iPod vs Zune vs Zen vs ?

Planterz

Planterz

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I want to get a new .mp3 player, as my ancient 40gb iPod barely works. I have over 800 CDs plus much more on my computer, so I want something with MASSIVE capacity. I also would like to connect some sort of wired remote that I can clip to my backpack strap while riding my bike. I do not need Wi-Fi, a big screen to watch movies, the ability to share music, or a touch screen. Size/weight doesn't really matter.

So far I've found the 3 that best fit my bill are the iPod Classic 160gb, the Microsoft Zune 120gb, and the Creative Zen X-Fi2 64gb. On the surface, I can see the following pros/cons, but I would like to solicit opinions from people who own or have owned one or more of these.

iPod Classic 160gb

Pros:
  • Highest capcity
  • Best battery life
  • Wired remote available
  • I can probably get a good deal on one
  • So many accessories available
Cons:
  • iTunes sucks (but there's alternatives)
  • HD based means it's less durable
  • No FM radio
  • .wma not supported (although easy enough to convert .wma to .mp3)
  • Included headphones are amazingly horrible
  • iTunes sucks (I know I've already mentioned this, but it sucks so much I fell I need to list it twice)
Zune 120

Pros:
  • High Capacity
  • No iTunes
  • FM Radio
  • Good included headphones
  • Wired remote available
Cons:
  • HD based
  • Not as high capacity as iPod
Zen 64gb

Pros:
  • Touch screen is cool (even though I don't require one) and big
  • Wired remote available
  • No iTunes
  • Flash memory based, so more durable than the other 2
  • Built-in speaker
  • Good included headphones
  • FM radio
  • Smallest/lightest (which is cool, even if not that important)
  • Expandable memory*
Cons:
  • Lowest capacity of the 3*
  • Most expensive of the 3*
  • Shortest battery life

*The reason I've included the Zen is the expandable memory. 64gb isn't as much as I want, but it does have a micro SD slot, so I could expand it to 96gb (by adding a 32bg card), which is "getting there". Of course, I would prefer more, but the fact that it's not HD based means it'll probably last longer, and the Zen is the highest capacity non-HD based option I've found. But the player plus the memory puts the cost way more than the next cheapest option.

So what are ya'll's opinions on these 3? Is there another player I'm not aware of that I should look at? TIA.
 
Get a iphone 3Gs 32gig and be done with it.
 
Too big, not enough capacity, and I like my current phone (Sony Ericsson with 8.1MP camera).
 
Get the Zune.

I've used both ipods and Zunes, and I much prefer the build quality and user interface of the Zune. The Zune will also play .mp4 and .aac files. So there is no need to convert any files to another audio format. Plus the Zune software doesn't try to hijack your computer like itunes does.
 
robot37 said:
Get the Zune.

I've used both ipods and Zunes, and I much prefer the build quality and user interface of the Zune. The Zune will also play .mp4 and .aac files. So there is no need to convert any files to another audio format. Plus the Zune software doesn't try to hijack your computer like itunes does.
Click to expand...

Um, the iPod will play .mp4 and .aac files just fine. (Link).

It's also worth it to note that I found the built in FM tuners absolutely useless.

Someone on Head-Fi did a very good review on the included Apple earbuds. They are not bad at all. Very decent for being included in the package.

How durable do you need it? The folks at OtterBox make a very hefty case. Adds some bulk but when I had a regular iPod it was indispensable. After over three years of use, zero scratches on the iPod.

My vote goes to the iPod.
 
The ipod does in fact play .mp4 and .aac. My point was that not only will the Zune play everything that the ipod plays, it'll also play .wma and .wmv files.
 
robot37 said:
The ipod does in fact play .mp4 and .aac. My point was that not only will the Zune play everything that the ipod plays, it'll also play .wma and .wmv files.
Click to expand...

.Wma and .wmv files are stuck in the past. Any decent audio player will support mp3 based containers (.aac, .mp4, .mp3, .mpg, etc).

As mentioned the OP already has an ancient iPod, meaning the audio isn't in .wma format already.
 
I have both a ipod and a zune. I prefer the Zune over the Ipod as Itunes blows, no radio. It also has a plastic screen which scratches easily as my Zune has a glass screen. Also the Zune plays more video files then the Apple.
 
I used an ipod classic 160gb for the last year. Just replaced it with an ipod touch 64gb. I use them more for video than audio. The Classic 160gb is a good unit. You need to listen to the others to make sure they have a singal output worth a damn. I've used a few other MP3 MP4 players and have found the ipod to have quite a strong signal output so you can get the volume you need when doing loud activities like biking or running. I decided that I'm gonna get rid of my 160 Classic because I wanted a bigger screen. But for your needs it might be the ticket. If you fill that thing up... you have way too much music.
 
you can get an FM tuner for the iPod, and if you own other headphones it shouldnt be a problem.

also you could get the higher capacity ipod touch and get a radio app, like wunderadio.
 
I guess iTunes for Windows sucks, I can't really remember but I didn't think I had that much trouble moving songs to the iPod when I had a Windows computer.

I have had a few iPods and haven't had any problems with the hard drives failing. My current one is a 5.5 Generation that has been dropped numerous times and is still going strong (knock on wood).

Chad
 
i have a 120gb classic, as much as i hate iTunes i have yet to encounter issues...hell my 2005 60gb iPod is still working ok, not the longest battery life but its been used to death. I buy a proper head set instead of ear buds, Grado SR 60i are really good for under $80. I currently have around 4000 albums/compilations from just about every music genre on the planet.

Love it because I have a lot of DVD rips I utilize for long flights, in flight movies suck...I have had various others and most fail quickly for me.
 
Wondering why all the hate for iTunes? Is it the application itself or the application on Windows that you hate, lack of features?? Personally, I can't think of any reason to dislike iTunes at all.
 
Definitely the Zune. I love mine. My wife loves her and they are nice and tough, especially with my rubber case.
 
tedwca said:
Wondering why all the hate for iTunes? Is it the application itself or the application on Windows that you hate, lack of features?? Personally, I can't think of any reason to dislike iTunes at all.
Click to expand...

i hate its automated features, I am very anal about how I sought my music into groups and label each individual mp3's details then iTunes will go and change it...but I learnt to work around it, i dont use it to buy music.
 
Infi-del said:
I decided that I'm gonna get rid of my 160 Classic because I wanted a bigger screen. But for your needs it might be the ticket. If you fill that thing up... you have way too much music.
Click to expand...

I was about to make a snarky comment about how much space my collection would take up, but then I realized that I don't know how much space I would actually need, so I did some math.

If I wanted to put every song (which I don't) from all of my 800CDs (which I won't) and they were all 70-80 minute (which they aren't - some, like Beatles albums aren't even half that), at 256kbs, I'd need about 120gb. Add in all the music on my computer that I've...uh...acquired by other means...and the fact that I'm always getting more music, I figure I could realistically probably max out a 64gb player with stuff I wanted, but would probably have to trim my choices down, which I don't really want to do. The Creative Zen with expanded memory would probably have enough for what I have, but will it have enough for what I will have in the future?

I'm going to have to do some serious number crunching.

I will however argue that one cannot ever have "too much music".:cool:

tedwca said:
Wondering why all the hate for iTunes? Is it the application itself or the application on Windows that you hate, lack of features?? Personally, I can't think of any reason to dislike iTunes at all.
Click to expand...

For me it's nothing to do with a Windows vs Apple thing. What I dislike about it is the way it shares music between the iPod and your computer. It's slow, it's limited, and it's only one-way (without using a separate program). I want a simple drag-and-drop from folder-to-folder. Both ways. I don't want to sync anything. Especially to iTunes, which only works one in 5 times (if I'm lucky). Putting songs on my phone is easy. I take out the memory card, put it in the card reader, drag-and-drop, and put the card back in the phone. Takes less time than it does to reboot my computer so I can try loading iTunes again.

I'm pretty sure a new iPod would sync better than my old POS ever did (and dropping it on the hard tile floor last week doesn't help much either), but part of me worries that it won't be any better.

I also hate redundant programs on my computer. iTunes isn't much different than WMP, and I prefer WMP or vlc, yet I have to have iTunes (or an alternative) to use an iPod. Having redundant programs doesn't just take up space, it slows things down when you have 5 programs load up when you want to use one.
 
I was an Apple / Mac hater until I got an iPhone. Being in Europe I have access to Spotify which streams Music to my iPhone or saves it locally when not connected. I have not listened to one CD or iTunes track since then and when I need to listen to (iTunes) Podcasts I can download them via the iPhone. I have not had to use a PC as the middleman for music ever since.
 
Planterz said:
For me it's nothing to do with a Windows vs Apple thing. What I dislike about it is the way it shares music between the iPod and your computer. It's slow, it's limited, and it's only one-way (without using a separate program). I want a simple drag-and-drop from folder-to-folder. Both ways. I don't want to sync anything. Especially to iTunes, which only works one in 5 times (if I'm lucky). Putting songs on my phone is easy. I take out the memory card, put it in the card reader, drag-and-drop, and put the card back in the phone. Takes less time than it does to reboot my computer so I can try loading iTunes again.

I'm pretty sure a new iPod would sync better than my old POS ever did (and dropping it on the hard tile floor last week doesn't help much either), but part of me worries that it won't be any better.

I also hate redundant programs on my computer. iTunes isn't much different than WMP, and I prefer WMP or vlc, yet I have to have iTunes (or an alternative) to use an iPod. Having redundant programs doesn't just take up space, it slows things down when you have 5 programs load up when you want to use one.
Click to expand...

It sounds like you should manually manage your iPod. That way you drop and drag the music you want onto your iPod(in iTunes, the music can live in a folder that your other apps can access, but iTunes has to know where it lives) You CAN copy music from your iPod back into iTunes, but only if it is purchased content from the iTunes store. Blame the record companies for that, not Apple.

When you manually manage your iPod you just connect it to the computer and drop and drag music from your itunes library. No syncing required. Very fast and no muss and not much different than what you do with your phone. Check out the Help menu for how to set the iTunes preferences to reference your music instead of copying it into the library and how to manually manage the iPod.
 
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Robert.B said:
i hate its automated features, I am very anal about how I sought my music into groups and label each individual mp3's details then iTunes will go and change it...but I learnt to work around it, i dont use it to buy music.
Click to expand...

Turn off "Automatically get track names from the internet" in the itunes prefs. Also turn off "Keep itunes library organized" and "copy to library" in the advanced prefs. That will let you organize your music any way you want and will not change the tags or labels. You can also edit the metadata in batches if you need to.

It sounds like you may have already figured out how to do that, but others reading this may not know how.
 
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