I've been thinking about getitng an iPod for awhile now, and I almost have a couple of times, but now that Microsoft came out with this "Zune" I have to consider that as an option too. The only thing I've heard about the Zune is bad reviews - from a very gay Apple fanboy, so I ignored those comments. Anybody have a more objective view of the two that could help me?
Originally posted by cmsMasterGo with the iPod... Hands down... You break it within a year, go get a new one FREE... The tech support for apple is amazing and the people at apple are always really nice...
I've been thinking about getitng an iPod for awhile now, and I almost have a couple of times, but now that Microsoft came out with this "Zune" I have to consider that as an option too. The only thing I've heard about the Zune is bad reviews - from a very gay Apple fanboy, so I ignored those comments. Anybody have a more objective view of the two that could help me?
Originally posted by DeathyxNot really what I'm worried about. Almost everybody I know that has had an iPod has had it break shortly after that one year mark. So their warranty is useless to me. iPod's are built to break, don't bother trying to prove it otherwise. I'm more worried about which one will give me the best deal for the money.
Go with the iPod... Hands down... You break it within a year, go get a new one FREE... The tech support for apple is amazing and the people at apple are always really nice...
Basically
Size (In pounds, etc.)
Size (Memory)
Size of Screen
Usability - I want to be able to organize songs, find them, and not have to spend time figuring out what everything does.
Price
Features - The Zune has the ability to transfer songs from one to the other, but considering you only get the song for free days it makes that feature totally useless. But are there other things that make them unique?
I may think of other things.
If anybody has a Zune and can comment on it, that would help too. I know plenty of people with iPods - but people with a Zune are harder to find right now.
Originally posted by cmsMasterYour friends are lucky. I've never had one make it to the one year mark. I'm on my fourth iPod right now. The first I had (2nd generation) broke after eight or nine months but was replaced free of charge. That one I lost (after several months) when I left my backpack at a bar one night. The next one I purchased (4th generation) broke within another eight or nine months and was, of course, replaced free of charge. I now have that replacement and it's so far, so good after about four months. As you can probably guess, I am also looking at other alternatives because this one is sure to break in the next few months.
Not really what I'm worried about. Almost everybody I know that has had an iPod has had it break shortly after that one year mark. So their warranty is useless to me. iPod's are built to break, don't bother trying to prove it otherwise. I'm more worried about which one will give me the best deal for the money.
Originally posted by darvlayThe breaking/losing thing is a major issue. A lot of my friends haven't been able to get the replacement.
Your friends are lucky. I've never had one make it to the one year mark. I'm on my fourth iPod right now. The first I had (2nd generation) broke after eight or nine months but was replaced free of charge. That one I lost (after several months) when I left my backpack at a bar one night. The next one I purchased (4th generation) broke within another eigh also looking at other alternatives because this one is sure to break in the next few months.
The worst story I heard was my friend getting his for Christmas - he listens to a lot of music (almost as much as you, Darv. 😛) so obviously he'd been pretty desperate for it. About 2 or 3 months later he went to the grocery store, and apparently forgot to lock the car. While he was in there somebody broke in and stole his backpack with his ipod in it.
🙁
A comparison:
Zune:
(Those bastids at Microsoft made me unzip this - so I though I'd be getting a lot of information, in reality I got almost none. I also didn't see anything about the size and weight of the Zune, and from what I hear it's pretty huge.)
Zune
Fact Sheet
September 2006
Name:Zune™
Manufacturer:Microsoft Corp.
Category:Digital media player
Colors:Three choices: black, white or brown
Product
Overview: Zune starts with a 30GB digital media player and adds a twist. You can wirelessly share selected full-length sample tracks, playlists, pictures or your home-grown tracks directly from Zune to Zune.1 You can listen to the full-length songs that you receive up to three times in three days, flag the ones you like and easily buy them the next time you sync up. You can discover new music in the Zune Marketplace, and show off your favorite pictures and videos on the big, bright screen. Zune has all that and a built in FM tuner, too. Let your inner DJ run wild.
Features:●Wireless Zune-to-Zune sharing. Zune lets you spontaneously share selected full-length sample tracks of your favorite songs, homemade recordings, playlists or pictures with friends wirelessly, device to device.1 You can listen to any song you receive up to three times in three days. And if you like a song you hear and want to buy it, you can flag it right on your device to easily find it later.
·Your own personalized Zune. Zune is easy to use and easy to love. You can choose one of three base colors, each combined with a distinctive double-shot finish created by the overlay of one color on another. The player also can easily be customized with your favorite pictures.
·Large color screen. Zune comes with a bright 3-inch LCD video screen that works in portrait or landscape mode. Your music, video and pictures never looked better.
·30GB player. Zune stores up to 7,500 songs, 25,000 pictures or 100 hours of video.2 You can make playlists on the go and watch a slide show while you’re listening. Watching video in landscape mode gets the most out of the vivid display.
·Zune Pass. Downloads or a subscription? It’s your choice. A Zune Pass subscription gives you “all you can eat” access to discover and explore the Zune Marketplace.
·Built-in FM tuner. With the built-in FM tuner you can listen to local FM radio stations or tune in to programming while you’re at your local health club, for example. Advanced tuning capabilities allow you to see the name of the song currently playing on selected frequencies.3
Accessories:●You can choose from a full line of accessories to outfit your Zune. Three Zune Accessory Packs provide complete solutions for Zune in your car, in your home or while you travel. Individual accessories are also available.
Additional
Information:●Online music store. You can browse the huge selection of music designed to work seamlessly with your Zune in the Zune Marketplace. When you find new music that you love, it’s simple to buy it and sync it on your player. The Zune Marketplace works with the Microsoft® Points program so you can purchase music online without a credit card.
·Import your music. Zune software can automatically import your existing music, pictures and videos from iTunes and Windows Media® Player in a variety of formats, including your existing playlists and song ratings, as permitted by the online service from which it was purchased.4
·It only gets better. As Zune evolves, your device can be easily updated. The Zune software on your PC5 will let you know when updates are available for download. And with built-in wireless capability in each player, the future is filled with possibilities.5
#########
The information contained in this fact sheet relates to a pre-release product that may be substantially modified before its first commercial release. Accordingly, the information may not accurately describe or reflect the product when it is first commercially released. This fact sheet is provided for informational purposes only, and Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the fact sheet or the information contained in it. Dates are subject to change without notice.
1 The Zune-to-Zune sharing feature may not be available for all songs on your device, and works only between Zune devices within wireless range of each other. This feature allows recipients to play full-length sample tracks up to three times in three days. Recipients cannot resend music that they have received via the sharing feature.
2 Music estimates are based on 128KBps WMA files, with length of four minutes each. Pictures transferred to Zune will be optimized for Zune screen size. Video estimates are based on 500KBps WMV files with 128KBps WMA audio tracks.
3 To display station name and song information, stations must broadcast a Radio Broadcast Data Standards (RBDS) signal. Availability may vary.
4 Zune software can import audio files in unprotected WMA, MP3, AAC; photos in JPEG; and videos in WMV, MPEG-4, H.264.
5 Requires a PC running Windows® XP with Service Pack 2 and high-speed Internet connectivity.
6 Dates and functionality of updates are not specified at this time. Microsoft makes no guarantees, express or implied, about the features contained in future Zune updates.
Microsoft, Zune, Windows Media and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
For more information, press only:
Yasmeen Coning, Edelman, (323) 202-1405, yasmeen.coning@edelman.com
Ipod:
http://www.apple.com/ipod/specs.html
I realize the Zune thing's probably hard to read on here, so here's the link to the link I found that "fact sheet" on.
http://www.zune.net/en-us/press/default.htm
Originally posted by cmsMasterOk, found it...
A comparison:
Zune:
(Those bastids at Microsoft made me unzip this - so I though I'd be getting a lot of information, in reality I got almost none. I also didn't see anything about the size and weight of the Zune, and from what I hear it's pretty huge.)
Zune
Fact Sheet
September 2006
Name:Zune™
Manufacturer:Microsoft Corp.
Category: to the link I found that "fact sheet" on.
http://www.zune.net/en-us/press/default.htm
http://www.zune.net/en-us/meetzune/device.htm
Size and Weight
#
4.4 in. x 2.4 in. x 0.6 in. (h x w x d)
#
Weight: 5.6 ounces
Battery[2]
#
Music, up to 14 hours (wireless off), up to 13 hours (wireless on); pictures, up to 4 hours; video, up to 4 hours
#
Charge Time: 3 hours; 2 hours to 90%
Display
#
Size: 3.0 inches
#
Orientation: Vertical and Horizontal
#
Resolution: 320 x 240 pixels
Audio
#
Windows Media® Audio Standard (.wma): Up to 320 Kbps, CBR and VBR, up to 48-kHz sample rate
#
MP3 (.mp3): Up to 320 Kbps, CBR and VBR, up to 48-kHz sample rate
#
AAC (.mp4, .m4a, .m4b, .mov): Up to 320 Kbps, Low Complexity (LC), up to 48-kHz sample rate
Originally posted by cmsMasterThere are heaps of MP3 players out there. I would avoid Zune and IPOD i got a nice 1GB MP3 player. a year and no problems. holds more than 12 albums at a time. and was only 150USD. the zune and Icrud always charge a load for name.
TBH, they seem very, very similar to me now. The Zune charges faster, but it's a little thicker. It seems more of an opinion type decision than anything else.
But then again Macheads would by Apple Washing Powder if that was on the market.
Originally posted by mochironI have easily a thousand songs that I'd load onto it in the first couple of days. No way I can handle something with only 1 or 2 gigs.
There are heaps of MP3 players out there. I would avoid Zune and IPOD i got a nice 1GB MP3 player. a year and no problems. holds more than 12 albums at a time. and was only 150USD. the zune and Icrud always charge a load for name.
But then again Macheads would by Apple Washing Powder if that was on the market.
Originally posted by cmsMasterFair enuf. I have Gigs and Gigs of music...too. But I dont listen to that all in a day. just an idea. to get a smaller one to save you a bit of money.
I have easily a thousand songs that I'd load onto it in the first couple of days. No way I can handle something with only 1 or 2 gigs.
Originally posted by mochironI've had one with less memory, it's just very, very inconvenient. My Radiohead collection alone (Everything but Pablo Honey, no b-sides or anything though) would be enough to fill most of that player. I want it all. 🙂
Fair enuf. I have Gigs and Gigs of music...too. But I dont listen to that all in a day. just an idea. to get a smaller one to save you a bit of money.
Originally posted by mochironAgreed.
There are heaps of MP3 players out there. I would avoid Zune and IPOD i got a nice 1GB MP3 player. a year and no problems. holds more than 12 albums at a time. and was only 150USD. the zune and Icrud always charge a load for name.
But then again Macheads would by Apple Washing Powder if that was on the market.
I bought a 30 Gb one from Creative almost three years ago and I'm pretty happy with it. It was half the price of a 20 Gb iPod at the time and the battery lasted three times longer (iPod's were much crappier than they are now, though).
Just go to some internet sites and check out the tons of mp3 players out there. Not only you pay more for iPod and Zune (as you pay the brand), you'll just be another sheep giving in to advertisement.
Darv, you've broken 4 and you STILL buy iPods? Talk about being suckered into costumer fidelity.
Originally posted by PalynkaI've only had to purchase two. Given nthe market back when I bought my second one, I think I made the right choice. I do love my iPod even though I hate it as well. This time around, I think I will invest my money elsewhere.
Darv, you've broken 4 and you STILL buy iPods? Talk about being suckered into costumer fidelity.