If I didn't already have an iPod - and had not already invested lots of money in songs and videos downloaded from the iTunes media store - the Zune might be tempting. It's an impressive digital audio player, and the bigger screen is alluring.

But like so many Microsoft products, version 1.0 is not as polished as it should be.

The built-in 802.11 b/g WiFi radio is good only for Zune to Zune wireless song transfers, although there's no technical reason Microsoft couldn't open it up to allow wireless syncing with your PC, or wireless song downloads from the Zune Marketplace.

Microsoft says Zune will eventually become a family of products, so many of the issues that vex the first Zune could be addressed in future devices. The Zune Marketplace will certainly evolve to add more music, as well as video and audio books.

But for now, the iPod and iTunes system is superior to anything else on the market. It appears that Microsoft rushed Zune to the stores to meet the holiday shopping season, when a bit more seasoning would have made it a better product.