RE: Zune HD or iPod?

For what it's worth, I used to have an iPod (5th gen video I think?) and now
have a 32 gb Zune HD (64 wasn't available when I bought).

 

I had decided to get rid of the iPod because the battery was toast, and
working inside the big blue monster it made it a little cheaper for the
Zune. I like the Zune quite a bit. The UI is very simple, and much easier to
navigate than the iPod was. It sounds good, video looks GREAT, and I really
appreciate having an FM tuner built in as well. I also like the form factor;
it's physically smaller than my iPod was but still has a bigger screen.
Wireless sync rocks. Internet browser is actually decent; I can check my
work email on it and have through Outlook web access.

 

The Zune software just blows iTunes away, it's that much better. Simple to
use, simple to navigate, does everything I need, I like it a lot.

 

Down sides:

 

Lack of space - although in practice this is more theoretical, as I've only
ever filled 15 gb of my 32 total. Hard-disk players would of course be
bigger, but less robust. Other people probably have more music than I do
though.

 

Lack of network effect - you can't go into a department store anywhere
without seeing speakers, cases, and other assorted doodads for the iPod. You
can get iTunes gift cards at my grocery store. None (or very little) of that
exists for the Zune space that I know of. Not that I need much of it but it
would be nice to have a clock radio I could plug my player into

 

No apps - there's what, five apps total for the Zune HD? And they're
basically demos, not anything useful.

 

Conclusion:

 

As a music player, I like the Zune better than I did the iPod. It's major
downside is the lack of third-party gizmos and addins.

 

-Chris

 

From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Herb Warren
Sent: Monday, May 10, 2010 12:44 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [OT] Zune HD or iPod?

 

  

On Mon, May 10, 2010 at 6:33 AM, Paul Anderson
<[email protected] <mailto:paul.t.anderson%40gmail.com> > wrote:
>
>
> Why not just use a phone?

I haven't found a phone with 120GB (or more) of storage yet. I'm not
sure that I'd want to have a lengthy conversation holding an iPod up
to my ear, either. I will admit that were something to exist that'd
work reasonably, it would be tempting.

Herb.