iPod or Zune?

[Reverend_Smitty]

I'm in the market for a new MP3 player and I've pretty much got it narrowed down to an 80gb iPod or an 80gb Zune.

So far what I've been reading on the second generation Zune is that it is a big improvement over the first gen one and I'm pretty much leaning toward the Zune. I like the wireless sync option, especially that my podcasts will automatically be updated without having to link-up directly to my computer. I also like that I don't have to deal with iTunes (I friggen hate that program), plus the Zune has a bigger display screen. Other than that I'm guessing both are pretty equal machines, so I guess what I'm asking, is there something horrible about the Zune or something wonderful about the iPod that I don't know about? Or should I just go with my gut and buy the Zune?

On edit:
I currently own a Zen so I have no real love or hate for Apple

[Deja Q]

1. iPaq

[PeaceNikki]

2. I vote Zune

I replaced my iPod with one. I hate iTunes. I like the Zune a lot. Wireless is cool, too.

[ScreamingMeemie]

3. We still stick with the iRiver. I don't much like Zune or ipod.

It's worth it to walk away from the "popular" pieces in favor of the longer lasting, been around long before pieces of equipment.

[Reverend_Smitty]

4. Does the iRiver have a high storage model?

I'm looking for a device that I can hold my whole music collection (about 20-30gb) and some video files?

[ScreamingMeemie]

5. The X20 has 80GB

They are not as slick as ipods but they are easy to use and quite nice.

[Reverend_Smitty]

6. I'll have to check it out

:hi:

[NMDemDist2]

7. I got hubby the Zune for his birthday

he is absofuckinglutely loving it

but it's his first MPGplayer so he's no expert

I got him the 80 gig in black and the video is amazing, he loaded all 100 of his favorite CDs on it and it used less than 8 gig, so far he's got two movies loaded up and is working of the first season of Babylon 5 and it's moving right along.....

I was impressed how well the earbuds canceled out the outside noise and the sound quality seems pretty damned good to me.

that's my 20 second review from a Zune owner (albeit a very new one)

have fun! :hi:

[Reverend_Smitty]

8. I know it wouldn't make or break a purchase...

but it did look like the Zune had much better earbuds...they looked all soft and squishy in the picture :P

[NMDemDist2]

9. yup, and they have the old cloth covering on the wires

instead of that flimsy plastic coating so even the wires are cushy LOL

and it seems they'll hold up better that way too

:hi:

[Reverend_Smitty]

11. maybe it should be a selling point for me...

I'm an absolute destroyer of earbuds...I'm not sure what I do to them but it seems like I'm buying a new pair every 6 months lol

[flvegan]

10. I love my Zen.

80 gig is more than I'd ever need or want. The Zen goes up to 32 gig.

[Reverend_Smitty]

12. I had a great experience with my Zen as well

but the largest model Creative offers is the Vision M which is 60gb and is $50 more than the iPod or Zune which makes me sad :(

[LeftyMom]

13. ipod- accessories are everywhere, help is everywhere,

and if it quits on you, the apple store will swap pretty much any out-of-warranty model out for a new one for the cost of a battery swap, in my experience.

I shudder to think what getting service from Microsoft must be like.

[PeaceNikki]

20. MS was very helpful and quick with me. FAR better than Apple.

The cord on my Zune was faulty and I got a new one in 2 days... with a follow-up call that it fixed the problem.

When my iPod went bad it was several calls, no help and it went on ebay for parts.

[Catch22Dem]

14. iPhone - Best toy I've ever owned. nt

[Fox Mulder]

15. iPod.

I have an 80gb iPod classic. I love it.

[RoyGBiv]

16. Zune and iPod DRM

Take note that the Digital Restrictions Management on the Zune and iPod are set up so that any content you purchase from any legitimate source other than their own (Zune Marketplace or iTunes respectively) that has some form of restriction will not play.

They will both play non-DRM media.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

18. My iPod has no trouble with music from my CD collection

:shrug:

[RoyGBiv]

19. No DRM ...

Your CD collection isn't restricted like that ... well, not most of your CDs are, although there are some that try it. Strictly speaking, you're not "allowed" to play your CD collection on any device other than a CD player manufactured by a company that has paid the licensing fees necessary to legally use the label. But when the standard was set out, few foresaw the rise of digital music of this variety that could so easily be shared, and little attempt was made to incorporate restriction into it.

If you're "ripping" the CDs to play on an MP3 player, you're not adding any DRM to it, so, yes, it'll play on any MP3 player out there.

The point is, there are many services out there that legitimately sell songs for your MP3 player, and they tend to come with some sort of digital restriction management, some of which are friendlier than others in that it doesn't force you to play the media on a certain device. Both Apple and Microsoft with their MP3 player products are trying to wipe out the rest of this market, just like they do with everything.

And, if you do start using either the iTunes store or Marketplace, the stuff you buy there will lock you into the hardware they sell. (Well, there are ways around it, but I'm speaking in terms of legalities.)

[vi5]

23. Itunes/ipod and zune plays mp3's from emusic.....

I've never had any problem. There's no DRM so that's why, but saying that they'll only play mp3's purchased from their services is wrong.

Granted e-music caters to indie rock, jazz, classical, reggae, metal, etc. and not big name classic rock bands, but it all depends on what the OP listens to.

[RoyGBiv]

28. Right ...

No DRM, which is what I said.

[cabbage08]

17. Ipod

[khashka]

21. I loves me my iPod

But then I'm an Apple cultist, so I'm biased. Check 'em all out and choose the one that best suits your needs and wants.

Khash.

[vi5]

22. The Zune is wretched....

Only people who reflexively and irrationally hate Apple could love the Zune. I've had ipods since the second generation came out 4 or 5 years ago and not had a single, solitary, even tiny problem with them (I've had 2, my daughter had one and now my wife has one). My wife received a Zune as a gift and we attempted to set it up and it's the most unweildy, constantly crashing, user un-friendly piece of garbage ever. My brother got one as well and had the same experience.

[PeaceNikki]

31. The iPod is wretched....

Only people who reflexively and irrationally hate Microsoft could love the iPod.

I had a gen 1 iPod that I received as a gift and the battery sucked, the software iTunes software is a bloated, unmanageable joke, the hardware blows. The support was unhelpful.

I own a Zune and 4 of my close friends do as well. It hasn't "crashed" once. We've all been very happy. I had a faulty cord and Microsoft support was helpful and I had a new one at my door in 2 days and a follow-up call to be sure the problem was fixed. In addition, I paid a LOT less for 30 GB with my Zune than I would have with Apple. AND, I am ok with a small percentage of the profits going to Gates and the wonderful Gates Foundation.

[vi5]

32. I have no problem with microsoft....

I have a PC and a mac and both have their place and their pluses and minuses so I don't reflexively hate anything. Most of what I know about computers I know from pc and microsoft creations and software.

But as someone who has 50,000 mp3's and uses an mp3 player in the car, at the gym, at work, at home, upstairs, downstairs, everywhere there's just absolutely no comparison. But, everyone has their opinions and their own personal needs in a device so as long as there's something out there for everyone.

But I'm guessing that the number of sales both in terms of ipods and with itunes being the #1 music retailer at this point speaks for itself as far as which ones customers are finding more beneficial to their needs.

[baldguy]

24. Keep the Zen

Both the iPod and the Zune use DRM - they don't think the music you own is yours.

[av8rdave]

25. I'm a little pi$$ed about ipods right now

Have had nothing but trouble with my ipod nano. Will the Zen let me play stuff from itunes?

[baldguy]

27. No. But then you don't own any music on iTunes.

You only have the *rights* to use those *files* as long as you conform to Apple's license agreement. If at some point they decide you aren't conforming to that agreement (like using an "incompatible" player) you are screwed. They can do this at any time, and you have no recourse to prevent it.

How far are you willing to trust a multi-billion dollar, multinational corporation?

Welcome to the world of DMCA.

[Erva]

26. We have had both at my house and the Zune is the best

in our humble opinion. My kids both had ipod minis. My son's went through the wash and hasta la vista. I got them both 30 gig Zunes for Christmas and they love them. The Zune has an FM radio receiver as well. They were 5 seconds ahead of us listening to a Red Sox game in the car one day! Oh, the screen is big on the Zune, bigger than the ipod, if that matters to you.

On the service side of things it has been up and down (same as my Apple experience - I have a MacBook)my son's crashed in March and they sent us a box, we returned it with the receipt and they replaced it. That was great except that when I went to register my daughter's warranty, they told me it had expired! Insane! They 'could not change it'. Someone at a higher level had to do it and guess what, yep, they were all BUSY. I spent 45 minutes on the phone and never got it straightened out. I think I will call them right now.

Hope this helps you weigh the pros and cons.

[speedoo]

29. Zune. First gen is fine.

30 gig is plenty. As far as I know, the only real difference in the second gen is that they go up to 80 gigs, which IMO is not necessary. You can store plenty of music on 30 gigs.

Now if you want to store movies and other video stuff, maybe 80 gigs is what you need.

But if 30 gigs is enough, you can buy a refurb for under $100.

[Xithras]

30. I love my iPod, but my wife swears by her Sansa. Have you looked at the iPod Touch?

The Touch has a nicer screen and has wireless, though it doesn't do wireless syncing (to be fair, every Zune owner I've met dislikes the feature anyway because it chews up batteries...a friend tried to transfer his 50GB collection onto his Zune and the straight-off-the-charger Zune ran out of juice before it could finish). If wireless sync is an important thing for you, it'll be available on the Touch after the SDK is released.

I'm sticking with my 60GB because I want the storage. As for the iTunes thing, just kick the iPod into disk mode and you can use any one of hundreds of music managers on it. I doubt that I open iTunes even once a month. I use a freebie app called Media Jukebox, which handles everything from syncing, to leveling, to visual music management. It's like iTunes without all the DRM, and with a much faster UI.