Bad time to buy a Zune/iPod?

[Atherakhia]

I've been borrowing my brother's mp3 player for the past month, but with me moving soon I need to get one of my own. Problem is I hear there is a new iPhone coming out this year, which will probably mean a new iPod touch as well.

I was leaning more toward the Microsoft Zune HD, but then there is the new Windows Phone 7 launching and word that the Zune HD is already obsolete because of the app kits the Zune will have access to.

Considering both products are still very expensive (Zune HD 16g was 175 or so on Amazon, which is the cheapest I've seen), is it better to hold off on an mp3 player with video capability for the time being?

 

[Sheep]

If I'm not mistaken, both Microsoft and Apple release MP3 players on an annual basis--you can practically predict the release dates down to the month.

A quick check of Google indicates the Zune HD came out in September 2009 while the latest version of the iPod Touch was released right around the same time, give or take a month. If you can wait till the fall, that might be your best bet if you want to pick up the latest and greatest. Keep in mind the release of Windows 7 Phone Series this winter might screw up Microsoft's timeline for a new Zune HD a bit.

 

[Strk]

As someone who is thinking of upgrading his MP3 player, I'd say you might want to look at a few others.

I should ask, though, do you want a video player as well? The Creative X-fi Zen is a great little player. Amazon has the 16gb one for $120 and the 32 for $180. It can do video, but not very well. They also have a new one that adds touch screen, but I don't really see it as worthwhile. After seeing videos of it, the X-fi2 looked a bit like a waste.

Sony also has a pretty good 16gb player for around $120 as well.

 

[Atherakhia]

Yea, the video is something I'd like to at least consider. It's a major let down that there is no way to load additional codecs on either the ipod or zune as almost everything I download is mkv and it would have been nice to load it on my TV using the Zune dock. But occasionally someone releases anime downloads and such in other formats that I may carry around with me etc.

The app functionality isn't something I'm that concerned with, though the iPod is the clear winner there with no close second until an android mp3 player comes out or after windows phone 7 takes hold.

That was why I was considering the iPod since I don't have a smartphone and see no real need to get one, I was going to use the iPod as my phone list, and random app toy while I keep my rinkydink phone.

As for waiting, I can't wait till fall as I'm moving next month and my job is god awfully boring where I absolutely must have music to keep me awake.

 

[shortylickens]

There is always something new right around the corner. Its up to you to decide when you'll stop waiting and get something you can use.
One method is to simply get the cheapest thing that will do the job and upgrade every year. The added benefit is you will have lots of experience with gadgets and eventually decide which features are most important to you.

This method works with cameras as well.

 

[Atherakhia]

Very reasonable way to approach the problem Shorty. Do you know if the iPod has something similar to the Zune HD sync dock? Where I can plug the iPod into a dock attached to a tv via hdmi/dvi/whatever and play movies from the iPod on the Tv?

 

[erwos]

I would definitely recommend against buying a Zune HD right now - Microsoft seems to have put the platform on life support with the release of Windows Phone 7. There are rumors that they'll be releasing a Zune HD2 with proper Windows Phone 7 integration, so that might be something to look at.

 

[Deeko]

I love the Zune HD - but I'd wait until the fall. I assume sometime around then they'll be announcing a new Zune HD, as well as details on what will happen with the current ones. In the least, the current ones will get cheaper when the new ones come out.