Zune / I-Pod

[jrphoenix]

I'm looking at getting an ipod or a zune that I can use to hookup to my car (my FJ cruiser has an auxillary input for either I think?). I have some in store credit at officemax and I'm looking to possibly buy a zune: Link to Zune

Before I buy I have some questions. Keep in mind I listen to mostly popular music (not obscure music).

1. Between the 30 gb IPOD & the Zune is the music quality for one better than the other?

2. With the Zune what store do you use & does it have a lot of music. I know that IPOD has Itunes that has a large library

3. Do the devices come with a charger / USB?

4. Please use the poll because I'm torn between the two.

EDIT....

5. Wife wants a Zune for herself (bigger screen). If we both bought Zune's will the software allow us to create profiles for him / her.

 

[tdawg]

Between the two, I would choose the Zune simply because I think it's slicker to operate. Plus the screen on the Zune is very nice. The store you use is interfaced thru the Zune software; I think the actual store is just Zune Marketplace. They are supposedly adding content frequently, but their collection is smaller than iTunes. Zune Marketplace doesn't do movies yet and integrated podcasting is nonexistent. The music you buy is also DRM protected and playable only thru the Zune software. The device and software integrate nicely with an xbox 360 to share media.

iTunes, in my opinion, is a superior music manager than the zune software. It's easy to use, you can activate/deactivate tracks to control exactly which tracks are transferred to the device upon connection (no other software I've found is able to do this), and their podcast integration and management is superior to anything else I've tried. People love to hate iTunes for seemingly no reason, and I'm sure you'll get that a lot when people start responding (they'll also start steering you away from either device because it's cool to hate both Microsoft and Apple).

 

[jrphoenix]

Thank you for the input. I like the bigger screen on the zune too. If you have used both do you know if WMA or AAC sounds better?

Also, I do have an xbox that I love... I can put my zune music on my xbox???

 

[DimZiE]

i'm against everything apple so go for the Zune

 

[ognabor]

i lurve my iPod, but i have no experience with the Zune, so i can't do an honest comparison.

still voted for the iPod tho.

also, wrong forum imo

 

[jrphoenix]

Originally posted by: ognabor
i lurve my iPod, but i have no experience with the Zune, so i can't do an honest comparison.

still voted for the iPod tho.

also, wrong forum imo

What forum should this go in? I tried checking them all out.

 

[tHa ShIzNiT]

Well there's a Gadgets and Gear forum now. But I try not to be a nazi about these trivial issues.

 

[jrphoenix]

Originally posted by: tHa ShIzNiT
Well there's a Gadgets and Gear forum now. But I try not to be a nazi about these trivial issues.

Crap.. my bad... the new forum groups still throw me off sometimes.

For those who own Zunes... or the 30 gb ipod... does is skip when jogging or hitting a bump in the road when driving? I know this are hard drive based. Also does the disk scratch often?

Thanks!

 

[jrphoenix]

Thanks to mods for moving the thread.... Anyone have any info on the music quality?? or if the hard drive will skip when jogging?

Thanks.

 

[potato28]

Zune by far. It has so many fail safes written into the firmware that you won't be able to break the HDD without opening it and using a sledgehammer. And the Zune's headphone out destroy's the iPod. The only bad thing right now is the battery life... but that screen is just huge!

 

[tdawg]

Originally posted by: jrphoenix
Thank you for the input. I like the bigger screen on the zune too. If you have used both do you know if WMA or AAC sounds better?

Also, I do have an xbox that I love... I can put my zune music on my xbox???

You can stream music from your PC to your xbox thru the zune software. You can also connect wirelessly between the xbox and the zune, if I'm remembering correctly. All my music is in .mp3 format, so I can't comment on which sounds better.

 

[oogabooga]

I have a Zune and have owned an Ipod.

Both have sync/charger cables (the same cable).

The zune there is a zune store. I am not sure how it's selection is. Mainly cause I can't stand using the zune software. By the way, the zune software? Terrible. Absolutely heinous. The Zune device itself in my opinion is on par with the Ipod. "omg it doesn't have a scrollwheel so it suxs lolz" didn't matter to me, and the fact that it is slightly thicker was fine since it had a larger screen. iTunes (as much as some people hate it) is a polished, refined, and non resource-intensive software compared to what the zune software is. There is an unlimited music for 15 bucks a month option, and the zune comes with a free trial to that, so that might prove interesting for you. The zune store hasn't impressed me at all though, not even enough to take advantage of a free trial of it.

Zune is nice, I've had some trouble with mine recently. I wasn't really big on it, I only picked the zune over the ipod cause of the bigger screen and that I was more likely to use it as a portable video player than as a music player.

I haven't noticed any skipping on my zune when I hit a bumps in the road. (for the record, I never noticed it on my ipod either). I don't really Jog (I bike) so I don't really have any experience with that. When I bike it's fine though so if you're going to get an armstrap or something I guess it should be fine. If you're going to hold it in your hands and you run pretty hard you might have issue? I think the bigger thing people don't like is when you run where you put the device.

I don't know if the zune's headphone's are better. I think that both are pretty mediocre. I certainly prefer my shure's over both.

 

[jrphoenix]

Originally posted by: oogabooga
I have a Zune and have owned an Ipod.

Both have sync/charger cables (the same cable).

The zune there is a zune store. I am not sure how it's selection is. Mainly cause I can't stand using the zune software. By the way, the zune software? Terrible. Absolutely heinous. The Zune device itself in my opinion is on par with the Ipod. "omg it doesn't have a scrollwheel so it suxs lolz" didn't matter to me, and the fact that it is slightly thicker was fine since it had a larger screen. iTunes (as much as some people hate it) is a polished, refined, and non resource-intensive software compared to what the zune software is. There is an unlimited music for 15 bucks a month option, and the zune comes with a free trial to that, so that might prove interesting for you. The zune store hasn't impressed me at all though, not even enough to take advantage of a free trial of it.

Zune is nice, I've had some trouble with mine recently. I wasn't really big on it, I only picked the zune over the ipod cause of the bigger screen and that I was more likely to use it as a portable video player than as a music player.

I haven't noticed any skipping on my zune when I hit a bumps in the road. (for the record, I never noticed it on my ipod either). I don't really Jog (I bike) so I don't really have any experience with that. When I bike it's fine though so if you're going to get an armstrap or something I guess it should be fine. If you're going to hold it in your hands and you run pretty hard you might have issue? I think the bigger thing people don't like is when you run where you put the device.

I don't know if the zune's headphone's are better. I think that both are pretty mediocre. I certainly prefer my shure's over both.

Thanks for the input... Maybe I'll buy one of each a Zune more my wife / Ipod for me Any info on the AAC or WMA sound quality difference?

 

[bucwylde23]

I have a zune and LOVE it.

However, if you are the type of person to want a TON of accessories to choose from, the Zune does not have quite as many as the iPod for obvious reasons.

The screen on the zune blows the iPod's away, and I find the interface to be much better. The zune software kind of sucks, but so does iTunes.

I voted Zune but I'm thinking about buying an iPod because I want more space (at least 80 GB)

 

[tatteredpotato]

Originally posted by: jrphoenix

Originally posted by: tHa ShIzNiT
Well there's a Gadgets and Gear forum now. But I try not to be a nazi about these trivial issues.

Crap.. my bad... the new forum groups still throw me off sometimes.

For those who own Zunes... or the 30 gb ipod... does is skip when jogging or hitting a bump in the road when driving? I know this are hard drive based. Also does the disk scratch often?

Thanks!

I noticed when I was doing some work on a tractor that when I'd go over huge bumps (ones where I'd actually be free-falling in my seat) the Zune would shut off. I'm inclined to think that there are some accelerometers build in for that kind of situation.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Just some food-for-thought...

You can still find the Toshiba S series players, which the Zune was built on top of. They're slick, thin, great screen and offered in 30gb white and 60gb black (better if you watch movies on it) flavors at cheaper prices. Also they interface/sync with WMP which, as I understand, is superior to the Zune software...it boggles my mind that MS's player doesn't interface with the decent music software they built in to their OS.

Downsides are battery life is only around 10-11 hours, shorter if you watch movies or constantly navigate a large library, and there's absolutely no product support from either Microsoft or Toshiba. So if there are problems don't expect any firmware updates, and just about zero accessories.

My wife and I got the S60 (60gb black one) and like it very much. At the time, if the Zune had a larger capacity model I would have jumped on that though, just for the future support and accessories, despite the difference in price.

 

[jrphoenix]

Looks like the Zune is winning in the polls... so, I guess I'll start looking for a good deal.

Does anyone have input on AAC / WMA quality difference? Is one a lossless codec?

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: jrphoenix
Looks like the Zune is winning in the polls... so, I guess I'll start looking for a good deal.

Does anyone have input on AAC / WMA quality difference? Is one a lossless codec?

They both have lossless capability. As far differences at the same compression....most listening test results I've seen have put them very close. Close enough that it would be hard to imagine you'll hear a difference.

 

[potato28]

Originally posted by: Gooberlx2

Originally posted by: jrphoenix
Looks like the Zune is winning in the polls... so, I guess I'll start looking for a good deal.

Does anyone have input on AAC / WMA quality difference? Is one a lossless codec?

They both have lossless capability. As far differences at the same compression....most listening test results I've seen have put them very close. Close enough that it would be hard to imagine you'll hear a difference.

The Zune doesn't have lossless capability, and the iPod only has ALAC which can only be encoded from iTunes to work on it properly. AAC\WMA have no difference, they're the same as MP3's. If OGG was in the mix, it'd be different.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: potato28

Originally posted by: Gooberlx2

Originally posted by: jrphoenix
Looks like the Zune is winning in the polls... so, I guess I'll start looking for a good deal.

Does anyone have input on AAC / WMA quality difference? Is one a lossless codec?

They both have lossless capability. As far differences at the same compression....most listening test results I've seen have put them very close. Close enough that it would be hard to imagine you'll hear a difference.

The Zune doesn't have lossless capability, and the iPod only has ALAC which can only be encoded from iTunes to work on it properly. AAC\WMA have no difference, they're the same as MP3's. If OGG was in the mix, it'd be different.

Zune can't play WMAlossless? Good lord.

 

[LtPage1]

Use both, whine about how iPods are too trendy, and then buy one.
Anyone who says they like the Zune's interface is fooling themself and no one else.

 

[wheresmybacon]

I have a Zune. I really like the hardware, but the software sucks. Specifically I've had problems with song tags getting mutilated for no reason. Cleaning up tons of tags from legitimately ripped CD's that I've purchased shouldn't be something I have to do.

After the last firmware update I haven't had any trouble, though.

Things I like about my Zune:

- Awesome huge screen
- Interface is really easy to navigate
- Durable as hell - I've dropped it many many times and never even a skip.
- Plenty of signal; volume is never a problem with any headphone or earbud.
- It's not Apple.

Things I don't like about my Zune:

- The Zune Software
- Pre-set equalization: "rock", "jazz", "classical", etc. leaves a bit to be desired. I'd like full control.
- Can't be used as a generic storage device through Explorer. Can't manage folders/files.
- The Zune Software

I have no experience with the Zune store, nor have I ever owned an iPOD.

 

[bucwylde23]

Originally posted by: LtPage1
Use both, whine about how iPods are too trendy, and then buy one.
Anyone who says they like the Zune's interface is fooling themself and no one else.

The Zune interface is great... I've had a 30 GB iPod and prefer the zune's interface. That doesn't mean I don't like iPod's, because more than likely I will be buying one before the end of the year.

 

[tatteredpotato]

Originally posted by: LtPage1
Use both, whine about how iPods are too trendy, and then buy one.
Anyone who says they like the Zune's interface is fooling themself and no one else.

So obviously if you didn't like it nobody can?

Well I love the "twist" interface.

 

[jrphoenix]

What is the twist interface??