a con (will get into that later).
Screen: beautiful screen, I love seeing album art, pictures look great, and video is very good too. I have watched 30 minute shows and it was easy on the eyes.
Sound: Sound quality is great and I really like the in ear buds that come with it. People are complaining about not having an EQ but it really does not bother me.
Price: $250 for 80gb is a good deal. I doubt I will have to replace this anytime soon because it is out of room.
FM radio is also cool, when it gets a station it actually pulls up info about what kind of music the station plays. I also like the fact that you can do video out with the Zune. I played a photo slide show on my 42 inch TV the other day with music playing as well, very cool. Video out on the TV was so-so but that really is just an added feature, I will watch most video on the Zune itself (if I can find any).
Here are my issues. I am going to ramble off a lot but obviously none of them have been deal killers otherwise I would have returned it. However, damn Microsoft, some of them are so basic, I have no clue what you guys were thinking.
Video-Such a great screen yet you STILL do not offer any real video content (music videos don't count) in the Zune Marketplace. When are you going to get TV shows and movies like Apple, Amazon, and Walmart, already have? You are one of the biggest companies in the world, ink a damn deal already. The good thing is that I have Microsoft Media Center running on Vista. So I can record shows and transfer them onto the Zune. However here comes another negative. Anything you record via Media Center needs to get converted by the Zune Software before it transfers over. And it TAKES FOREVER. 30 minutes shows take about 40 minutes to transfer onto a Zune. However an MPEG 4 file of a 30 minute show will transfer over in about 15 seconds. Why does a file created by a Microsoft product need to get converted to work on another Microsoft product? Which brings me over to my next gripe.Can't play protected WMA's and you can't use Microsoft Media player. The Zune is a Microsoft product and it doesn't even play their own file types nor use its own media product.Zune Software is sooo basic, that it doesn't let you rank or organize your collection as good as Media Center. It also doesn't work with auto play lists nor does it come with any preset play lists except "ZUNE GEMS" which is useless.With my 3 year old ZEN I can transfer files via Media Player including DRM WMA files. My ZEN comes with cool play lists. My favorite is called "Rarely heard" which picks 20 songs that have the lowest play count. This makes sure I hear all the songs on my player. I can't do this with the Zune because it doesn't come with it and it does not work with auto play lists that you can create in Windows media player (A Microsoft product).
Another thing my ZEN can do that the Zune can't is delete files directly from the device. You have to be docked to the Zune software to delete files, how dumb is that?Also if you delete a file from your collection on your your Zune Software, it also deletes it from the device, why the hell does it do that? Dumb again.As for the wireless feature I really could care less. I don't have a wireless network in the house and it really is not a big deal to plug in the ZUNE before transferring files. Plus the odds of me finding another Zune owner that I want to "share" files with is slim to none.
A few other things that drive me nuts.
Lack of accessories. It is unreal that I cannot find a decent case for this thing. Only ones available are very feminine leather cases that are bulky, and do not have belt clips or kick stands to watch video. They should of come out with some decent cases at launch. Since there are a decent amount out for the old Zune I am sure some will follow for this one as well, but now I am afraid to bring this thing to the gym until I get a case.
My final rant is not only about the Zune but about most mp3 players out now. Most come with no accessories other than headphones of some sort. Not even an AC charger. They make you shell out another $30 bucks for that. My ZEN MICRO that is almost 4 years old came with: headphones, TWO removable batteries, Case with belt clip AND kick stand attachment, and an AC Charger. I think it's a joke that most the players coming out now including the Zune can't even include a decent charger or a very basic case.Anyways I know I sound like I bashed the ZUNE but it's really only competitor (high capacity under $300 with video playback) is the iPod Classic, and I still believe the Zune is a better deal out of the two.The iPod touch is a totally different (and overpriced) product and the flash players such as the new ZEN and Sansa View don't have enough capacity (yet).I'm sure by next year around this time there will be plenty of 30gb or higher flash players in the market under $250. But I needed/wanted something now and the Zune fit's most of my needs even though its feature set is still a bit frustrating.
Larry gives it 2 1/2 Lumps out of 4

Vargas-Mayorga rant plus Wednesday's Reviews

One more day till the Lump Man gets his turkey eat on. Speaking of turkey how about the Vargas vs. Mayorga PPV that Showtime is airing this Friday night? $45 for two guys who are a combined 5-5 in their last 10 fights. Will the fight be entertaining yes, will there be a knockout, probably so. But it's an insult for this fight to be on PPV. All that being said I will have a pick for this one on Friday. OK on to this weeks reviews. Today I want to let you know about two great DVD stocking stuffers. If you don't get Showtime (like me) there are two great shows worth watching. Dexter and Brotherhood. Season 1 is available for both.
Dexter - The First Season is about a Miami Cop who has a slight problem, he is also a serial killer. Actually he is a serial killer with values, he only goes after other serial killers. The show is funny, dark, and twisted. The characters, especially Dexter are great. It's worth checking out, and so are the books it is based on.
3 1/2 Lumps out of 4.

The other DVD worth getting is Brotherhood - The Complete First Season. This is the story about the Irish Mob (finally not another mob story about the Italians!) in Providence, RI. The main focus is around two brothers, one who is a legitimate politician who has strong ties to his neighborhood, the other is the trouble maker who is just back in town trying to build up his "business" as a local mob leader. Funny dialogue, sometimes violent scenes, and a good story line makes Brotherhood a good watch. Larry gives it 3 Lumps out of 4.

That's all for now fight fans. I will probably take tomorrow off then give you a few quick takes on Friday about Boxing, MMA, AND Wrestling, plus predictions, and the weekend schedule.
Phewwww your boy Larry Lump Lump got a lot to say.

Wednesday is review day on BUMPnLUMP.com

Happy Lump Day (get it instead of Happy Hump Day...oh Man your Boy Larry Lump is a riot)
Today we take a break from the world of bumps n' lumps to talk about some items of interest from the past week. First off I bought this really cool little device for my computer that lets you get both regular cable AND HD stations (more on that later) to play on your PC. You can also use it as a DVR and record the shows. At that point they can either be burned to a DVD or transferred to a portable player. The product is called the Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-950 TV Tuner Stick/Personal Video Recorderand it goes for around $70 on Amazon. The thing pops into a USB port and from there you can either connect the cable wire coming from the wall or use the provided HD antenna to see if you have any luck picking up over the air HD stations for free. Well the cable wire worked great, I was able to get all of my basic cable stations up to channel 125. The HD antenna, not so great. I was only able to pick up 2 HD channels and one was in Spanish. Aye mamma sita! However if you buy a better HD antenna and get good reception you can technically grab 20-40 HD stations for free!. Video playback was crystal clear on the two HD stations, average for regular cable. If your expectations are in check I would give this item 3 lumps out of 4.
I also a rented a pretty decent movie this weekend called Brooklyn Rules. Yes it was a total knock off of A Bronx Tale, but it still was pretty entertaining, and most importantly it had some good dialogue (a must for mob movies). Larry gives it 2 1/2 lumps out of 4.
That's all for now. If anything else pops up in my dome today I will let you know, other wise until manana.....

Classic Lump and assorted rants

Happy Monday fight fans from your Boy Larry Lump Lump.
We had some good dukes on Saturday night with the Kessler vs. Calzaghe fight but now it's time to look ahead at next weekend's Cotto vs. Mosley fight on HBO PPV. Should be another good one. The voting polls are open on who you think is going to win.
Here are the rest of this past weekends fight results:
Nov. 03 -- Joe Calzaghe records a unanimous decision over Mikkel Kessler in Cardiff, Wales to capture the WBA & WBC super middleweight titles.
Nov. 03 -- Robert Guerrero records a first-round knockout over Martin Honorio Tucson, Arizona to retain his IBF featherweight title.
Nov. 03 -- Juan Manuel Marquez records a unanimous decision over Rocky Juarez in Tucson, Arizona to retain his WBC super featherweight title.
Nov. 04 -- Takefumi Sakata fought to a draw with Denkaosen Singwancha in Saitama, Japan to retain his WBA flyweight title.

For you UFC fans ESPN has an exclusive interview with their new heavyweight Brock Lesnar. Check it out here.

I saw 28 Weeks Later (Widescreen Edition)last night (no clue why I am watching all these zombie movies). Good, scary, tense flix. I would give it 3 lumps out of 4.

OK, finally what you have been waiting for, this weeks Classic Lump. Enjoy the third and final round of Hagler Hearns:

Larry Lump picks Kessler

That's right kids. Kessler wins by decision. Youth will dominate but Calzaghe will not go down.
That's the way I see if. Is the Lump man right or wrong? Let me know.
On a totally different topic I rented Grindhouse the other day. You know the Tarantino/Rodriguez double feature? Quentin's movie, "Death Proof" was weak weak weak. Two decent car crash/chases, but the rest of the movie was brutal. Even the classic Tarantino dialogue was non-existent. The Robert Rodriguez Zombie flix, "Planet Terror" was another story.
Totally remained true to the Grindhouse theme. Gross, funny, with a few hot chicks thrown in for good measure. You can rent them separately so stick with Planet Terror.
Well have a great weekend and let's hope for some decent dukes tomorrow night.

Some other interesting fights as well this weekend. Calvin Brock (damn he only has one loss?) fights tonight on Showtime and they also are showing the WBC Super Featherweight title match on Saturday.

TODAY - at Tacoma, Washington - (Showtime) -12 rounds, heavyweights: Calvin Brock (31-1, 23 KOs)vs. Eddie Chambers (29-0, 16 KOs).TODAY - Cabazon, California (Telefutura) -10 rounds - light middleweights: Kassim Ouma (25-3-1, 15 KOs)vs. Saul Roman (27-4, 24 KOs).

SATURDAY - at Cardiff, Wales (HBO) - 12 rounds,WBA & WBC super middleweight titles: Mikkel Kessler(39-0, 29 KOs) vs. Joe Calzaghe (43-0, 32 KOs);12 rounds, cruiserweights: Enzo Maccarinelli(27-1, 20 KOs) vs. Mohamed Azzaoui (22-0-2, 8 KOs).

SATURDAY - at Tucson, Arizona - (Showtime) -12 rounds, WBC super featherweight title:Juan Manuel Marquez (47-3-1, 35 KOs) vs.Rocky Juarez (27-3, 19 KOs); 12 rounds,IBF featherweight title: Robert Guerrero(20-1-1, 13 KOs) vs. Martin Honorio(24-3-1, 12 KOs).

SUNDAY - at Saitama, Japan - 12 rounds,WBA flyweight title: Takefumi Sakata (31-4-1, 15 KOs)vs. Denkaosan Singwancha (40-1, 16 KOs).

Larry L out