RE: Zune HD or iPod?

Hi Chris,
 
I picked up one of these for $99.00 when they were available:
http://www.ihomeaudio.com/zn9
 
It looks like the replacement is not out yet but Amazon is listing it
for preorder for $99.00:
http://www.amazon.com/iHome-Zune-Clock-Radio-Black/dp/B002SNB5TC/ref=sr_
1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1273527180&sr=8-2
 
The zn9 seems to be a decent setup.  The connection to the Zune is a bit
tenuous but my younger son has an iPod with an iHome clock radio docking
station for his iPod and it's connection is the same.  I guess if the
connection is not as snug as a USB connection it feels tenuous to me.
:)
 
As I have one son who owns a Zune and one who owns an iPod I have had
the privilege of using both the Zune software and the iTunes software.
I find that the Zune software is better in every respect for me.  It is
much more intuitive and easier to understand.  Also the Zune software
rips a CD very quickly.  The iTunes software takes days to rip a single
CD.  Ok, maybe not days, but long enough that I start it ripping and go
and do something else for a while.
 
Anyway, just my two cents.
 
Marc

________________________________

From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Chris Tavares
Sent: Monday, May 10, 2010 5:29 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: [OT] 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.