Many articles in the press have chronicled the failure of Microsoft’s first-generation 30GB Zune MP3 players. They all simply froze on December 31, 2009. The remedy: they had to be powered on and allowed to completely discharge, and then wait until after 12:00 GMT on 1/1/09 before they could be used again. Total downtime – around 24 hours.
Microsoft is yearning to expand its market space into embedded systems in automobiles, military systems, and other areas. Am I being overly fearful of the consequences of a Microsoft whose products are even more deeply embedded into the machinery of our lives? Today is one of those days when I am distrustful of technology as a path for an easier life.
Articles:
Leap year Zune glitch persists for some (CNN)
Original Zune confounded by leap year, shuts down (Seattle Times)
Peter H. Gregory 
Rats! And to think…I bought you that Zune for Christmas last year!!
I have heard great things about the up and coming Zune HD, I was wondering if you had anything to say on the matter that the Zune HD (HD only being the High Def radio) but the graphics capability and it being able to play high quality games. let me know Zune Clan and all about the Zune HD Cheers
those generic mp3 players that are made in china are really cheap but i still prefer to use my ipod `,*