I hate iPod, buying a Zune, or.... [ZUNE OWNERS?]

[TitanDiddly]

I want an mp3 player. I've got a 22GB music collection, so I want a 30GB+ model, and something that will play video. I hate iPods. Yes, I've owned one. So I'm looking at the Zune. It looks pretty neat, I like the 3" screen(I know its the same resolution) and the FM tuner. Another that I'm looking at is the Creative Zen Vision M 30GB. This has a 2.5" screen. They can be gotten with a 4.6" screen, but for much more $$. My brother gave me $150 to subsidize the cost of an mp3 player for Christmas, and I don't want to spend more than $250 total. Recommendations? Hate? Spite?

Edit:
I don't mind that PlaysForSure/iTunes won't work, I mostly rip CDs to DRM-free mp3s.
I don't mind that its Wifi is limited, I don't expect to run into any other Zune owners anyway.
I DO care about the ability to play AVI/MPEG/WMV.
I don't need it to do anything but play music/video, I already have a PDA.
I don't listen to podcasts and don't expect to(but this may change)

Can any owner of a zune post or PM me how the software is? Ease of use, pitfalls, speed...

 

[ViviTheMage]

zune

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

ipod still.

Why do you have it?

 

[jacob0401]

zen vision m

 

[Wapp]

The Zen is awesome, don't know much about the Zune except for the internet buzz.

 

[waggy]

ok quick question then.

my SIL got a ipod. well it didnt work. they are going to take it back. but there are no more ipods. so she was going to get a diffrent brand.

anyway will they work with itunes? or where would she need to get mp3's?

 

[Noema]

The Zune is pretty cool hardware-wise. The finish on it is unlike anything I've seen...plus the screen is gorgeous and it has FM to boot, and according to some people at head-fi.org, it also sounds better than the iPod.

That said, the software you must use to synch is terrible , according to the reviews I've read. And you cannot use it as a massive storage device out of the box unless you do some registry hacks. If you don't mind the above, and are okay with using 1rst generation hardware, go for it.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: waggy
ok quick question then.

my SIL got a ipod. well it didnt work. they are going to take it back. but there are no more ipods. so she was going to get a diffrent brand.

anyway will they work with itunes? or where would she need to get mp3's?

No they won't.

i had to read. your post twice. then i could understand. what you were talking about. even i don't send IMs like these.

 

[Chrono]

i'm working out with a zune! it rocks! the socks! out of the box!

 

[duragezic]

Was seriously considering a Zen but don't have the cash anymore for it. It was as low as $180 or so a couple of months ago from Dell with a 20% coupon (from Ebay for $5 or so).

Zune didn't seem to offer much over the Zen, so I would still say Zen. Between the major 30gb players, I'd say iPod, Zen, or Zune, and you've already ruled out Ipod so it's not as hard of decision.

 

[SmoochyTX]

I like this Zune site. BTW, I am in no way affiliated with the site or anybody that runs it. I just like it.

I don't have a Zune yet but I'm planning on getting one in the next month or two.

 

[Platypus]

Nothing to add to the thread but it's good to see you back around Ned

 

[Nutdotnet]

Originally posted by: Chrono
i'm working out with a zune! it rocks! the socks! out of the box!

Do you find it too big? Does it skip?

 

[TitanDiddly]

Originally posted by: Platypus
Nothing to add to the thread but it's good to see you back around Ned

Christmas break boredom + legitimate question = temporary lifting of posting embargo.

 

[Darthvoy]

I have a zune and I absolutely hate the software used to sync music on to it. The player itself is quite bulky, but very light and it sounds pretty good. The only reason I chose the zune over the iPod is because it has FM radio, but now I am kinda wishing I got the iPod instead.

 

[mwmorph]

I have a zen vision M and it is nice but music wise, I have been spoiled by a Rio Karma so it isnt as good as I hoped it would be. Navigating is a chore compared to the Karma and the music exprience in general is maybe only 90% as good as the Karma(which is the best DAP ever). Of course comparing any DAP available to a Karma as far as music is concerned is like comparing a Corvette or 911 turbo to a Bugatti Veyron. The Karma is incredible while the Zen Vision M is merely a great player. It's by no means bad.

Why not an archos product?
http://www.adorama.com/ARC40430.html?sid=1167339225225011
http://www.pricegrabber.com/p__Archos_5...yer,__25949036/skd=1/search=archos+504
The Archos 404 and Archos 504 are great mp3 and video players with excellent screens

 

[TitanDiddly]

I had an Archos a long time ago in high school. It sucked. I'll take a look at their new stuff though.

Edit: Both are out of my price range.

 

[DanFungus]

Look into the Zen Vision W if you're interested in video - 30GB/60GB, 4.3" 16:9 aspect ratio screen, removable battery, FM tuner, can drag and drop music/videos to the player through windows explorer. It's $285 at Amazon for the 30GB model

 

[wheresmybacon]

I just got a Zune for Christmas and like everyone else says, the hardware itself is really impressive. The screen and finish are top notch, and I like the interface and controls.

I'm not thrilled with the synch software, but I haven't played with it *that* much so the jury is still out.

The one thing I do not like is the fact that you can't use it as a usb storage device. WTF? Seriously...this fact alone may lead me to tinker with whatever mods/hacks are out there.

 

[waggy]

so if the zune and such (none-ipod) device will not work with itunes where do you guys get mp3's? just burn them off the cd's?

my sil has 3 cd's. don't think that is a good thing for her to get then..hmm.

 

[bcterps]

I'm in the same boat as you. For me it comes down to the Zen Vision W vs the Zune. On paper, the Zen Vision W looks to be a better machine since it supports many more types of video files than the Zune does, all else being equal. I haven't had a chance to have some hands on experience with either one however, and I'm not in a rush to buy, so I'm taking my time.

 

[wheresmybacon]

Originally posted by: waggy
so if the zune and such (none-ipod) device will not work with itunes where do you guys get mp3's? just burn them off the cd's?

my sil has 3 cd's. don't think that is a good thing for her to get then..hmm.

With the Zune software I was able to synch 99.5% of my personal library that's roughly 10% stuff I personally own and have ripped, and 90% stuff I've aquired over the years via Torrent, Napster, Soulseek, etc etc. I know I'm a mean old pirate. Fine. (the .5% error'd out with some weird licensing error???)

Going this route is nasty in terms of organization. The tags on the individual songs are messy and I'm going to need to spend probably an entire day cleaning them up and re-synching everything.

There is a Zune store similar to iTunes I've heard, but I'm not headed there until I clean up my tags.

 

[TitanDiddly]

Originally posted by: DanFungus
Look into the Zen Vision W if you're interested in video - 30GB/60GB, 4.3" 16:9 aspect ratio screen, removable battery, FM tuner, can drag and drop music/videos to the player through windows explorer. It's $285 at Amazon for the 30GB model

Hmm.. interesting. More money than I want to spend, but I'll have to give it some serious consideration. Do you know how the battery life is?

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: hungfarover

Originally posted by: waggy
so if the zune and such (none-ipod) device will not work with itunes where do you guys get mp3's? just burn them off the cd's?

my sil has 3 cd's. don't think that is a good thing for her to get then..hmm.

With the Zune software I was able to synch 99.5% of my personal library that's roughly 10% stuff I personally own and have ripped, and 90% stuff I've aquired over the years via Torrent, Napster, Soulseek, etc etc. I know I'm a mean old pirate. Fine. (the .5% error'd out with some weird licensing error???)

Going this route is nasty in terms of organization. The tags on the individual songs are messy and I'm going to need to spend probably an entire day cleaning them up and re-synching everything.

There is a Zune store similar to iTunes I've heard, but I'm not headed there until I clean up my tags.

google mp3tagtools.

Very simple no fuss program ,not as powerful as foobar or the godfather but it is a very small install, very low memory and very, very simple and fast to use. Also, under tools, there is the option to correct case of tags and to transfer tagsfrom v1.1 to 2.x and vice versa.. Lifesaving features.

Btw, anyone know how to take apart the Zen Vision M, dust gets under the screen and it's killing me. Dust on a screen is my biggest pet peeve on any device.

 

[ironxman99]

i love my zen vision:m

plenty of room for music and i watch all my episodes of 'the office' when i need to kill some time somewhere (jury duty, etc.)