I may be a Mac user, but that does not make me an Apple fanboy. If anything, it makes me more critical of Apple, and has intensified my hatred of iTunes, while simultaneously increasing my desire for the Zune software to dominate my local media world.

In my Apple world, there are typically only two things that go wrong: The first, and most popular problem is Flash. Yes, it is true, Flash typically crashes on a daily basis on my Mac. If it wasn’t for my obsession with Vevo, and my last semester Math class requiring I have Flash in order to do my homework, I would rid myself of it immediately.

The second thing that typically goes wrong is iTunes. We all know the horror stories of iTunes on both Macs and Windows PC’s, and they are not exaggerated on either platform. In fact, I find iTunes to be worse on a Mac.

The typical savior from iTunes when I owned a Windows computer?

Zune.

The application was beautiful as well as functional, and with the Zune Pass added, my options for music were limitless. Sadly, at the time I owned an iPod touch, requiring me to grudgingly open iTunes on the rare occasion I needed to upload music or apply the occasional software update. Then, my iPod touch was stolen after purchasing my Mac (which I am still raging about), cutting all loyalties I had to iTunes.

With my iPod stolen, I chose to look at the Zune HD. After using the device numerous times, I had fallen in love with it. But without the Zune software, the Zune HD is basically a useless device. I was then left with two options,  my first option was to “hack” my Zune HD to get it to work with my Mac. My second option was to simply purchase what I have purchased all my life, another iPod.

Since I am a person who bases my love of products based off of my ease of use with them, plus I am lazy, I have chosen to get yet another iPod. While I truly hate iTunes, it works well enough on both major OS’s without too much hassle, providing me with convenient entertainment.

Which brings me to my final point.

If Microsoft truly wants to win the war against Apple in the smartphone/media player market, why isn’t the amazing Zune software available for the Mac?

Microsoft has successfully alienated people like me who would love to own a Zune HD, and have the Zune experience. With that would come more purchases made through my Xbox 360, and a no questions asked Zune Pass subscription to boot. Not to mention I would be the proud owner/convert of the Zune HD. I know many will say that I am the outlier and Microsoft has no obligation to address the market of me. But, what is now a market of me could be a market of many if Microsoft let Mac users experience the awesome that is the Zune Media Player.

Microsoft can’t afford to be picky, and while their stripes are changing, providing a seamless experience for both Windows and Mac users shouldn’t be just an option for them, it should be a rule. It’s all the little things that make the whole of a great product. This is just one more little thing Microsoft needs to do in order to make the whole.

[Cross-posted at Winextra]