Running the Zune 80 on Apple OS X v10.5

re: Running the Zune 80 on Apple OS X v10.5

R. Bloodworth — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 07:45:09 GMT

A lot of us run 10.5 on our Power PC based G5's

Sorry Zune. Make nice and work with itunes and I'd buy one tommorrow. The ipod classic is so bad that gen 5.5 ipods with lower capacity are selling for twice the price of a new classic on amazon.

re: Running the Zune 80 on Apple OS X v10.5

Keith Combs — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 01:21:20 GMT

Yea, I totally understand your frustration Larry. I would like to see a OS X version of the Zune software, too. Nobody in their right mind would do what I did in this post unless they had applications they MUST run on Windows. The picture is Windows Vista running the Zune software via VMWare Fusion "Unity" mode. Unity mode basically hides all of the Windows Vista stuff except the running application. In this case it's the Zune software application. The other reason this is possible is because Fusion supports USB connections.

I did not test this extensively and do not know what problems might crop up. If you buy a Mac, it would probably make more sense to use an iPod, for now.

I will pass this feedback to the Zune development team but don't hold your breath unless you look good in blue. :?)

re: Running the Zune 80 on Apple OS X v10.5

Larry — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:48:45 GMT

I just ran across this even though it's a few months late. I just bought a Zune because the value compared to an iPod Classic is outstanding. But whenever the iPod Touch reaches better storage capacity, I'll be buying that. But it makes me mad that Microsoft won't release a marketplace version for OS X. I was going to buy a MacBook Pro until I learned of this. Now I'm not sure what type of computer I'm getting for college.

re: Running the Zune 80 on Apple OS X v10.5

Keith Combs — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 03:12:56 GMT

Cody, Don't be a smart ass. I was a professional programmer for 15 years and have coded in many languages including assembler, C and C++.

How I did it is in the comments. It's called virtualization.

re: Running the Zune 80 on Apple OS X v10.5

Cody Jones — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 03:05:41 GMT

I find this topic very hard to believe seeing how i have a 30 gb Zune and a brand new MacBook Pro and the program will not run because Macs only recognizes .dmg and very few other file types as applications. Also i've looked on the Zune website and they do not offer the Zune software for OS X, OS X Leopard, etc. So the only why you could possibly run the Zune software on OS X is if you reprogram the programing. And i doubt you could read the C+ language, let alone any other.

re: Running the Zune 80 on Apple OS X v10.5

Austin Chang — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 13:04:32 GMT

i am tryin to run the zune instal and it gives me an error message about ordinal 128 cannot be located in dynamic link library msi.dll. how would i go about fixing this?

re: Running the Zune 80 on Apple OS X v10.5

Keith Combs — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 21:58:07 GMT

Ha ha ha. I just followed the link to the iPod bin. Put a $350 iPod Video 80GB device in there? No way, you think I'm stupid? I'd sell it first.

No, the Microsoft overlords didn't make me write it. The only time I've been asked to write anything is if we have some new utility or product come out and they would like me to post something.

The iPod I have was purchased for one reason initially. I purchased it to figure out how to podcast, get stuff posted to the iTunes catalog, sync podcasts and webcasts to it, etc. Being the video enthusiast I am, that was a natural part of the testing.

I like the Apple products. I'll buy an Apple iPod Touch when the storage capacity gets to 60GB or greater. And I'll write about the Pro's and Con's when it happens. If it kicks the Zune in the teeth, it will be in the article. As it should be.

re: Running the Zune 80 on Apple OS X v10.5

Keith Combs — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 21:46:03 GMT

Yea, it was definitely a rant to a rant. Or at least that's how it started. After I got over that, I thought it was just an interesting technical experiment. You are right, I seriously doubt many people will do this unless of course they must run a Windows application, and they already have a Zune.

It was fun doing it. It certainly looks cool with Unity.

One thing to think about however, as the virtualization environments evolve, wouldn't it be nice to have applications run without having to install the full OS like Windows or OS X?

The next decade is going to be interesting...

re: Running the Zune 80 on Apple OS X v10.5

Ronald — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 21:23:46 GMT

I am not going to run a VM just to have a Zune. That's a little silly. And very un-Mac like anyway. And you need a copy of Windows, and you need an Intel Mac. So, why not get an iPod if you are an OS X user? Is there anything really compelling in the Zune that you have to waste more space with Windows, and Fusion?

C'mon now, your post just seems like a rant in response to another rant.

Did your Microsoft overlords make you write this article? Of course, it appears you didn't put your iPod into the amnesty box:

http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/25/microsofts-ipod-amnesty-bin-keeps-zune-coders-on-the-up-and-up/

re: Running the Zune 80 on Apple OS X v10.5

Darryl Burling — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 06:06:04 GMT

On the space issue - you can set up a UNC share in the Zune library settings and store all your music remotely - this gets around local storage issues, but at the price of tying you to a server.

However, I use this combo at home with WHS and it works great.