Considering a Zune HD... or iPod Touch... What to Get?

[Eluros]

Greetings,

So, I currently have an old iPod Mini from 2004-- the thing has a battery life of about 4 hours now, and is pretty beat up; I'm in the market for a new audio/video player. I don't have a specific budget, per se, but I believe that the price/value ratio is really important, and I want a device I can have for another 6 years (as I had my iPod mini for). I am torn between an iPod Touch (3rd Generation), a Zune HD (what I'm thinking is the best idea), and a Cowon J3. Here is some relevant information you may be able to use in helping me reach a decision...

1. I have a 50 minute commute to and from work, and I primarily listen to podcasts. I need a device that will easily and quickly sync with my main PC (Windows 7 x64), have a long battery life, and has a decent organizational directory for podcasts. I'm not an audiophile, and I would prioritize battery life, ease of use, and storage space over sound quality (mp3s sound as good as flacs or aacs to me).

2. I use Windows Media Center on my desktop to record numerous TV shows and movies; I would like these to sync with whatever device I use.

3. When it comes to subscriptions, I'm a cheapskate who doesn't want to buy a data plan (no iPhone or even Zune Pass for me), so I don't have a fancy phone. Thus, the ability to have a web browser with free WiFi access on my portable media player is a definite plus. I know I can only use it when in range of an existing WiFi network, but I'm fine with that.

4. I would like something durable. I will buy a case if I must, but if a device is easily broken or scratched, it loses major brownie points.

5. I don't want something too heavy. I'm fine with big screen space, but don't want much wasted space. The ability to fit into my pocket is a must.

Thanks, everyone! I look reading your comments/suggestions.

 

[MJinZ]

Do podcasts work on the Zune?

 

[theeedude]

Zune HD is probably overkill for podcasts but it can play xVid movies natively, no need to transcode, and has an available dock to output to your TV as well.
iPod touch seems to have more uses aside from media player, with bigger ecosystem though, so if that's something to consider.

 

[TheWart]

I think it sounds like you would be happy with either one. Is there a way that you could visit a Best Buy or someplace where you can play with both of them to see what interface you prefer? I say that because given both fit your specifications, it might come down to that.

Of course, the iPod Touch gives you access to a whole bunch of awesome apps, but if you aren't looking to spend money on them then you might not really care.

 

[Eluros]

Thanks for the guidance/advice, all! More details I should have included in the first post: I read online that the Zune is less heavy, has longer battery life, and is a bit cheaper for the storage space than the iPod touch. Thus, I've been leaning towards it. However, I'm wanting to be rational and get as much input/guidance as possible to make the best decision.

Do podcasts work on the Zune?

Yep, I checked, and the Zune does podcasts. I don't know if it does them better or worse than iTunes, though.

Zune HD is probably overkill for podcasts but it can play xVid movies natively, no need to transcode, and has an available dock to output to your TV as well.
iPod touch seems to have more uses aside from media player, with bigger ecosystem though, so if that's something to consider.

Good points... however, I'm not sure what (if any) apps I would use. I checked, and both have a flashlight app, both have alarm clock apps, and both have calculator apps... any specific apps that the iPod has that the Zune doesn't that I might use? There are probably millions of free apps on the internet, but I only use about 6-- I'm concerned with quality over quantity. If there's apps that you could point me to that would really impact my experience, though, I will definitely take that into consideration.

I think it sounds like you would be happy with either one. Is there a way that you could visit a Best Buy or someplace where you can play with both of them to see what interface you prefer? I say that because given both fit your specifications, it might come down to that.

Of course, the iPod Touch gives you access to a whole bunch of awesome apps, but if you aren't looking to spend money on them then you might not really care.

Unfortunately, there was a Circuit City where I live (but the whole company recently went bankrupt); no place I could go to check out both. I've actually checked out an iPod Touch before, and it was pretty nice.

 

[gorcorps]

I'm not sure about the Zune's sound quality, but I can't stand the ipod touch's sound. I've only used my brothers for a couple hours, but using the same good headphones I use on my mp3 player, the ipod touch sounds pretty awful IMO. I have yet to find an Apple device that actually sounds good to my ears. Of course, all ears are different.

 

[scott916]

Take into account how fuckin awesome zune.net is.

 

[Gooberlx2]

I'm not sure about the Zune's sound quality, but I can't stand the ipod touch's sound. I've only used my brothers for a couple hours, but using the same good headphones I use on my mp3 player, the ipod touch sounds pretty awful IMO. I have yet to find an Apple device that actually sounds good to my ears. Of course, all ears are different.

Zunes have traditionally had rather good sound quality, though I don't know anything about the ZuneHD.

Also consider the software, OP. Do you absolutely hate iTunes or Zune software? Personally, I really like the Zune/software/pass/marketplace ecosystem. I didn't like iTunes on Windows...but haven't tried it in years either.

 

[EarthwormJim]

Can you stand not having dedicated volume buttons? If so then get a Zune HD.

If you cannot stand not having dedicated volume buttons, get an iPod.

 

[QueBert]

While the Zune HD does play XViD natively now, I can attest that sound doesn't work on the ones I've ripped from my DVD, I guess the program I did them with by default uses a different audio codec from the norm. I have 10 movies I've ripped to XViD and don't get sound from a single one of them. I own both and there are pluses and minuses for both IMHO. I don't like how the Zune handles playing albums, with my Touch I click on the album cover, it flips over and I get a track list. I just got my Zune last week, but I haven't figured out a good way to do this, it's definitely not as friendly for this. The album view for me doesn't show the tracks in order so I really don't like using that.

As for sound quality, the other day I played both (one in each ear) with the same song, and switched earbuds so both ears had both players with both pair of ear buds. The SQ is very similar, they sound slightly different to me, but I wouldn't say one sounds better or worse. Just different.

 

[EarthwormJim]

While the Zune HD does play XViD natively now, I can attest that sound doesn't work on the ones I've ripped from my DVD, I guess the program I did them with by default uses a different audio codec from the norm. I have 10 movies I've ripped to XViD and don't get sound from a single one of them. I own both and there are pluses and minuses for both IMHO. I don't like how the Zune handles playing albums, with my Touch I click on the album cover, it flips over and I get a track list. I just got my Zune last week, but I haven't figured out a good way to do this, it's definitely not as friendly for this. The album view for me doesn't show the tracks in order so I really don't like using that.

As for sound quality, the other day I played both (one in each ear) with the same song, and switched earbuds so both ears had both players with both pair of ear buds. The SQ is very similar, they sound slightly different to me, but I wouldn't say one sounds better or worse. Just different.

I'm not sure why you're having problems getting the audio to work. Try using lame .mp3 or Nero AAC for the audio encoding in your video files. Maybe you had selected uncompressed PCM or something. Or didn't MUX the audio into the .avi file.

The track order is determined by the meta data (id-tag). So if you have a song with 01 in the actual name of the file, but the id-tag says track 4, the Zune will think the song is track 4. You gotta fix your meta data.

To go to the album track level, touch to the right of the album art cover; right where it sort of lists the tracks in microscopic writing and has the album title.

E.G. if I want to play the song "Hard to Handle" by the Black Crowes. I click "Black Crowes" from artists, click the title or just to the right of "Shake Your Money Maker" album, then scroll down to "Hard to Handle."

Other than the lack of dedicated volume controls, everything has been as intuitive on the Zune as an iPod/iPhone; just different.

 

[jpeyton]

Zune software is miles (perhaps light years) ahead of iTunes.

Zune Pass is much better than iTunes for people who actually like to listen to music.

Zune HD plays XviD. If you torrent, this is a killer app.

 

[Rottie]

iPod Touch has a large LCD screen if you plan to watch tv or movie than Zune HD and also iPod has a ton of app than Zune like Netflex.

 

[QueBert]

Zune software is miles (perhaps light years) ahead of iTunes.

Uh no, the rating system alone makes it worse IMHO. It has it's strong points, but it seems to lack a song checking options like in iTunes. Basically I synced about 600 songs to my Zune HD before I realized if I format it I'm going to have to re-sync all the songs one by one again. Unless I'm missing out on an obvious feature. Maybe it remembers the items I chose but I doubt it. Manual sync doesn't do what I need it to do at all. I like the software's flashy UI, but outside of that it does nothing better than iTunes, and a few things like the ratings and the smart playlist feature it's far, far behind. I own both players and some of my smart playlists from iTunes would be impossible to create in the Zune software. The rating system really makes me shake my head. I know I can rate different in WMP, but I'm not using 2 softwares to accomplish a task I should be able to do directly in the Zune software. I mean really, a heart and a broken heart? It boggles my mind this passed beta testing, almost as much as the fact somebody actually thought it up.

 

[Eluros]

Hmm... still haven't been swayed, really, one way or another. Several good questions have been raised.

1. Are there any apps I should care about losing access to, if I select a Zune over an iPod Touch?

2. iTunes versus the Zune Software... is one being more actively, well, developed/enhanced by the developer than another?

3. For those who have Zunes, does the more cumbersome volume control remain that way, or does it become natural to control it once you're used to it?

 

[Phynaz]

How about the surrounding infrastructure? Are you concerned about docks, cases, accessories, etc? If so get an iPod.

 

[Eluros]

How about the surrounding infrastructure? Are you concerned about docks, cases, accessories, etc? If so get an iPod.

A good question. I assume, given its market size, that the iPod Touch has everything I need. However, the Zune seems to, as well: something that will charge it and let me listen to it over the car radio at the same time, and an alarm clock that wakes me up to music (my wife hates waking up to screeching alarm clocks, so this will be a huge boon). I think I'm good to go from that perspective-- moot point, neither player has an advantage.

 

[Deeko]

Your needs are pretty simple - you could get away with a lesser device than either if you wanted.

You mentioned wanted something light with good battery life - the Zune HD is smaller, thinner, and considerably lighter (I believe its like 2.6oz vs 4.05). It also is reported to get a bit better battery life. I can't attest to the battery of the iPod, but the Zune definitely gets awesome battery.

Both play podcasts fine. Both have wifi and a browser. The iPod Touch does have considerably more apps. One thing you might consider if you're using it in the car a lot - the Zune is compatible with HD Radio, which is really awesome if you have stations that broadcast it in your area.

edit: For people that already have a smartphone, making apps less important, I will recommend the Zune HD almost 100% of the time. However, for someone like yourself that doesn't have one, its more of a tossup. It really depends on what you want out of the device.

 

[Deeko]

PS here's a list of what apps there are on the Zune - no, its not impressive compared to the iPod's 200k or so, but what's there is generally pretty high quality.

http://www.zune.net/en-us/products/zunehd/appsgames/default.htm

 

[gorcorps]

Your needs are pretty simple - you could get away with a lesser device than either if you wanted.

You mentioned wanted something light with good battery life - the Zune HD is smaller, thinner, and considerably lighter (I believe its like 2.6oz vs 4.05). It also is reported to get a bit better battery life. I can't attest to the battery of the iPod, but the Zune definitely gets awesome battery.

Both play podcasts fine. Both have wifi and a browser. The iPod Touch does have considerably more apps. One thing you might consider if you're using it in the car a lot - the Zune is compatible with HD Radio, which is really awesome if you have stations that broadcast it in your area.

edit: For people that already have a smartphone, making apps less important, I will recommend the Zune HD almost 100% of the time. However, for someone like yourself that doesn't have one, its more of a tossup. It really depends on what you want out of the device.

That is something I didn't know, and is pretty awesome.

 

[QueBert]

That is something I didn't know, and is pretty awesome.

Is nice but a HUGE YMMV, my town supposedly has 4 HD stations, I can't get 3 and the 1 I get is very sporadic, if HD radio is going to be a persons deciding factor they should ask around to see what the reception is. Even though it doesn't work for me except the one station from time to time, I'm not missing much because they're all just HD versions of local stations which suck balls. I was a n00b and thought I was magically going to get a dozen or so totally new HD stations when I turned my Zune HD on the 1st time. Guess I need to try it in a town with a better signal and selection of stations.

 

[Deeko]

Is nice but a HUGE YMMV, my town supposedly has 4 HD stations, I can't get 3 and the 1 I get is very sporadic, if HD radio is going to be a persons deciding factor they should ask around to see what the reception is. Even though it doesn't work for me except the one station from time to time, I'm not missing much because they're all just HD versions of local stations which suck balls. I was a n00b and thought I was magically going to get a dozen or so totally new HD stations when I turned my Zune HD on the 1st time. Guess I need to try it in a town with a better signal and selection of stations.

Yea, pretty much every station around here has an HD variant, and many of them have a 2nd (or sometimes 3rd) HD-only station too. Definitely YMMV on HD radio.

 

[Eluros]

Your needs are pretty simple - you could get away with a lesser device than either if you wanted.

You mentioned wanted something light with good battery life - the Zune HD is smaller, thinner, and considerably lighter (I believe its like 2.6oz vs 4.05). It also is reported to get a bit better battery life. I can't attest to the battery of the iPod, but the Zune definitely gets awesome battery.

Both play podcasts fine. Both have wifi and a browser. The iPod Touch does have considerably more apps. One thing you might consider if you're using it in the car a lot - the Zune is compatible with HD Radio, which is really awesome if you have stations that broadcast it in your area.

edit: For people that already have a smartphone, making apps less important, I will recommend the Zune HD almost 100% of the time. However, for someone like yourself that doesn't have one, its more of a tossup. It really depends on what you want out of the device.

Mmm... good reviews; thanks! As I don't currently own a smartphone, and don't anticipate getting one any time soon, things are a bit trickier. I'm almost sold on the Zune, but still have a concern or two... if you or anyone else has any feedback, I'd appreciate it.

1. The Zune HD is, best as I can make sense of the information out there, confirmed to not support XNA 4. This seems like it will severely limit its future development potential, and makes it sound like I would be paying top dollar now for something that will be incompatible with the wave of Windows 7 Phone development. Is this the wrong time to buy? I need a player now (my current setup just isn't working well any more), but I don't want to hop on the bandwagon right before it pummels into a fiery chasm of Betamax players and Dreamcasts.

2. There's no ebook reader right now. Is it pretty likely that such a thing won't be implemented? The iTouch can view Youtube videos and read ebooks like a Kindle... these aren't "required features", per se, but if I'm going to be losing access to them by purchasing the competitor, I want to be sure that it's worth the cost of both.

 

[Deeko]

I had a similar concern with the Zune. I actually bought one at launch, sold it, then bought another one about a month ago. Wasn't sure if I was wrong to buy it this late in the game. Ultimately, I decided to go for it. At any rate they're cheaper now than they used to be, and there is also a newly-found homebrew community for the ZuneHD too, so its not totally dead in the water, even after WP7 comes out.

I doubt we will see a Kindle app on the Zune any time soon - Amazon hasn't even made one for Android yet, let alone partnered with Microsoft for a Zune one. As for other e-reader apps, honestly, a wide-screen 3.3" display isn't exactly great for reading, so even if they made one, I don't know how good it would be anyway.

 

[gorcorps]

I had a similar concern with the Zune. I actually bought one at launch, sold it, then bought another one about a month ago. Wasn't sure if I was wrong to buy it this late in the game. Ultimately, I decided to go for it. At any rate they're cheaper now than they used to be, and there is also a newly-found homebrew community for the ZuneHD too, so its not totally dead in the water, even after WP7 comes out.

I doubt we will see a Kindle app on the Zune any time soon - Amazon hasn't even made one for Android yet, let alone partnered with Microsoft for a Zune one. As for other e-reader apps, honestly, a wide-screen 3.3" display isn't exactly great for reading, so even if they made one, I don't know how good it would be anyway.

I use an e-reader on my iphone and like it enough, and that's only a 3.5" screen... a little bigger but not much. Of course I use a program that lets you change font size and the background/text color, so there's not a whole lot of reading strain. Not sure if anything that fancy is on the zune though :\