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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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Just capacity
Oct 27, 2008 1:14PM PDT

The Zunes can all have their software upgraded to the current version. If you are just putting music on it, 80GB is a lot of music. I have the 80GB iPod. I have just a few video My music library is about 7,600 songs (600+ albums). As 128Kbps MP4-AAC's, it is only 28GB. Even if I used 256Kbps MP3's (like Amazon's), I would still be at only about 56GB.

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zune 120
Oct 27, 2008 1:20PM PDT

so is the only difference more memory because I don't really need it. I could just get the 80 gig which comes with the premium headphones. I just can't find any info on the differences between the 80 and 120.

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no difference
Oct 27, 2008 1:35PM PDT

No real difference, a lot of the cases for the 80 fit the 120, but check first.

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Both work, but,
Oct 27, 2008 1:33PM PDT

Dude, I just did the same thing you did, although I went from an 8 gig Ipod Nano to a 120 gig Ipod Classic, I considered the Zune, ( a fine player in its own right) and at the end of a long drawn out process i just realised that "practically" it didn?t really matter.
virtually all large players can be "hacked" (try looking into rock box (http://www.rockbox.org/) and as for 3rd party accessories I scanned the net/EBay/Amazon , if you want it you can find it nowdays, also (http://reviews.cnet.com/mp3-players/?tag=TOCleftColumn.0)was a good point for me to start just too look at the range available, in the end I went the iPod classic for the following reasons , ease of use ( itunes is easy for "beginners, and that?s what I am), accessories, (lets face it, rhe range is huge), and you "own" your own music, ( sorry but being forced into a subscription based contract is not for all of us), in the end all I wanted was something to listen to bulk tunes while at work , I?m now up to 1400 songs and more than happy with my choice, (I?m putting off learning tagging, I?m lazy good luck .

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Slight misunderstanding
Nov 5, 2008 8:00AM PST

warrenrichards10 made a bit of a misstatement (although he is right that most of the differences are negligible)...

The Zune doesn't force you to buy the monthly pass; it's just another option for those who like being exposed to a lot of new music. This works on your Zune IN ADDITION to your music that's been ripped-from-CD, bought from your favorite mp3 site (Amazon, Zune's store, etc), bought-from-radio (as only Zune can do) or downloaded from Limewire/IRC/etc. You add your music to your Zune however you want to, and you can have the monthly pass on there as well to give you even more music.

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Zune is Superior
Dec 6, 2008 11:38AM PST

For someone with no ties, the Zune is the best choice. Someone who already has an ipod may find that it is excessively difficult to switch from an ipod to a Zune however.

For everyone that bashes the FM radio because "who wants to listen to the same songs over and over" I for one love it because it means when I get to the gym, I don't have to stop listening to the morning show I like- something that I can only listen to on FM. Not to mention the 500 different radio contests every week that are easier to win if you can listen to the radio on the go.

As for the compatibility score- I for one chose the Zune based on compatibility. As someone who had already ripped a few thousand songs to WMA format, Apple could never entice me enough to go through the pain of converting all my files. It is for this reason why I know that current ipod users will continue to be ipod users.

I personally was thrilled when I found the Zune 80- I knew it was the right choice, and that my quest for a good quality WMA compatible player was over. I've considered creative zens and dell jukeboxes, among other various players, and none quite stand up. Not to mention that the software for other players is often sub-par.

The Zune pass is possibly the best thing that's ever happened to digital music. Especially now that you get 10 free song credits with your 14.99/month. I personally have become addicted to downloading music, finding all the songs I've ever wanted, but stopped looking for after I gave up the virus-infested P2P programs.

Of course, since we're talking about being fair, it'd be hypocritical of me to ignore the obvious nuisance with the Zune Marketplace- the Microsoft Points. Forget that they use points instead of straight up cash to mask how much you're paying- but for how albums, songs, and tv shows are priced, and the fact that you can only buy points in increments of 500, it seems like you always have points leftover that aren't enough to use for anything. I think there's a gratification in knowing that I used all the points that I just paid for- they should make the prices uniform, allow you to add however many points you want, or add dumb things like games and backgrounds that you could by for 5-10 points, just to get rid of that excess.

I guess it really comes down to what is the right choice for you- but everyone should do their research- there's a lot of horror stories out there about dying ipods and having to deal with Apple. I'll admit that there are a lot more ipod users, which means a lot more problems- but certain stories, if true, it seems Apple is less than sympathetic when it comes to defective products.

I've made my choice, and I absolutely love the Zune.

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ZUNE any day for me.
Dec 10, 2008 12:17PM PST

I will never own an ipod again, after having my ZUNE player for almost a year I will never go back, it just sounds better and with the bigger screen it looks better. Plus the ZUNE marketplace with all the wireless downloads and not to say about the free music they offer, its hard to even think of itunes again, its ZUNE anyday for me.

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Why re-hash an old article?
Dec 11, 2008 11:27PM PST

I am wondering why this article is the main article on the "Front" of the MP3 player page? This article is clearly out of date and should be updated to compare the latest iPod product against the equivalent latest Zune product.

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Finally they caught up to Version 1.0
Dec 12, 2008 6:29AM PST

Props to Microsoft for finally catching up to Apple. In the spirit of innovation and competition, Apple forced Microsoft to put out a better product and in the End it's a Win Win for the consumer.

No all Microsoft needs to do is apply this same mentality to the rest of it's product line. Start with Windows Vista... I just bought a Vista machine my god is it ever slow....

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mp3 idiot
Dec 30, 2008 4:16AM PST

I'm from a rural town of less than 5000. I'm an arborist and told my husband I wanted something to listen to at work while I'm watering and planting,etc. He told me not to go cheap (as I am frugal) and buy an ipod which I never did. So Christmas I got a Zune from him never really heard of it cause I'm 30 and plants and family are my life ( not in that order) so I take it over to my stuck up sister in laws house and she refused to help me down load it cause it wasn't an ipod and told me I should take it back cause apparently my husband had been cheap so I did a little research and found out he didn't go cheap and the girl at the store had recomended it over the ipod owning a zune herself. So I fumbled through the downloading process and fell in love and when all the young boys saw I had a zune at work they freaked out and told me ipod was just a name but the zune was way better. So this may have come out as a draw in this match but hands down I love my zune and will recomend it to anyone not stuck on a name! XOXO Zune

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I love mine, too - now that I've finally figured it out!
Dec 30, 2008 8:48AM PST

Ok, I'm not old, but the other side of 50! Bought my 80g Zune on the Canadian release date in June and yesterday I finally figured most of it out!

Now, if Zune could only included a decent user guide for us Geezers! Even ZuneInsider's first podcast didn't cover the basics. But, now I'm excited, as I've just uploaded my first podcasts and figured out the FM presets and how to define my collections.

I'm on a roll now.... Happy New Year to all.

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Wrong Comparison
Jan 13, 2009 12:16AM PST

From the beginning, it was apparent that CNET compared dissimilar models. They should have tested the iTouch, not the iPod Classic.

I might be interested in that test. Until then...moving on....

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Wrong comparison?
Jan 13, 2009 5:20AM PST

The iPod touch is in a completely different category. What capacity is the touch? How much does it cost? You probably want to compare the Zune with the iPhone next? How about an apple with an orange? Next...

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Completely Different Category?
Jan 13, 2009 5:35AM PST

I think you need to look at the Touch versus the Classic...then versus the Zune.

Please explain your post.

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Completely Different Category?
Jan 13, 2009 6:16AM PST

The Zune 120gb and the iPod Classic 120gb are both $249. Both 120bg. Similar size Zune:4.26 x 2.41 in vs. iPod:4.1 x 2.4 in. Depth Zune:.51 inch vs. iPod: .43 inch. Both use a control 'PAD' or 'Cirle' (not the screen). I guess I'm not understanding why you would compare the Zune to the iPod touch? The touch is $229 for an 8gb and more for 16bg and 32bg. http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/specs.html . If the Zune had a touch version, then I could see another comparison. But until then, the Zune and iPod classic are the most alike and thus the comparison.

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Touch
Jan 13, 2009 6:38AM PST

CNET Editor Brian Tong summed up the MP3 Player prizefight this way: Apple seems happy to keep the Classic the way it is and the constantly evolving Microsoft Zune is the one that benefits.
Hmm, and I thought that the term ?Classic? was self-evident. Silly me.

With WiFi and other features inherent in the constantly evolving iPod Touch, this comparison would have made sense, price notwithstanding. (Comparisons are always made, even by CNET, between Apple and Windows machines.)

And the issue of both offering DRM-protected music? Apple just dropped all DRM restrictions on purchases made through iTunes.

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Touch
Jan 13, 2009 8:03AM PST

Apple is obviously moving past the Classic in terms of updating, but until one wants to fork out the extra cash for a 1/4 of the storage space, I still think the Zune is more closely related to the Classic. DRM isn't a problem for all, I don't subscribe to any music purchasing site, it's only a device used for enjoying all the music/movies/photos I've amassed through the years. I still think the iPhone would be the way to go if you wanted a touch screen device...but that's another discussion all together. Your point is well taken...

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Agree, try iTouch vs Zune HD
Feb 24, 2010 11:27PM PST

Actually, now there is a new Zune called the Zune HD that has a touchscreen interface. There should definetley do a comparison on that vs the iTouch. But yes, there is no comparison b/w the older Zune compared in this article and the iTouch. I would actually be interested in viewing a discussion on the Zune HD vs the latest iTouch model. Actually, I would LOVE to view a comparison.

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agree
Jan 28, 2009 8:00AM PST

i have to agree.the zune should have won

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Question is: is ITUNES worth the pain of Itunes?
Nov 6, 2011 1:12PM PST

If Zune has anything even remotely compatible with its own d*** self on a PC, unlike the IPOD and Itunes on a PC, then I'm there! ITunes has crashed my hard disk, I've been warned by my hardware provider that the latest update is making my hard drive unstable, the latest "update" has more complaints than any software on the web (even at Apple.com), is there any question that Apple is beyond arrogant? Does anybody know the ratio of PC-users vs MAC-users? Yet ITunes is incompatible with PCs (being generous), puts an enormous amount of garbage on your computer that you don't even know is there (try a sophisticated uninstaller and you'll be amazed), and then will tell you that ITunes is designed for a MAC, not a PC. Meanwhile they delight in making millions on the sale of IPODs to PC-users. I even had an Apple rep tell me that I should know that IPODs are designed for MACs, not PCs. Is anybody listening? Go on the Apple consumer website/blog and see how many complaints there are about ITunes and how it screws up PCs AND MACs! Then read all the "concerned" replies from Apple. None? About right. The only one I saw was "IPOD and ITunes is designed for a MAC". So bring on a player that's designed for PC. I'm there!