Microsoft says Zune will support Vista

Microsoft has dismissed reports that its Zune digital media player, just launched in the US, is not compatible with the forthcoming Windows Vista operating system.

Microsoft's Zune Web site currently only lists Windows XP with Service Pack 2 and Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 with Update Rollup 2 installed as the operating systems that Zune currently supports.

But for Windows Vista the Web site says: "Windows Vista is not supported at this time. Check back soon for updates." The retail versions of Vista are due to launch in January 2007.

An article on the AppleInsider Web site also shows a screenshot of an error message saying, "This operating system is currently not supported by Zune" when trying to install Zune software on the not-yet-quite-final version of Vista.

But a Microsoft spokesman assured CNET.co.uk's sister site, silicon.com, that Zune will indeed support Vista once the operating system officially hits the shelves.

"Zune will support all versions of Vista when they become available," he said. 

Zune officially launched in the US this week, and while Microsoft has no official plans for any international versions a European edition is expected late next year.

A recent survey claimed half of iPod owners will ditch their Apple devices for a Zune when they next buy an MP3 player.