iPod 120gb vs Zune 120?

[BigToque]

I mostly listen to music in my car (probably 95% of the time), and I have the Pioneer CD-IB100 iPod adapter.

Given this, it would seem that the iPod would be the obvious choice. I'm just curious to know if anyone has a Zune and has found a decent comparable way to connect the Zune to your Pioneer car stereo.

 

[hans030390]

3.5mm AUX input, assuming your headunit has it (which it should).

Zune (and Zune software) > iPod/iTunes

 

[BigToque]

Originally posted by: hans030390
3.5mm AUX input, assuming your headunit has it (which it should).

Zune (and Zune software) > iPod/iTunes

It has the input, but it's on the bottom of the faceplate, so it would be really hard to use the volume and other controls (while the Zune is connected)

I'm looking at another IP-BUS device for my unit (P880PRS), but it doesn't look like there is one for my deck.

 

[Baked]

Zune + music subscription, or buy tracks from Amazon.com. Apple can suck it.

 

[destrekor]

I originally had the Zune 30gb, and rigged the Home A/V Dock in my car along with the car kit.
Used the car cigarette lighter power adapter to power the Zune, and the dock from the Home A/V pack and hooked up the 3.5mm audio cable to the aux input on the back of my CD deck.
works like a charm. Sometimes there is a weird issue where power is there but it takes a few tries to get the audio to work - so I unplug and replug (repeat x ##) until the audio will work.

I've upgraded to the Zune 120gb recently (best buy gave the new Home A/V kit free with the 120gb), and keep the new dock at my computer and old dock (with the top removed so the 120gb fits) in my truck.

I love this. All my music available.

If you don't want to rig a cable to the back of your audio deck, then that may be an issue. Regardless, gotta get power unless you don't care about the device running out of juice.
Personally I prefer the Zune 120gb to any of the new iPods, especially the iPod Classic style. Never was a fan of it.
Well, I do like the iPod Touch, but not spending that much of that big of a flash player. Just a big gimmick imho, as that's not enough space. And my flash player is for working out/running, so no go there - too big. But I digress.

Zune 120gb is a great player and feels great in the hand, and I personally like the software (excellent software if you use Zune Pass, but I still liked it without the pass, but recently I hopped on-board the Zune Pass train). iPod's - everyone either enjoys them or not.

Sounds like for you the biggest thing is ease in hooking up to car. Using a dock makes things real easy - just set in and go. Wires hidden or not is a preference. If you decide to upgrade and get a new CD deck with an Aux input on the front face, then the decision is easy - what player you prefer.
Either way, hooking up a player to aux is easy - but if you want to do power from cigarette lighter, then you got two wires and that can just be a hassle - hence why I went the dock route from the start, didn't want to deal with that.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

iPod 120gb is nothing special, but the Touch is =]

 

[frostedflakes]

I'm kind of fond of the click wheel interface, but that's more of a personal preference thing.

And if iTunes bugs you, keep in mind that there are quite a few alternatives available for syncing songs. I like iPods, but am not a big iTunes fan, so I use Winamp to sync.

 

[theblackbox]

zune. because most of you guys like to coddle balmers' bag and praise the almighty microsoft.

the rest of us are happy with ipod. itunes works great for me.

 

[BigToque]

I think I may just go with the iPod because I've already got the adapter in the car.

I was pretty interested in the zune, but really I'm only using it in my car.

 

[LtPage1]

Just get the iPod. You can pretend to hate Apple products everywhere else, but no one will see how trendy you are in your car. It's so much easier and less frustrating to use that it's not even a competition. Seriously.

 

[Shawn]

I use my Creative Zen for everyday use, but I've got an ipod hidden away in the glovebox of my car because that's the only thing I can use with my pioneer headunit which allows for full control.

 

[DayLaPaul]

3.5mm AUX is so archaic. Since your deck has an Ipod interface, use it. You'll wonder why you ever fooled around with a janky ass mini jack in the first place. Being able to control your songs and have ID3 information show up on your deck beats fiddling around with mp3 unit while driving.

 

[QueBert]

Zune! Let's see where to begin...

horrible proprietary software, I'm not saying iTunes is great but anyone who claims iTunes is a huge pile of steaming shit and likes Zune either is dumb or an Apple Hater. At least with my iPod I have CHOICES. Zune you have one choice. And you better hope the damn program installs without problems. I speak from experince, Zune software problems can be a NIGHTMARE.

iTunes, DRM or not has an awesome selection of mp3 and videos, tonight I bought a video for a buck and BOOM it's on my Touch. iTunes cover art is SWEET. I'm not sure where Zune gets it's art, but some of it looks downright horrible.

Zune has the single more retarded song rating system ever, it's like the people who designed it went out of their way to make it as fucking bad as possible. I mean a heart or a broken heart? What the fuck is this! I don't see how this made it out of the first stage of Zune beta testing. Somehow it's still around after how many updates? nobody likes this, and if somebody does there is no hope for them.

Zune has like 5 accessories you can buy for it, ok, maybe I'm bullshitting. I'm sure there are dozens, iPods have thousands and thousands.

Did I mention the Zune software sucks at least as badly as iTunes?

My GF has a Zune, she got the Shit Brown one off Woot for 99 bucks. The best thing about it is the headphones that come with it and pretty decent, better than my Touches that's for sure. It's not a bad unit overall, but having no option to sync besides the shitty Zune software is a huge negative to me. And honestly it does nothing better as a player over an iPod except maybe the fact you can create a playlist right on the device. But I think with the 2.2 firmware you can do that on the new iPods too right? I dunno I haven't tried on mine.

Every new car head unit will support iPod, with a Zune at best you'll get an RCA jack where you can connect it, but as DayLaPaul said it won't interface with the deck at all.

Fuck Apple's expensive computers, fuck their expensive LCD's, but my Touch is near perfection, and it can be hacked to do whatever, where Zune's will probably never get cracked.

 

[ra990]

Nobody seems to be mentioning the wireless sync capabilities of the Zune. That features alone kick's Ipod's ass. I download music on my PC and wirelessly sync the zune from my car. New music on my Zune from my home PC without even taking the Zune out of the car. Very cool.

 

[Parasitic]

Originally posted by: ra990
Nobody seems to be mentioning the wireless sync capabilities of the Zune. That features alone kick's Ipod's ass. I download music on my PC and wirelessly sync the zune from my car. New music on my Zune from my home PC without even taking the Zune out of the car. Very cool.

That's some pretty good range.
I liked my Zune, but the software was horrible. The redownloading feature from the marketplace never worked, and it had no unicode support so I had to rename some Asian music to have English tags verbatim.

 

[TridenT]

iPod
Pros
Best click wheel thingy...
Cool.
Has TONS OF ACCESSORIES
Cons
No wireless...
pricey?
Some people might think you are a tool? Or an apple fanboi?

Zune
Pros
Wireless
Has some cooler options, for legal stuff.. Subscription service, etc.
Can be cheaper than iPod

Cons
Looks terrible, IMO.
Not as many accessories
You seem weird with it and people might not know what it is
Not an iPod

I think I have it down?



Anyway, I'd get the iPod.

 

[StevenYoo]

i love my zune's FM radio.

 

[TridenT]

Originally posted by: StevenYoo
i love my zune's FM radio.

Really? FM radio isn't the best of sound quality. :-/

 

[ivan2]

both are equally quirky if you want to do something they aren't designed to, but the accessories available and different choice in sizes has turned me to ipod. itunes ain't that bad, actually better than the WMP I had to use for my other player.

 

[ra990]

Originally posted by: TridenTBoy3555
Zune
Cons
You seem weird with it and people might not know what it is

Oh the horror!!!

LOL, sorry this is one of the funniest cons I've ever read.

 

[abaez]

Originally posted by: theblackbox
zune. because most of you guys like to coddle balmers' bag and praise the almighty microsoft.

the rest of us are happy with ipod. itunes works great for me.

This, coming from an apple user? The irony is rich.

 

[TridenT]

Originally posted by: ra990

Originally posted by: TridenTBoy3555
Zune
Cons
You seem weird with it and people might not know what it is

Oh the horror!!!

LOL, sorry this is one of the funniest cons I've ever read.

Idk, I hate it when people consistently ask me, "What is that?"

You have an iPod, people just know. When you don't have an iPod, you seem cheap. :-/

I'm glad I made you laugh though.

 

[Gibson486]

I tried both. i likethe iPod better. Interface is just better. that said, the zune is a better value (you still hve to buy that dumb radio add on with the ipod).

 

[SAWYER]

I have owned both numerous ipods and zunes. I think you can't go wrong with either but personally I do like the zune better, and the new zune software better than itunes.

 

[Goosemaster]

Given what you've told us, the decision comes down to the experience that you end up with each device. Given that your pioneer deck has a ipod interface and given that said interface will give you everything you need (charge, control, tagging), buying anything else that will not provide these basic services is just a waste of time and money.

This is not a zune vs ipod thread. This is a "go with what your HU supports and enjoy or go through hell rewiring your car for a subpar experience in the end"