Very impressed with Zune -- added poll

[SludgeFactory]

You have to use the Zune software to sync the device. I wish it was MTP/MSC, but it isn't, and it seems like it'll never be hacked.

I like the Zune hardware, the software I could do without. I find it slow and bloated, and I'm fundamentally annoyed by being tied to proprietary software for portable devices, you can't just go to any computer and move files.

I have no experience with Itunes, if it's worse then God help you guys. At least you can jailbreak your player though.

 

[SAWYER]

If Zune came out with a Touch competitor I would get that over a Touch. I used to be all about drag and drop but the Zune software is great so I don't really care any more

 

[XZeroII]

I like my Zune a lot.

 

[zerocool84]

I'd get a Zune just cus it's not Apple.

 

[blurredvision]

My first mp3 player was a 1st gen iPod Nano. I didn't care for it really that much, so I went to the Creative Vision M. It was much better, but I hated the interface. So I bought a 1st gen Zune on the day they were released, and I've used it ever since. The battery doesn't hold much of a charge anymore, but I keep it plugged in everywhere I listen to it (car and work). It still runs like a champ, even after all the software updates. I wouldn't trade my Zune for anything. Plus, my wife and sister-in-law have Zunes, and we all share a Zune Pass for a meager $15/month. I love downloading entire albums on a whim. I've paid for the Zune Pass for well over 2 years now, and being able to keep 10 songs a month only adds icing to the cake for me.

Originally posted by: Crusty
Want to know something interesting? The Zune software's core is WMP.

Hell, the first generation Zune software was a literal rebadge of WMP9. Everything down to the dialogs was the same, they just threw a new coat of paint on there and stripped all references to WMP. Since the new software launched over a year ago on the first anniversary of the Zune, it's MUCH improved.

Automatic wireless sync is also a HUGE plus to me, since I can just leave it plugged in in my car, and it syncs everything.

 

[KeithTalent]

My 80GB is Zunetastic.

KT

 

[Ronstang]

The software is irrelevant to me since I already have a huge collection of music and don't need to change what is on the player much at all. What is important to me is size and there is no 160 gig Zune so I will have to stick with my iPod for now.

 

[halik]

Never really had an ipod, but I love my iphones to death

One of my good friends works for MSFT, so of course they got a bunch of zunes for free. I like the wifi concept on it, but that's about it. It's way to bulky and angular and the interace isn't as good as the ipod scroller thingy.

The fact that Zune has a radio tuner is a big plus though.

 

[daniel1113]

The only reason I ended up with an iPod was for the direct integration with my car's stereo. Otherwise, I would have gone with a Zune.

 

[randomlinh]

eh, I was not too impressed w/ the zune. I still prefer the ipod interface. But the zune wins for video playback (not counting the ipod touch in this).

Originally posted by: hans030390
I prefer using the Zune to the iPod.

I think iTunes is junk, personally. Ugly...too complicated to use. Bloated. Etc. Once you get Zune software setup, it's really easy to use and sync with your Zune. My only problem with it is that it takes a few seconds to load up.

software.. how is itunes "complicated?" I've used both, and the Zune software is surprisingly nice to use. MS should have just shipped WMP like that and called it a day. I still lean toward itunes though since, well, I have an ipod. I will give you bloated and ugly in windows.

I've been trying to use foobar more now, but i found myself going back to itunes anyway. playlist handling just worked better for me (in syncing w/ ipod). that and my subscription to various podcasts.

 

[finite automaton]

I have an iPhone but I will not vote for iPod

 

[octopus41092]

I like my iTouch. But between a Zune and an iPod Classic or any other iPod for that matter I would pick the zune. As for software, I would use none. I prefer being able to just drag and drop things on. I've never used Zune Software but I hate iTunes.

 

[WraithETC]

I like the ipod touch 2g better than my 80gig zune but I prefer the zune software by a mile.

 

[Fingolfin269]

I got a Zune 120 for Christmas and love it. Never going back. I love the Zune Pass btw.

 

[abaez]

I like how the zune software has folder monitoring - whenever I put a song into my singles directory it automatically shows up and gets synced.

There are a few minuses though:
1. Sometimes album art is not read from id3 tags properly, it's hit and miss (more hit), but still kind of annoying.
2. Sorting on the zune player itself is ASS. If you have no track numbers, I think the songs are sorted by date ADDED to the zune? It's impossible to find a song sometimes for my "singles" album - not even ABC order. Ugh.
3. Touch sensitivity is poop and I turned it off shortly after I got it.
4. Social playcounts and history is not really accurate at all. Luckily the zenses software works with the zune so I can upload to last.fm. iTunes definitely has the zune beat on playcounts and ratings and the like.

Other than that, I like mine, but I'm definitely eyeing the new Sony player.

 

[Scooby Doo]

Originally posted by: irishScott
Creative Zen FTW.

http://us.creative.com/product...&product=16999&listby=

16 GB flash based for $180, with features that blow the iPod out of the water.

Here here!!!

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: Scooby Doo

Originally posted by: irishScott
Creative Zen FTW.

http://us.creative.com/product...&product=16999&listby=

16 GB flash based for $180, with features that blow the iPod out of the water.

Here here!!!

i went with a sansa fuze. radio, voice recorder, video playback, mp3/0gg/flac support, 4gb for $79 and another 4gb card for $10 or whatever and im so gold.

 

[silverpig]

I'm super happy with my iPod touch + hackintosh + iTunes

 

[DaveSimmons]

It's cheaper,

Not for the 120 GB Zune & iPod at Amazon.

Zune $250 list, $230 current price
iPod $250 list, $225 current price.

I'm interested in the Zune pass, but who knows how much longer MS will keep supporting the Zune if it stays in the dismal range for sales? They proved with PlaysForSure that they have no loyalty to their own music formats.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons

It's cheaper,

Not for the 120 GB Zune & iPod at Amazon.

Zune $250 list, $230 current price
iPod $250 list, $225 current price.

I'm interested in the Zune pass, but who knows how much longer MS will keep supporting the Zune if it stays in the dismal range for sales? They proved with PlaysForSure that they have no loyalty to their own music formats.

If only they would patch in a way to let you use your Zune as a 360 HD... I imagine that wouldn't hurt sales at all.

Oh yeah forgot to mention in my original post that one invaluable feature for me is the inclusion of the FM radio. I use it at work all the time. The unintended application of this feature was when my flight got delayed on Super Bowl Sunday so I was listening to the game via FM from the plane.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

The iPod Touch eats everything for lunch. I spent 30 min on the shitter at work playing Oregon Trail today.

 

[lokiju]

I've had a 4th Gen iPod a 30GB 1st gen Zune and now a 3G iPhone and I like the iPhone easily more than anything else to date.

For the money though the Zune is hard to beat.

 

[Auryg]

Originally posted by: videogames101
Now try a Cowon media player and wonder where you've been all these years.

Yep. I love my D2.

 

[ultimatebob]

I liked my old 30 GB iPod Photo more than my 30 GB Zune, since the click wheel made it easier to navigate through my music collection than the Zune's rocker switch. The Zune player itself is also fat and clunky compared to most recent hard drive based MP3 players. The Zune's software is crap, too... it's scrambled my playlists and screwed up my album photos on multiple occasions. That said, the new interface is kinda pretty looking. I never played many videos on it, though, since it's such a time consuming pain in the ass to rip a DVD and convert it to a Zune friendly media format.

I don't bother to use either of my MP3 players now that I have an iPhone. Even though the iPhone's iPod interface sucks to use while driving, it's still a lot handier than carrying around a separate MP3 player for my music.

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: Quintox
Yup you're right Bill, it was you.

I just can't believe people use the iPod once I got my Zune. MS should do some marketing thing where they give people a Zune + pass to iPod users. It's so much better , especially the software, looks fantastic and easy to use.

Zune software SUCKS, and you have no 3rd party choices. It's bloated and slow as shit. I use a 3rd party program for my iPod touch and can drag and drop songs via an Explorer window. A Zune is also not customizable, you cannot load Rock box on it, and there is almost nothing you can hack on it. The Sandisk players are possibly better, and definitely a lot cheaper. The only plus to a Zune is native Wifi sync, but that can be done with iPhones & Touches if you don't mind a little hacking. II can also use my Touch as a remote to control my iTunes library on my PC (very cool) I'm not saying iTunes is great software, but you don't have to use it. The 3rd party software I use opens in like 1 second and only uses 12 megs of memory > Zune software any day of the week. I can also use the software to use my iPod as a portable HD, which is actually pretty useful. I just opened the Zune software and without doing anything it's eating up 71 megs, and is quite slow. No drag & drop support kills any hopes for liking the Zune. Nothing worse than being restricted to a single bloated POS software. I actually like the Zune software for a player, the artist pictures that come up while it plays are pretty cool. I wouldn't want to use it to sync though, my GF has a Zune and the software is still lacking a lot of features. Until Microsoft revamps the rating system it's worthless in my eyes.

I'm just the opposite thinking of you, I can't believe people prefer the Zune, I especially despise the heart/broken heart rating system. I'm still trying to figure out how Microsoft thought that was a good idea. Does the Zune software support smart playlists? How about DJ? (lets me control my computers music from my Touch from anywhere in the house) Zune pass is pretty cool but I'll take my free song of the week from iTunes without paying anything.

i went from a Zune to a Touch and if I couldn't have my Touch I would rather put music on my Blackberry and use it for a player. The Zune interface isn't good and all you can change on it is the background color? ha ha. When Zune has Rockbox + 3rd party syncing software I might think about getting one again.

And I think to be fair OP should add "3rd party iPod software" to "which software do you like" there are dozens of programs to use to sync an iPod if you don't like iTunes.

And what ultimatebob said about the Zune software screwing up the album covers. Not sure how exactly it decides what art to add to what album, but my GF's Zune after the first sync a ton of the covers were horribly wrong. It made no sense, I guess it just randomly add's shit. At least iTunes won't add/change artwork unless it's an exact match.