With 30GB of on-board hardrive, an FM tuner, a 3-inch screen, and the choice of more stylish cases than the old iPod skins, The Microsoft Zune is the latest in portable entertainment. Sure, it’s way behind the iPod in release date - but it’s capabilities far exceed it - at least for now.

The Zune offers a wireless network to connect to your friends’ own Zune - wirelessly, and the ability to create your own themes and layouts, of course, with access to millions of songs via the Zune Website. And you’re never going to be stuck without help; Microsoft has opened a whole new line of dedicated customer support to help you with any problems you encounter with the new-range Zune.

Microsoft says that “Zune makes it easy to find music you love — whether it’s songs in your existing library or new music from the Zune Marketplace. Easily import your existing music, pictures and videos in many popular formats and browse millions of songs on Zune Marketplace, where you can choose to purchase tracks individually or to buy a Zune Pass subscription to download as many songs as you want for a flat fee.”

So, going back to that wireless sharing with your friends; the wireless capabilities are great, for a portable media player. Share tracks, playlists, recordings from home, and pictures over the Zune wireless connection. If you like a song you download from the Zune Website, or receive from your friends, you can listen to it three times and flag it on your Zune.

Zune has a range of accessories already available, and is currently working with 13 leading manufacturers to release more packs for the Zune.

Right now, there are three accessory packs on the market:

• The Zune Car Pack
• The Zune Home A/V Pack
• The Zune Travel Pack

The Car Pack will include a car charger and radio FM tuner, whilst the Home Pack will enable you to increase sound output, and that means power! A Zune AV Cable will allow you to hook your Zune up with a speaker, along with Zune Dock, (a wireless remote comes with it too) a sync cable, an AC adapter and lastly, a sync cable.

The Travel pack will include a dual connect remote for more than one listener, earphones, an AC adapter, a gear bag and a sync cable.

Prices are cheapest at Amazon - there’s a link under our ‘Affiliates’ column to the left at $229. If you buy anywhere else, it’ll probably cost you roughly $250.

More information about the Zune can be found at the Zune Website.