iPod versus Zune
Wednesday, March 18
this article is something i found out from the internet. in an effort to move my heart closer to zune, i posted this on my blog. enjoY! :)
It's time to settle the debate. iPod or Zune? Did Microsoft kick the pod where it counts or is the mighty whitey still the king of the ring? Each player is loaded with features, flashy video capabilities and music storage galore. What one should you take home? Well, I can't tell you exactly which one you should rush out and buy. But maybe I can help to point buyers in the right direction.I've fiddled with each of these players for well over a month each and have developed likes and dislikes, fondness and disgust (see our Zune and iPod reviews for complete coverage). Each player tackles the needs of consumers in a different way. Sometimes it works, sometimes not so much.Enough talk. Let's just get right into it. Here is my short list of what I consider to be the most important features of any portable media player. Which player fulfills these criteria and which stinks up the joint? Let us begin.
Design
The iPod is an icon that set the pace for the product race. The Zune is a late comer to the party, slightly drunk and making boastful promises. While I actually like the Zune's brown and green color scheme, that iPod white is hard to beat and it looks just as good in black. Aesthetically the iPod is relatively simple yet timeless. Straight lines and rounded edges capped in glossy plastic with a chromed arse.Advantage: iPodSize & WeightThere is hardly a battle to be fought in this arena. The Zune is a heavyweight struggling to keep up with the tap dancing iPod. Despite weighing only 0.8 ounces more than the iPod, the chubby Zune is noticeably heavier and bulkier than the iPod!a drawback that is enhanced when resting in a shirt or pants pocket.
Advantage: iPod
Features
Both players do music and video well. But, in an effort to stick it to Apple, Microsoft packed an FM radio and wi-fi chip into their Zune. The Zune menu screens and album art are much more pleasing to the eye and the Zune offers customizable wallpaper. The iPod has a clock, games, contact list, calendar, notepad and stopwatch. An impressive list of extras but nearly all are available on cell phones and aren't terribly relevant to portable music or video. Sharing songs between two Zunes may be an exercise in Digital Right Management nonsense, but it's a heck of a lot more useful on a media player than a stopwatch feature.Advantage: ZuneSoftwareThe Zune software has been agonizingly slow and annoying on my laptop. iTunes has proven easier to update, sync and navigate. The iTunes podcast subscription support is still the easiest way to get your podcast fix. And strangely iTunes didn't seem to freeze up as much as the Zune software. This issue is made even more peculiar as I'm running Microsoft's own Windows XP operating system.Advantage: iPodUser InterfaceApple is awful proud of their touch sensitive scrolling wheel. I'd hold off on showing those baby pictures just yet, Steve. The Zune's D-pad may be reminiscent of an 80s model Nintendo controller; but it is quicker and easier to navigate menus and long lists of music with the clicking D-pad button than rubbing your thumb raw on the circular touch pad. After more than a month I still over-shoot menus while using the iPod.
Advantage: Zune
Content
More music, movies, and TV shows are available on iTunes. The Zune Marketplace offers less variety and more absurdity with the asinine Microsoft Points system.Advantage: iPod (although I still think 99¢/song is a rip-off)VideoEach player has a bright, crisp screen. The iPod's 2.5" screen offers the same 320x240 resolution as the 3" Zune screen. As such, videos played on the iPod are just a touch sharper. But the discrepancy is minor and not enough to make me choose the iPod's smaller screen for my viewing (dis)pleasure. Bigger is better.Advantage: ZuneMusicBoth players come with top-notch earbuds and pump out great sounding tunes. I could tell no significant difference in the clarity or quality from one player to the other.Advantage: TieOverall UsabilityThe sleek, thin shape of the iPod feels natural and lightweight in my hand. The brick-like nature of the Zune is less pleasing to hold despite the nifty textured surface. Having to go from portrait to landscape mode to view pictures and videos with the Zune is somewhat counter intuitive, especially when the menu and play/pause buttons get moved around to less ergonomic positions in the process.The Zune is heavier, bulkier and doesn't fit as nicely into a pocket as the iPod. And despite my dislike for the scroll wheel, the iPod gets away with using two less buttons than the Zune, making for a cleaner input surface and better usability when switching from music to video.
Advantage: iPod
By my count the final tally is 4 to 3 in favor of the iPod, with one tie. Not too shabby considering this is the first generation of Microsoft's Zune and the 5th of Apple's iPod. But, in the end, the king of the hill remains un-toppled.So what player would I take home? Well, neither to be honest. Both players rely on bloated loading software making it difficult to transport your music from computer to computer. Add in horrible Zune Marketplace points and over priced iTunes and I'll aim for an iRiver or Cowon product long before giving more money to Apple or Microsoft.But if I had to suggest a player to a new user or someone who is on the fence about choosing a Zune or iPod, I would probably recommend the old standby. I may never own one, but I'd have to agree with the market and declare the iPod champion! for now.
my conclusion? ipod is more popular NOW. Let's see what happens next. hahaha
What is your choice? :)
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