I'm interested on seeing which everyone thinks is better, the Zune, or the iPod.

Zune
- Wireless Synching, updates the Zune when you're using your home's wireless network.
- Free Radio, lets you listen to FM anytime at anywhere.
- Free Marketplace, lets you buy songs/other at anytime, using an available wireless network.
- Larger screen, although the resolution may be similar as to the iPod.
- Automatically updates software, so you'll always have up-to-date features, unlike the iPod where you have to buy a new iPod each time.
- Music, Video, Podcast, Audiobooks, Games, etc.

iPod
- Synching is done on a USB cord to your computer, or with an iPod Touch you can directly go to iTunes.
- You must buy an FM tuner to get radio.
- To access iTunes, you must have an iTouch or iPhone. Otherwise, you have to use your computer.
- The resolution is the same as with the Zune, but on a smaller screen. Therefore, the pictures are much sharper.
- You can update software, but to get new features you must get a new iPod.
- Music, Video, Podcast, Audiobooks, Games, Notes, Calendar, Time, Stopwatch, Applications.

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I'm looking to get a new MP3 later this month, and I'm wondering what I should get.
My two options are a Zune, or an iTouch. Both have their pros and cons, and both are pretty similar.

What do you guys like?

Zune ftw. Only problem i dont like with mine is its to fat well i guess its because its the Halo 3 one and its old but now they are getting slimmer because they are all on a diet. Need to watch those carbs

Apple iPod is much more reliable and worth your money. Zune the whole buying songs thing is soo confusing. Regular MP3s just aren't like the iPod or the Zune...

~Cheese Lord

I have tried both, and last weekend I bought myself an iPod. It came down to look for me. The Zune looks bulky and ugly while the iPod is sleek and styling.

"Zune, it can't play my music, or doing anything else!" -That amazing host from The Colbert Show.

I'll quickly go through those things. I'm an iPod Touch G1 owner for a while now, and I use mine constantly.

- Yes, and it's not a hard process
- Honestly, I don't think there's a big need for radio on an iPod
- Wouldn't that be the same as a Zune?
- You mention getting a Touch, yet you say it has a smaller screen. The Touch is a 3.5" screen, the Zune is tiny compared to that. Plus, the Touch screen is very good. I have no problems viewing pictures on it. 320x480 I believe.
- Not always, especially in the case of the Touch. I bought mine with 1.1.3 installed, and currently I have 2.1 installed. For $10, I got to upgrade my software to let me use Applications, etc. The Touch will always have software updates, don't worry.
- Internet, Mail, Weather, Stocks, Contacts, Notes, Youtube, Maps, Calculator, iTunes Remote (an Application), to name a few of the other things.

Like I said, I use my Touch very often, and I haven't been disappointed with it. It's a very sleek, sexy and easy to use device. The 3.5" Touchscreen makes using any program on it seamless and an infinite amount of options. Also, the keyboard is easy to type on after a week or two. I type 60+ WPM on it, thanks to the fact that I send numerous long emails a day from it.

Get an iPod Touch, you won't be disappointed. Zune isn't what you want. Think about this: when I was at Futureshop lately looking at a few things, I took a peek at the Zune's. Talking to the salesman, Zune's were barely selling and iPods were flying off the shelves.

~Bcloutier~

I love how the third option is "Basic MP3". There are many other players out there that are far from basic. Take the Samsung YP-P2 or the Cowon iAudio D2, both excellent players with tons of features yet ignored by many.

If you're really interested in finding a player you'll be satisfied with, I highly suggest you do some more research. iPod and Zune aren't the only brands out there, and they are hardly the best.

AnythingButiPod

Great site, informative, tons of reviews, and the ability to compare players, including iPod and Zune.


If you're not interested in any other player, I would say go with the one that best suits your needs. I for one have to have a player with WiFi, which is why I would go with the Touch rather than the Zune. You seem to know quite a bit about each player. Think about what your wants and needs are, and go with the player that best matches them.

apple ipod defiantly.
it's more reliable. had it since christmas and i love it. not updating mine though - may next year.

i had a zune a couple of years ago - it kept breaking , didn't get support , buying songs was very confusing.
then i ended up with a basic one for a few months - that annoyed me a bit - now i have an ipod it's very easy , itunes is very easy to use.


plus the ipod looks nicer.

I'd go for an Apple iPod anytime .

Also, with iPods there's a multitude of accessories that go with them, and most any other iPod. The Zune doesn't have many accessories. With iPods, there's alarm clocks, docks, things for running, FM transmitters for your car, you name it. And most of them are compatible with each other.

~Bcloutier~

Basic mp3 -> Zune should fill most peoples needs.

Personally i like my iPod though, and the Zunes on range couldn't compete with the nano .

I like my Zune.
The iPod is way to complicated for me, theres too many features, while my Zune has just what I want.
I belive I got my Zune about a year after they came out, so I wouldn't know about any of the new features.

Basic MP3 for me. Well, it's basic! I could probably figure out the fancy stuffs, but I've already broken 2 mp3s and I knew how to work both of them.

I have never even had an iPod or Zune--I just use a Sony PSP for that

~iE

May I suggest a Creative Zen V?
Or maybe if you want something cheap and fills your basic needs, a Creative Zen Stone Plus (its great if you buy some accessories).
Or maybe a Sansa View or a Sansa Fuze.

it depends on how much money your going to be spending on this.

i also dont know wat the best buy is, ipod or zune?

Why is this topic much of a debate? It's no doubt Zune is the best, though I don't want one but have one. It's a better brand and...well..no Apple is the better brand but I think that they didn't spent enough time on a much more of a new type "computer" like the Ipod is.

ZUNE.

I have an iPod and I like it. I also had a regular mp3 (that you could plug into your mputer directly) but I like my iPod better.

My iPod was way more reliable (the mp3 broke a couple months after I got it) and looks nicer as well (not really a concern, but it looks better )

Although I do like the "mouse pad" they put into the new Zune, I still think that the iPod is much better in quality, user interface and memory. especially now that Apple has come out with the iTouch and iPhone which are both amazing devises I think that Microsoft should just stick with the Xbox
Green~

Really a mute point considering that the Zune was never launched outside the US and Canada.....

Incompatibility issues too.....

Ipod all the way.....

Apparently we should see the Zune in Europe this time next year. Can't say I will be getting one though.

Isn't that what you said about the ipod?
and don't use I was given one as an excuse either.....

Why would I get a Zune if I already have an iPod.

Also from what I can see, Microsoft will be releasing the third generation of the Zune around the same time they launch in Europe.

I find that the iPod is much more user friendly and looks that little bit better.

The iPod is very user intuitive, although maybe too simple in some respects. Still, it works well so you can't complain.

I've been trying to figure out if I should get either a Zune or iPod. With the iPod, when you add songs to your iPod doesn't it check to see if you bought it or something? I heard something like that..

It doesn't detect whether the song is legal or illegally acquired. I bet most iPod users illegally download music.

Hm.. Guess whoever told me that is full of it. Or I don't even know what I'm talking about.

You do, however, need purchased iTunes songs to use the Genius feature.

Or change the song data to be identical to iTunes'.

Men, it's nothing special.

No, I have over 10,000 songs downloaded P2P and it works with Genius just fine. You just have to have them named somewhat correctly.

@ Joker: You don't need to legally buy the music. My iPod has all downloaded music on it and it works perfectly fine.

~Bcloutier~

How did you rename them?

Most are named properly. Sometimes an album name will be missing, but I don't think Genius needs that. I think it only uses Artist, Track Name and possibly Genre.

If you have a large library, it's a pain to rename them. I've been cleaning up my iTunes Library from duplicates lately, and it's a big job. Not something you do for just an hour.

~Bcloutier~

Right click the song and click get info.... it's on the second tab....

iPod, the Touch is unresistable.

Not true, when I plugged my iPod in the other day, it gave me the option to get the latest software for it, for free.

I haven't ever used a Zune, so I will have to say the iPod.

You only get updates, not new software.

If you find an player that can play FLAC. Then you know that is the superior player.

I have not owned either, but since iPods have been around longer, and Zunes are now getting the 120gb. I have to say Zune. I think its the whole shebang when you get it, you can listen to music your friends are listening to with out having to share the headphones, trade pictures, etc...


*Zero is waiting for that FLAC player

not entirely true.... itouch users do get full software updates....

Admittedly they do have to pay for it but.....

"to get the latest software for it, for free."

You only get updates, not new software for free, so what I said was entirely true.

You mean software when I updated my iPod from 1.1.3 to 2.1? I paid a measly $10 and got a lot of new features. That made me keep my iPod Touch G1 instead of upgrading to the G2.

iPod is the best. Think of all those Applications for the Touch. I have 50+ on mine.

~Bcloutier~

No I don't mean that, as I said, in reply to: "it gave me the option to get the latest software for it, for free.", you don't get new software only updates.