Surprise surprise, Zune sucks.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

http://www.suntimes.com/technology/ihnatko/147048,CST-FIN-Andy23.article

Damn, that was harsh! Even though my iPod just died on me, I'd still never buy such a product.

[Gemini Cricket]

I say we use the word "Zune" to describe anything that's crappy.

"Boy, they really zuned that parking lot by putting DCA there..."

"You know, they really zuned Tomorrowland in 1998..."

"Santa Clause 3 totally zuned."

"Michael Richards zunes."

"My 3 cylinder Geo Metro was a zune."

"Lindsay Lohan is zune-y."

:D

[Prudence]

Well this sucks. It's not a surprise that the Zune sucks, but I was hoping it would be good enough to challenge the iPod. There are some things I don't like about the iPod that has kept me from shelling out for it, but I'm worried that other products that look interesting - like the Sandisk player - won't last long enough to be worth the investment. I was really hoping that Microsoft's entry into the field was going to spark innovation to benefit me. Alas.

[CoasterMatt]

I love my Creative Zen Nano Plus... It's definitely not Zune-y.

[Kevy Baby]

Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?

[Cadaverous Pallor]

There are plenty of strong mp3 contenders out there, and the mp3 format isn't going anywhere...

[Prudence]

Does anyone here have a different mp3 player? I have a mini disk thing, but that is, of course, limited to the capacity of the disk, which isn't large. I'm looking for something with more iPod-like capacity.

[lizziebith]

I love my Creative Zen Nano Plus... It's definitely not Zune-y.


I have the Creative Zen V and I love it -- I didn't want to go iPod or Zune, and I'm very satisfied. These sweet Tamogotchi-like players come in a variety of memory sizes, and as flash-drives are pretty un-? non-? temperamental. A major plus is the fab software that comes with it - I usually don't bother with such stuff, but this is actually useful and friendly. Plus I like my, erm, Zen-casts! :D

[BarTopDancer]

Does anyone here have a different mp3 player? I have a mini disk thing, but that is, of course, limited to the capacity of the disk, which isn't large. I'm looking for something with more iPod-like capacity.

What features of the iPod do you not like?
What features (other than disk space) are you looking for?

[CoasterMatt]

One thing that I also love about my Zens (I've got a Nano Plus and a Zen Vision 30gb), is that with Vista, there's no need for any other software - they're supported natively.

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

Bornieo: Fully Zune'd

[Snowflake]

Does anyone here have a different mp3 player? I have a mini disk thing, but that is, of course, limited to the capacity of the disk, which isn't large. I'm looking for something with more iPod-like capacity.

Well, I do love my iPod, but I also have an iRiver. I don't find the iRivers any less expensive than an iPod. So, as usual, I'm not being helpful to you.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Bornieo: Fully Zune'dI swear, if you keep this negativity up I might have to bad mojo you for it...though I'm not sure that would serve my purpose. :p

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Well, I do love my iPod, but I also have an iRiver. I don't find the iRivers any less expensive than an iPod. So, as usual, I'm not being helpful to you.But what features does it have? What are the differences? Pricing is one small aspect.

[CoasterMatt]

I have thrown my Zen Nano Plus from the second floor balcony of an apartment complex, and it survived.

The Zen Vision has survived a tumble down the stairs (I was not holding it at the time - I treat my electronics better than that)

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

I swear, if you keep this negativity up I might have to bad mojo you for it...though I'm not sure that would serve my purpose. :p

Who's being negative? :p

[Snowflake]

But what features does it have? What are the differences? Pricing is one small aspect.

Ah, sorry! The iRiver I own has far fewer features than the 60Gb iPod. It is an older model. The best thing about the iRiver, for me, is that it is more compact than the iPod and is about the size of a small, short maglite flashlight. It holds less data, has fewer bells and whistles. No video on the iRiver. The iRiver did allow me to record audio, which was why I bought it. Small microphone and 72 hours of capacity, makes for easy interviewing!

Anyway, here's a comparison (http://www.consumersearch.com/www/electronics/mp3-players/index.html) I found online. It may help with some questions about the various toys available.

Call me a lemming, I love the iPod, I've had no trouble with it at all and it has more than serves my needs. I don't regret shelling out the bucks for it.

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

. The iRiver did allow me to record audio, which was why I bought it. Small microphone and 72 hours of capacity, makes for easy interviewing!.


How is the sound quality on the recording aspect? Say if you wanted to record some sort of "live" event?

[Snowflake]

How is the sound quality on the recording aspect? Say if you wanted to record some sort of "live" event?

this is what I have (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009ORXE8/002-9946697-7252845)

I have found the sound quality to be acceptable. I use this more for verbal interviewing and have not tested it out for bootleg use. Of course, I have not recorded anything like a concert with this although due to the small size, I could sneak this in to the opera house easily. Believe me, I've thought about it.

The mic in it seems to pick up very well, and there is an option to make adjustments to the microphone level.

I may still have some basic audio on it from my last interview, if I do, I will post a link to give you an idea of how it sounds. I'll let you know once I get home later on tonight

[Prudence]

What features of the iPod do you not like?
What features (other than disk space) are you looking for?

Three words: Proprietary music format. The inability to replace the battery also factors in.

Features other than disk space? Video isn't a big need at the moment, although that could change. I do like the FM tuner on my mini-disk player.

[BarTopDancer]

Three words: Proprietary music format. The inability to replace the battery also factors in.
iPods also play mpP3 format which standard now. mp4 and aac are available not required.

I see how the battery replacement can be an issue for someone.

Features other than disk space? Video isn't a big need at the moment, although that could change. I do like the FM tuner on my mini-disk player.

The iRiver is supposed to be good. I haven't been impressed with Creative's products or support but I know a lot of people like them.

If you will be running or using it during a lot of high impact activities I recommend getting a flash memory based player versus a hard drive based player. The hard drive can be damaged with enough impact (my iPod will shut off when I am running because of the movement).

[flippyshark]

I am stunned that MicroSoft chose to call the Zune's wireless file-sharing feature "squirting." Wow.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

iPods also play mpP3 format which standard now. Actually, iTunes converts your mp3s into AAC so they'll play on your iPod, and getting them back into mp3 format involves digging up some software to crack Apple's code. I know many people are unhappy iTunes converted their libraries.

If I were going to purchase an mp3 player now without any prior iPod use, I would definitely consider another player. Many others are available with FM tuners, the ability to download files from your player to your computer, and many other features, often for less than what Apple charges.

[BarTopDancer]

Actually, iTunes converts your mp3s into AAC so they'll play on your iPod, and getting them back into mp3 format involves digging up some software to crack Apple's code. I know many people are unhappy iTunes converted their libraries.

Hummm. I've been dragging my mp3s to my iPod and removing them without a problem. My set-up may be unique though since my music is generally stored on an external drive and played (but not stored) via iTunes (without conversion). I'm pretty sure there is an option to prevent the conversion.

[Kevy Baby]

Actually, iTunes converts your mp3s into AAC so they'll play on your iPod, and getting them back into mp3 format involves digging up some software to crack Apple's code. I know many people are unhappy iTunes converted their libraries.I just double checked, and sure enough, most all of my music is in MP3 format. Some of it is in AAC (mostly the stuff I purchased from the iTunes store), but if it came in as an MP3, it remains an MP3.

Besides, AAC is a better format than MP3 (less loss and audio artifacts). However, there are better formats than AAC.

[lizziebith]

I could never get iTunes to work so I knew I'd never buy an iPod (and heard too many horror stories of people losing all the work they'd put into the effort to load their 'Pods, only to have them crash miserably). As far as I'm concerned, regarding platforms and proprietariness...a Jobs is as bad as a Gates. I'm trying to avoid both of those guys as much a possible. [/waits for flames]

[DisneyFan25863]

I find it funny that on the Amazon Top 100 list, the iPod USB Power Adapter is outselling the Zune.

That's pretty sad.

[lashbear]

What kind of lame-ass name is Zune, anyway ??? http://home.mindspring.com/~kevin_elder/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/puke.gif

[Ghoulish Delight]

(and heard too many horror stories of people losing all the work they'd put into the effort to load their 'Pods, only to have them crash miserably). That's their fault for not backing up their data (though, after witnessing the death of CP's iPod, I will never buy any disk-based mp-3 player. No moving parts, thank you very much).

[innerSpaceman]

No moving parts, thank you very much).
I'd have to agree with that proviso.

So what are the candidates of that type? I'm looking to be the late entry into the portable MP3 unit (actually I had a prehistoric one many years ago) and I'd like some other options besides the Nano.

Any recommendations???

[lizziebith]

That's their fault for not backing up their data (though, after witnessing the death of CP's iPod, I will never buy any disk-based mp-3 player. No moving parts, thank you very much).

Of course they should back up, but my emphasis is really on the high number of people I've known with the problem -- It would be as if almost everyone I knew routinely had their computers' hard drives fail. Of course, that's just anecdotal evidence... :) But yeah to the not buying disc-based player absolutely. Love my little flash baby!

(iSm -- I have a Creative Zen V (http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/portable-media/creative-zen-v-plus-reviewed-verdict-ipod-nano-whats-that-182146.php)-- I didn't get the plus, because I think watching video on a wee little screen is just plain silly, but that's probably just me given the apparent demand driving the production of such features!)

[Alex]

To balance it out, I've not had anybody I know complain about their iPod (unlike actual Apple computers which seem to suffer an unusually high rate of hardware failures).

Here's what I like about mine:

From the moment I walked in the front door to the moment I had music on it was about 10 minutes.

But I'm also far from a power user since in the year I've owned mine it has probably seen about 50 hours of use.

As far as software issues go, keep in mind that if you want, you can wipe the native software off the iPod and install linux based stuff to run everything. I know several of my friends have done that and have the features and tweaks that they like best.

[Not Afraid]

I love to hook my iPod up to my home stereo, my car or the vacation speakers I bought and have music any time, anywhere. What I don't like is managing only 4 gigs of songs. When they make 300 gb iPods, I'll be in heaven.

[€uroMeinke]

I love my 60GB iPod, but I need at least 40GB for the rest of my music. I've been keeping everything in MP3 and it looks like the stuff I drag out of my iPod is also an MP3, so I don't think that's an issue anymore. I never use the video functionality, but I do have the hardware to hook it to my TV, should I ever get to that point.

I think the batteries are now replacable on the new iPods, but it appears most people move on to new devices before the batteries truely die these days