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General discussion

iPod Classic VS. Zune 80

Dec 2, 2007 11:52PM PST

In my opinion the zune is the way to go for all non-mac users. Better and Big Screen, just as cool interface, radio, wireless syncing. All of these are things that are great about the zune and missing on the iPod. GO ZUNE!!!!!!!!!!!

Discussion is locked

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'Latest and Greatest'
Dec 3, 2007 7:08AM PST

The iPod classic was announced on September 5th and released on September 7th of this year. The 80gb Zune was announced on October 2nd and released on November 12th. Therefore, the 'some time' you refer to is only a couple of months. If you mean that the general concept has been around for a while, so has the Zune (although by no means as long, it has still been around for long enough). By asking for a comparison to the iPod Touch, your are suggesting that we ignore the hard drive capacity (as has already been stated), the price, and the category it's under. The iPod Touch is, without a doubt, a remarkable device that is aimed at an entirely different market and thus a comparison would definitely be an 'apples to oranges' comparison.

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Still All Subjective
Dec 4, 2007 6:13AM PST

My two points still remain.

First, the iPod Classic and Zune are both based on previous MP3 player generation technology which has been around for years, or only months for the Zune. The iPod Touch is the next generation. The click-wheel design will most certainly fade away.

Second, yes, storage size is important but it depends upon the individual which only underscores my point that it's all subjective. It all depends on what's important to you. For some, 16GB is plenty of space while others need 160GB.

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good points but they don't make sense in context
Feb 26, 2008 11:07AM PST

yes, the amount of storage and price you want are subjective but the point of the comparison is to help people decide what to buy

example: if i had plenty of money and only needed 16 gb, well obviously i'd choose a touch over a zune hands-down, but as it stands i can't afford a touch and the memory is way too limited for me, so now i have to choose between the best options, those logically being the classic or the zune

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uhhhhh
Mar 14, 2011 8:50AM PDT

that would be unfair, however you could compare the Zune HD to the I pod touch and there would be your competition.

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in my books, Zune won this match
Dec 3, 2007 6:49AM PST

I use a 4th gen 20GB ipod. Only played with Zunes and the 5.5th gen ipod vidoes at retail stores.

Even tho they both appear to be fine devices, given the ipods' huge dominance in the mp3 player arena, one would've expected the ipod classic to clean the floor by at least 5 points. Ipod has a LOT MORE to lose in this prizefight, and even tho this 'll hardly get the masses to switch to a Zune with the ipod name still firmly established, it'll turn some heads, which is a good step for M$

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I am not shocked at all!
Dec 3, 2007 11:28AM PST

When the Zune first came out last year, we hooked it up for display in our store for sale. The sound quality that comes off is so good that every one of us talk about the songs over our radios throughout the store. I told my boss last Christmas that I wanted the Zunes up front this year because they were going to be very popular. I even went as far to say that it was going to be 2007 hottest item!! Yes I predicted it LAST year. That was even before the firmware updates. Zune Rocks, sorry Mac users. But lets face it; we are living in a Microsoft world.

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zune and ipod draws, but are they the best?
Dec 3, 2007 11:45AM PST

I dislike them because they want you to use their own program (like itunes and the zune program) while almost everybody else lets you do wathever you like, even sony now. Right now, I'm not at all into them anymore. I just bought a Samsung P2 for 145$ at bestbuy (4gig), and I like this way better. More functions, bluetoot, but no wifi Sad and not a lot of support (all the sound sytems are made for ipod only! Still, bluetoot system are popping Grin). Still, I got a 3" touch screen that sounds great, with a lot of functions, under the price of the nano, wich use a program I hate (itunes). I use wmp11 (winamp before, but wmp11 (the 11) is great) so my ratings and stuff are on it.

Finally, I wonder why everybody talk about ipods and zunes, while they aren't even the best. Ipods are limitted by itunes, and they lack a lot of stuff (FM?). Zunes are ok, but nothing special, they cost a lot, and they are still limited by their soft... On top of that, zunes are not even available in Canda, where I live :S.

My best are: Samsung's P2/T10, sony's S610/A810 and creative's zen/zen v plus. Cnet should make a box round on these ones for a change.

ps: It's just my opinion.

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Zune is sexy?
Dec 3, 2007 1:29PM PST

How could they call the Zune sexy? It's the lamest boxy plastic piece of junk. The new iPod has an amazing brushed metal look with nice rounded edges. It's a thing of beauty.

And the reviewers just don't like the click wheel because it's been around so long. You can't beat it for navigation. If Microsoft were to introduce a feature like that, they would get praised up and down for it.

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sexy???
Dec 3, 2007 1:39PM PST

Oh yeah, ipods are sooo sexy with all the scratches that accumulate on their metallic backing. Man I saw my lil' sisters ipod when she came to visit me recently and I was amazed how many scratches that thing had. It was horrible. I've always heard how scratch prone they were, but u dont realize how bad they are until u actually see one. With that being said the new zunes also have a metallic backing, and the best part is you can customize them for free for a limited time. They look freaking sweet with the designs on their backing. Yeah i'd take the zune any day over the i-pod.

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I'm not too keen on either.
Dec 3, 2007 6:41PM PST

I'm not too keen on either - both look a little ugly, although I have to say the Zune 80 is more appealing visually to me than the iPod. At basic level, the iPod is a rounded square with a wheel and a small screen. The Zune is a rectangle with a "squircle" (I hate that word) and a large screen.

I haven't used the Zune pad, so I can't vouch for it being good or bad (although I hear it takes a bit of precision, and it's easy to accidentally brush it rather than click it), but the Apple click wheel is horrible! I can't stand having to rotate my thumb like that until I reach the song I want. Maybe it's just me.

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Ipod and Zune
Dec 4, 2007 6:48AM PST

In response to the claim that the ipods are sexy, yes they are, but as mentioned above, they get scratched easily. You buy a case. Another expense. On the other hand the zune doesn't scratch easily and has better bang for the buck. I cant believe people pay such a high premium for (what the think is) sexiness (in the store window)

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plastic??
Dec 4, 2007 4:12PM PST

ya... you do realize the new zunes have a metal backing and a ruberized front with a glass screen right? whereas the ipod has a plastic screen and shows scratches WAY easier... good job...

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i love the zune's look
Feb 26, 2008 11:23AM PST

I gotta say, one the the main reasons i'm buying a zune is because of how sexy it is

It's really been bothering me lately that all the ipod users i know see the new classics and say "oh it's so cool looking! it's got metal on the front and a split screen interface!" Seriously you're so hypnotized by ipods that you can't even recognize that apple didn't really do freaking anything to it?

so it's my hope that by getting a zune i can make people realize that the new ipods really arent the only good-looking mp3 player. i mean who can't be jealous of that huge screen with a beautiful, yet still simplistic, interface and a design just as minimalist as the ipod's?

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Yes, it is!
Oct 23, 2008 3:22PM PDT

Zune rocks for three reasons. It has the same resolution screen and it is bigger than iPoo! Is has every thing iPoo has. And last but not least, it just rocks. I have a 4GB and I am working on getting the 120GB. Google Ipod vs. zune. you will see you it is better. Ipoo stinks!!!!

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Zune is nice but Zune desktop software sucks!
Dec 3, 2007 3:54PM PST

I have had several iPods (iPod 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation, nano) but I recently moved to a Zune 30 GB. The reason I did that was because of the wireless sync feature. I leave my Zune in my car (where I listen to it the most) and do a wireless sync every now and then. I also like the controls and the nice screen of Zune.

The feature I hate about Zune is the Zune desktop software. Come on MSFT, NO AUTO PLAYLIST? No import from iTunes? No import from media player?

The features I would like the most will be line-in recording (high quality, at least 128kbps) and an FM transmitter.

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anti- Apple bias obvious
Dec 3, 2007 4:02PM PST

I quit reading C-net reviews of Apple long ago because of their obvious anti-Apple bias. When I saw the headline I knew the winner already. It might as well have been a WWF or Don King production.

Right now I'm looking at a Windows Vista banner ad so I know who's paying for the reviews. But how about a little truth in advertising by saying, "This contest is sponsored by Microsoft"?

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I agree and I'm a PC user
Dec 6, 2007 2:11AM PST

I noticed the same thing to when I was watching a video review of Leopard. When you see all those sponsored by Microsoft banners around the website, how can you not think they're not being biased.

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I'm not too sure...
Dec 3, 2007 6:49PM PST

I thought the Zune software was, at it's most basic level, superb. For finding and playing music, and for syncing, it looks fantastic and it's very easy to use. It manages videos and pictures fine, too. It is very, very sleek and aesthetically pleasing. Playlists, subscribing to podcasts and changing settings were so simple.

However, when I looked deeper, I ran into problems. I never had to import from another player (although if you were using WMP, surely you didn't have to do anything, as it's all in your Music folder?) but I did have to edit song metadata. It was a nightmare.

I couldn't chnage the artist of one particular song. I couldn't change the sog numbers. If I tried to merge two albums because it didn't have info on one of them, it wouldn't let me. It was shameful.

I ended up using MediaMonkey (http://reviews.cnet.com/Organize_your_music_with_MediaMonkey/4660-10165_7-6648755.html) to manage my music and Zune to play and sync.

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Everyone missed the obvious
Dec 3, 2007 11:13PM PST

How come no one has mentioned that this review compared Microsoft's flagship product with Apple's "classic", (i.e. old) design? Does any Zune product even get near the iPod touch? I think not. Would the Zune even exist if Apple hadn't invented the iPod? Again, I think not.

Apple's strength is imagination and innovation. Almost everything Microsoft has ever done has been a copy of another company's product

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I'd like to pick up on...
Dec 3, 2007 11:52PM PST
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iPod Touch The Next Generation
Dec 4, 2007 6:18AM PST

I totally agree with you. The click-wheel interface has been around for years and is going away. The iPod Touch is the next generation. So, they compared generations old technology from Apple with the latest from Microsoft. It's pretty clear that Apple leads in innovation. I'm just waiting to see how long it takes Microsoft to try to copy it.

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Zune vs Ipod
Dec 4, 2007 6:53AM PST

"Does any Zune product even get near the iPod touch?"
It terms of value, yes very much so.

"Almost everything Microsoft has ever done has been a copy of another company's product"
Copy and IMPROVES.

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Overlooking the obvious.
Dec 5, 2007 10:24AM PST

I just bought a 30 gig. zune because of the price break ($90) over the holidays. I originally didn't buy the zune last year cause of the bad reviews, but the new software update changed my mind. I am surprised that no one mentioned the fact that the zune can be updated. (If you buy a model now, you don't have to buy the next model to get the new features, hence podcast and wireless syncing) My fiance has a 3rd generation ipod and is stuck with the features of that model. I can rest assured knowing that all I have to do is update my zune when the next update is available. I don't know how many other mp3 players let you update your software to better improve the experience.

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Apple pushes iPod software updates all the time
Dec 26, 2007 2:05AM PST

They added Podcast support to my older iPod mini via an update. There are quite a number of features and fixes that are sent out via software update to iPods.

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Like what?
Dec 10, 2007 2:26PM PST

You mean like how Vista is a copy and improvement on the Mac OS X system? I think not!

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No,
Dec 10, 2007 5:30PM PST

I started to criticise this, but I found myself inclined to agree. The trend does seems to always be to duplicate and develop.

For example, MSN came after AIM. X-Box came two years after the PS2. MS Office came a year or two after Ability Office. Microsoft followed Apple's lead in making operating systems with GUIs.

I can't think of anything to make this a balanced argument - someone help me out!

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No
Mar 14, 2011 9:30AM PDT

I think he meant how pcs are as a whole more powerful that an apple product.

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Compatibility
Dec 6, 2008 11:24PM PST

Thanks for the information. From reading the postings, I will hold off buying either Zune or Ipod. I personally shop with Function over Aesthetics.
Both Ipod and Zune appear to not have the full compatibility that I am looking.

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good job
Mar 14, 2011 9:04AM PDT

Everyone should read that post if you have a zune

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An iPod user that's glad the Zune won.
Dec 4, 2007 12:36AM PST

I love the look of the new zune. The bright, large screen is appealing and the etching option is really cool. However, I have a LOT of music on my 5th generation iPod now and I also use it as an external hard drive on many occasions. I installed a car stereo with iPod-ready functionality and have a lot of cool accesories for my iPod. If I was a first-time mp3-player purchaser, I might go for the Zune, but I'm not, so I won't. I feel like $350 for a 160gb iPod is a good deal and while it might not have some of the features that the Zune has including wi-fi and radio. I'm hoping such features will allow Apple to become a little more creative post-iPod classic era.

By the way, the iPod touch is a joke. It can't compare to the iPhone because it doesn't even contain a phone and it can't compare to the iPod classic in terms of music because it has 10% of the memory. The only way I would purchase one was if it was a supplement to an iPod classic, and even then, it's one expensive supplement.