zune or ipod

I own a Zune 80 GB (2nd generation), and I love it. I've used countless iPods in my life (friends' iPods) and I DEFINITELY like my Zune more.

 

I think that the best thing for you to do, is go to a store where they have both, compare them, and use them.

Then buy one based on the one YOU like more, beacuse overall, they are roughly simialr, and carry out the same tasks.

 

SAMSUNG and CREATIVE, they make the best mp3 players, if i had a choice between a 200$ zune/ipod and a 200$ samsung/creative, i'd snatch the latter in a heartbeat

the wheel on the ipod is designed to be "cool" but it is FAR from being ergonomic, when you buy an ipod, it's to be "One with the Cool", but you lose so much functionality it's ridiculous. For example, if you want to change the volume of your ipod in your pocket.. YOU CANT, you have to take it out and then go into a different menu and then rotate your thumb around the circle.. with a samsung, you just press the dedicated volume button through your clothes

i don't know much about zunes because i've never owned one, but if i had to rank it, it'd be samsung~creative>sony~zune>ipod

i bought an ipod, never again will i make that mistake

 

With the Zune, you just press up or down for volume and left or right for switching songs, sliding up or down also work. And I love the Zune pass too. My only gripes is that the touch functions don't work with wool gloves....

 

I'm not saying they're made by toshiba, but when zune had the melt down where they all stopped working then that very same thing also happened to some of the toshiba players.

 

yeh it was horrible when it was cold and i had to take off my gloves to use my zune i would still recommend it and people shouldnt judge a zune before using it

 

all of them didn't stop working just the first version that came out but it was fixed the next day

 

I've owned an ipod touch and just bought a zune. I personally prefer the zune because the software is much better then itunes.

 

Archos.


(filler)

 

from what i have read, apple uses samsung sound chip, at least on their ipods.

so for sound, creative is still better

 

They don't; the current ones use Cirrus Logic sound chips: http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/entry/apple-ipod-classic-120gb/P4

 

Well if we're going to talk about the DAP's with the best sound quality then we'll automatically skip over creative too and move right onto Cowon, Sony, and Sansa(Clip/Fuze), iRiver is good too.

 

Zunes are re-branded Toshiba players. They have somewhat slightly different specs inside and completely different firmware, so they don't suffer from many of the same issues that the Toshiba gigabeat players have with battery issues.

I love my Zune, there aren't any scratches on it and I've dropped it so much since I've gotten it. I think the screen has the regular screen inside, and a glass screen on the outside that resists scratches. The Zune software isn't too hard to deal with, you just have to know how to handle it and what settings are right for you. I should update my firmware though, I'm running on some old firmware. Only complaint is the stupid lock button, I broke mine somehow, probably by shoving it in my purse and having it get thrashed. (I'm particularly hard on stuff, because people seem to like to bump into me or create small spaces for me to move around in public places IE people blocking walkways, hallways, etc)

 

that's really not true you should get your facts right and don't make useless info. since you don't like the zune and that's not the version he's asking about, there not rebranded toshiba's only the first version was which came out TWO years ago and gen 2 is out

 

also remember there are more accessorise for ipods, such as docking stations for hifi's, fully interfaced car stereos, and headphone amps that use the un-amplified line out in the bottom of the ipod.

 

Someone mentioned changing the volume on the iPod, it's not a big deal because when you're listening to music you DON'T have to change screens, just use your finger to rotate the click wheel. Easy. As for sound quality, most people wouldn't be able to tell how good/bad it is without other people telling them, so it's a non-issue.

Zune v iPod, it's all about preference. I personally have never had a problem with the iPod or the iTunes software (I have had an older gen iPod stolen) so I can safely say iPods, like most Apple products, are strongly built. Zune users say the same thing about the Zune.

When you get to more advanced media players like the Archos DMP or the iPod touch preference plays an even bigger role, but for basic music players the name brands perform the same functions with similar build quality.

 

Zzzzzzzune!

 

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/01/01/microsoft-announces-fix-to-zune-30gb-problems/
http://geekswithblogs.net/evjen/archive/2008/12/31/128272.aspx
http://www.pcworld.com/article/156248/microsofts_official_fix_for_failing_zunes.html
and i also had a zune 30 when this happened you think i would know

 

Guys lets not get into a heated discussion over nothing here. This is your first and last warning.

Yeah...the problem was that some of these Toshiba players had the same processor as the early zunes. So they all had teh same bug. MS probably designed the 1st gens with Toshi's help. My Toshiba Gigabeat T400 went down that day, annoying. The Gigabeat sounds so much better than my ipod though. The difference is just huge. The T400 pretty much used a Zune like UI.

Than said I enjoyed using my ipod touch and I had a 5G 30GB hdd ipod before that. And infact I like using iTunes. Now dont burn me.

 

Finally, someone who doesn't hate iTunes.

LOL, I now have the courage to say I don't mid it either

Thanks for that (+ rep)
EDIT - Just realized you've disabled rep, my bad

 

when i first tried itunes my experience was horrible(half my stuff was deleted) granted i used zune marketplace first,so it's just personal preference

 

it really depends on the situation...if you have a good set of headphones and you're listening at normal volumes, probably not. but if, say, you want to listen loudly or use speakers, it's noticeable. for example, my friend has an ipod, and when he hooks it up to his car radio, he has to turn the ipod volume low and the car radio high to avoid distortion. my zune doesn't have the problem...i plug it into my car, crank the volume all the way up on the zune and use my car's volume controls.

i guess i can't speak for build quality on the new zunes, but the zune 30 is built like a tank. i've dropped it a couple times, once flung it out of my (stationary) car as i was getting out, no scratches on the screen and like a half of one somewhere else on it (i've actually forgotten where).

 

the zune 80/120 has a better build quality than ipod to me i've droped mine so many times, and it comes with a scratch resistant back. just don't drop a backpack on the squire pad

 

i've heard that the 120 replaced a lot of what used to be metal with cheap, glossy plastic.

 

My Choice should be obvious.
Ipod's interface can look attractive...
yes, I am being a fan boy. =P

if not: Ipod Touch.

 

If you hooked the ipod up through a dock instead of the headphone-out jack like you're supposed to, the volume on the ipod is disabled. Also you're talking about 2 different hookups on two different receivers so that really doesn't mean anything at all.

 

That doesn't come OOT so that doesn't count.

 

OOT? as in it doesn't come with out of factory?

Assuming that's what you mean, let's look at it this way: most of the gadgets can be customized or tweaked, and many tweak their device to fit their needs. Many users of WinMo on this forum have customized their phone one way or another, even Android G1 were tweaked to have more attractive interface. I would considered jailbreaking a "tweak", that allows one to customize their ipod to their liking. Since both generation of Ipod touch can now be jailbroken (a bit tedious for 2g), it should count.

However, I will correct my original decision, if the OP wants a music player then the Zune is definitely the better choice. The poor amp and EQ on ipod is ridiculous, you would of thought Apple will eventually fix the EQ problem since the original Ipod Video, but NO! I used my ipod touch as a netbook replacement it does my email, IM, and surfing on the go, music/video was secondary concern for me.

 

I always prefer Ipod as I've always used that, They work really good for me and I'd gone once to fix it.

 

iPod if you want something that everyone else pretty much uses. It's also easier and comparitively cheaper to get accessories for.

Zune if you want better sound quality and better software (imo).

I'll qualify my statement about software by saying that iTunes is absolutely horrible with managing large music libraries on external networked drives. Trust me.

 

I vote for Zune, mainly because the Zune software is light years ahead of iTunes.

iTunes has completely mangled my music collection.

 

I've never had a problem with iTunes

i just add the folders with my music or individual files every now and then

Also, the editing options are enough for me

 

i am planning on using it for music actually rather than watching videos.

 

Agreed. My music is all perfectly setup to work in iTunes, but god forbid I ever need to actually transfer my library to a different program...it's so convoluted it would take me hours or even days to sort it out. I'm in too deep, don't make the same mistake I did younglings.

iPods work fine for their intended use though. My old 30gig 4g iPod worked great for 3 years until I put it through a washer/dryer cycle. So now its a shiny, clean, 300 dollar brick. I have a 16gig nano to replace it, which I don't really like as much, but it is tiny and the brushed aluminum holds up well. In the end, there is not enough memory on it.

 

P.S. I just figure out how to receive a phone call using my ipod touch. The Geek value is priceless.

 

ipod, mainly because its fully integrated with my pioneer deck and i can browse playlists right from the head unit. I listen to almost all my music in my car so until pioneer and alpine start making their decks zune compatible (and i don't mean usb connection) I'm staying with ipod. I like the way itunes organizes my music, but it seems like its getting slower and slower with every update.

 

Zune! I dislike the Ipod.
When my Uncle downloaded and copied music to his ipod and then gave it to me. I'm impossible to copied my music to this deveice unless I deleted all of his music data!
With Zune there is no problem in this issue even music downloaded from MarketPlace

 

I have had an iPod since they started and everyone I know have one or want one. I have no problem with iTunes. Very easy and simple to use.

I can't knock or put down the Zune because I never had one but I'm curious on how people say it's software is better then iTunes. How much better can a program be? List my song, click and play. I have no problem with iTunes or Windows Media Player. What does Zune's software do, shoot fireworks out of your monitor?

 

Try something like lag or resource hog - that is the problem with most software.
Even Sonic Stage becomes one once you have a lot of music...

 

I see, I was hoping for the fireworks.

 

iTunes doesn't support clicking down the mouse wheel for continuous scrolling for one. Manually scrolling through thousands of songs is not an option, so you need to use the scrollbar. This would be fine, but scrolling this way lags visibly if you move quickly. Its very irritating and inefficient.

Like a previous poster mentioned, it gets slower with every update.

 

I have an iPod Nano 3rd generation.

Go for the big Zune - the small one's screen is tiny, but the big one is great.

 

I have both, and can tell you that the amp on the ipod will power any headphones that the zune will. Also, as far as EQ goes, the eq on the ipod isn't great but the new zunes don't even HAVE an eq. If you're just listening to music it doesn't matter which you buy - just get the one you like better.

 

the zune doesn't need a eq if you look at some audio forums and from my personal experience

 

I don't like iPods, I like the Zune and upcoming Sony Walkman X1000. I will get that or a touchscreen zune later this year. For now I mostly listen to the radio, but have a Nokia N800 with music on it.

 

nothing NEEDs an eq unless the listener wants it. I'm curious as to what you mean by this - do you think the ipod needs an eq while the zune doesn't, or is that just what I'm inferring from your post?

 

Dude. Get the iPod Touch, seriously, you will not regret it.

 

I have a Nano 8Gb... i hate it. Use my WM6 phone instead)))

 

that's why you should get the iTouch

 

Ipod Touch or iPhone jailbroken with a good theme is just smexy .

Having tried both Zune and iPod, I don't think you can really go wrong with either. Personally, I am more used to the iPod UI but the Zune UI is easy to use too. I figured it out when I first picked it up.

One thing I have to say though. The last gen iPod classic had some problems with the headphone jack; audio would cut out on one of the sides (left I think). I don't know if it was because of a bad batch or whatever, but four of my friends had this problem. Apple should have fixed this in the current generation of iPod Classics but I thought it should at least be noted.