Zune or iPod?
February 20, 2010 9:20 PM   Subscribe

An alternative to all the iPhone vs. iPod touch questions: Do I want an iPod touch, Zune HD, or iPod Nano?

So my 2nd generation iPod nano poofed last week, and after hours of searching I’m fairly confident I’m never gonna find it. It’s unfortunate, but not awful, because I’d (finally) been knocking my head against the 4gb storage limit.

Yeah, I have a pretty limited music collection. I’m the kind of person who doesn’t really seek out new music, though I’ve been doing so more lately.

Plus, it’s not too much of a tragedy because it was free, and because I’ve decided lately I’d really like a radio built into one of my gadgets.

I really liked the iPod, but I’m not a fan of iTunes or Apple in general. I liked the build quality (that thing was indestructible!) and general reliability. I didn’t like how apple refused to update the firmware to include new features that would not have been difficult to include, like genius and video playback (yeah, the screen wasn’t huge, but sometimes you don’t need huge.)

I have a g1, though I don’t want to deal with a headphone adapter or memory card so I don’t use it as an mp3 player. That said, it is generally my browser and my app library, so apps aren’t huge for me (though access to the incredible apple app catalog is a plus.). I only use it on wi-fi, but of course that would be true for any of the above gadgets.

I occasionally run with my iPod. Probably more in the near future. Obviously, nanos are more compact and good for running (I am of the opinion that you can’t beat buttons.). But how unwieldy are the other two gadgets?

I’ve tried a zune HD, and loved it. The interface is nice. The screen is gorgeous. It has a radio. It doesn’t have a giant app catalog, but again, whatever. Maybe if I actually browsed apple apps, my mind would be changed, but my general opinion is that I won’t miss what I never had and everything I really want is already present in the android market. Aside from mint. But that’s coming, or so they say.

I’ve pretty much decided that I’d want a zune HD over an iPod touch, because of radio, which I really want, and the gorgeousness (plus colors!). But I put all three in there in case someone can change my mind.

Money is also an issue, but I’m able and willing to pay for quality. As I see it, a 16gb zune HD is only $20 more than a 16gb iPod nano, and is much nicer.

I don’t know how much storage space I need. I’ve gotten more into music lately and will probably need much more space in the near future. I don’t forsee a ton of video needs, but if I had room I’d probably fill it up with back episodes of Lie to Me and 30 Rock. And then watch them incessantly.

I don’t buy music from the iTunes store on principle. All my music is from Amazon mp3 or CDs, ripped into mp3 form. I’ve used windows media player to sync sansas belonging to my brothers, and as much as I love the sansas (video playback AND radios for like 35 bucks on woot!) that would be a dealbreaker for me. It was just impossible, especially when juggling a memory card and sansa internal storage. How does the zune app compare to iTunes?

Anybody know about the durability of zunes? iPod touches? Can they take nearly as uch as my iPod took? I tried to have in a case for a while but gave up ont hat and just tossed it in outside pockets of my stuffed backpack, in my pocket, in my purse, whatever without a second though. Can’t tell you how many pairs of headphones I’ve been through (including both iPod and Zune ones). I’m guessing big screen can’t take as much, and I can be somewhat more gentle (inside, padded pockets of my backpack rather than outside and unpadded) but I’m not gonna baby them. My camera, phone, and laptop have all taken severe drops before.

Other details: I’m 16 (which shouldn’t matter but always seems to end up mattering. I’m still buying it for myself, though, with money I earned myself. As is the case for everything I buy, including clothes). Birthday coming up and I expect a job (well, paid internship) offer next Tuesday so I’m buying this as a treat for myself. I listen to music much less regularly then many but relied on my iPod especially during bus trips, walking anywhere, going running, and car trips. Basically, transportation. Sometimes I go weeks without using it, other times I’m taking it out every opportunity and using it for 4-5 hours during a day.
Also: can I do podcasts without the iTunes store? They’re basically audio files and RSS mashe dup together right? Could I do that easily with zune software? I don’t use it for anything obscure, just This American Life and The Splendid Table and some Car Talk.

I use Windows 7. I like windows. I don’t like OSX. Believe me, I’ve tried, sometimes for extended periods of time. I will likely get another laptop in 2 years for college, but I don’t think it’ll be a mac (love the build quality, hate the OS. And no, installing Windows as a secondary operating system while using it fulltime is not a solution I’m pursuing). I don’t think that limitation of a zune is important.

Oh yeah, I don’t care about subscription music. I can’t even afford a data plan for my phone that is barely more than that.
PS: Wow. I seem to have a lot to say on the subject. I’m typing this up with word, and I’m on page 3 of this document.

PPS: surfing through Ask MeFi, looks like Zune has wireless sync. Is this true? Does it work well? I would LOVE that. That’s just awesome.

PPPS (sorry): I may be 16, but I couldn’t care less about what’s cool. I chose my g1 over an iPhone for the keyboard and because I believe in android. I’m not a heavy geek. I browse style.com thrice and much as I browse engadget, if not more. But I do geek out sometimes. I guess my point is that unlike 90% of my friends, I don’t care about shiny.
posted by R a c h e l to Technology (18 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
Response by poster: Wow. I'm sorry. That's a lot. March resolution will be to learn to write shorter Ask MeFi questions. I'm sorry.
posted by R a c h e l at 9:21 PM on February 20, 2010


Best answer: Also: can I do podcasts without the iTunes store? They’re basically audio files and RSS mashe dup together right?

Yep.
posted by special-k at 9:22 PM on February 20, 2010


I have a touch and the fat nano. I'm not pushing either but I do want to throw in a plug for Apple's newer earbuds with the inline remote. I use it all the time for working out. It controls volume, pause/play, skip forward or backward, and fast forward/rewind. So if you need buttons and find yourself with a touch, get the snazzier apple earbuds. The should work on newer nanos too.
posted by chairface at 10:48 PM on February 20, 2010


Best answer: Since you already have a G1, I think I'd rule out the iPod Touch. No need for two devices that run apps.

It sounds like your music needs are minimal, and you can buy a 16GB microSD card for your G1 for $40 -- do you really want to spend $160 more because you don't want to deal with a headphone adapter?
posted by AlsoMike at 10:58 PM on February 20, 2010 [1 favorite]


Sounds like you want a zune. But I would use your g1, why do you need multiple players?
posted by psycho-alchemy at 11:03 PM on February 20, 2010


Best answer: Consider an iPod with the Rockbox firmware.

This gives you the build quality of the iPod, but you can get rid of ITunes. Rockbox can catalog and play music copied go the iPod via iTunes, or just dropped into any directory on the iPod by filesystem copy. Note that Rockbox cannot play DRM'd music, and its video capabilities on iPods don't match the Apple firmware video capabilities.

Rockbox allows you to change the fonts, background, "while playing screen" layout, adds nice things like pausing when the earphones are unplugged, etc.

(For me, the "killer app" was the ability to show the composer's name on the "while playing screen".)

Rockbox is free, easy to install, and also runs on a bunch of other non-Apple devices.
posted by orthogonality at 11:04 PM on February 20, 2010 [1 favorite]


Find an iPod Nano and hold it in your hands before you buy, if that's what you are leaning towards. The 2nd gen one has nice rounded edges, but the 4th gen ones have an edge that comes to more of a point and for me it was annoyingly uncomfortable to hold. It looks like the current 5th generation ones do too. Last pic on the page here.
posted by IndigoRain at 11:24 PM on February 20, 2010


Definitely find an iPod nano and hold it in your hands before you buy, yes. The displays on those things are stunning.
posted by tepidmonkey at 11:36 PM on February 20, 2010


Best answer: I bought myself a ZuneHD about 2-3 months ago and I absolutely love it. The screen is too cool and the UI seems very clean and slick. I live the feel of the ZuneHD. As a device, it feels good to hold (wish they had a zune phone). Sound quality is awesome!

I mostly use it at work or in the gym (basement) so haven't used the radio except on roadtrips but I think it is good to have when you are bored of your own music collection - especially as there are so many channels (normal + HD radio).

I have dropped it on the carpet more than a few times (from say abt 4-5 feet) and haven't had an issue. The screen looks like it could take a few hits but you couldn't be too careful with keys/keychains etc scratching it so I have one of those Invisible shields (costs abt 10-20 bucks but is definitely worth it.).

Space wise, I think it depends on your needs. I own a 32GB piece and have about 400 songs and 2 seasons of That 70s show on it and it is still more than half empty. In hindsight, I think I should have taken a 16gig version. A 16GB model of Zune or Touch would hold the same amount of music/videos so that shouldn't be a factor in deciding. If you don't anticipate too many songs/videos, a 16Gb should be fine.. But if you are into a lot of podcasts, and like to store content, a 32GB one should be ok.

I use Amazon/ripped mp3s like you and not the zunepass unlimited music thing so don't know how good that is.
If you are in the for apps, the Ipod Touch is a clear winner. Zune AppStore is very very limited but then again, the only apps I see myself using right now are twitter and facebook so I don't mind.

Podcasts - Could I do that easily with zune software?
Yes, the Zune software works well with podcasts. Actually, I really like the Zune Client Software. I have owned an Ipod Nano (4th Gen, pre camera) in the past - loved the device but never liked iTunes. The Zune software feels good and nice and pretty intuitive. And when you minimize it, it shows up as a toolbar in the Windows 7 taskbar :)
Having said that, I don't think they have a Mac version of the Zune client so if you don't use Windows on your mac, I don't know how you would use the ZuneHD.

So ZuneHD:
+ ZuneHD device - the piece feels good to hold + very cool UI on the device.
+ Plays great music.
+ Zune Media Player client software (much better than iTunes IMO)
+ HD Radio
+ Can do a HD tv out (I own dock but have never used it yet so don't know)
- Cannot use Zune HD as a external harddrive. (Must have - if they added this, it would make all that space more useful.)
- Very limited app store (frankly, not even a competition to the Apple App store)
- Don't think there is a MAC OS software.

(feel free to mefi mail me if you have any questions)
posted by bbyboi at 2:31 AM on February 21, 2010


I've got the Sandisk Sansa Clip Plus. It's great. You don't need any special software to add music to it, like iTunes; you just copy the MP3s onto it and they play. It's inexpensive. It's small so it's great for running as you can just clip it onto your shirt without a special case or anything. It has an FM radio.
posted by massysett at 3:22 AM on February 21, 2010 [2 favorites]


I have a G1 which I don't want to use as an MP3 player. I got a 2gb Sansa Fuze, which was really cheap and is has an external Micro SDHC slot, so I got an 8gb card for it too. And you can upgrade later on when prices come down even more.

The Fuze also plays video and it has an FM radio.

It mounts as a disk under windows, so you just drag files on to it. No special software is needed. Or you can drop files on to the micro SD card directly if you want.
posted by delmoi at 3:32 AM on February 21, 2010


Best answer: I set up my (decidedly non-techie) sister with a Fuze earlier this week, and it works very nicely with MediaMonkey for syncing purposes (she plugs it in, MediaMonkey checks her music folder for new stuff and syncs it to the Fuze, then ejects the Fuze), so don't let your experience with WMP dissuade you from the Sansa option.
posted by joelhunt at 5:26 AM on February 21, 2010


Since you already have an Android, I would say get an iPod. The reasoning is that Zune is not there when it comes to applications.
I know that you don't feel like apps are important, having both Android and Apple App store is a big plus, the future is in applications really. SmartPhone applications are in their infancy, one day you will want an app that is only available on one store, so as you put it... it is a "plus"

Just as an example, I am working on an app that are only available on the iPhone, we are also considering Android in the future, but Zune... it is not even discussed. The App is for medical imaging, where doctors can see your XRays or CT scans.
Well you might not be a doctor but my point is, there will be more and more apps that one day you are bound to need.
posted by batman99 at 7:36 AM on February 21, 2010


Best answer: I used a 1st-gen Zune 30gb for the last year, and just upgraded to an iPod Touch. What sealed the deal for me (versus something like a ZuneHD) was that the Zune PC software is awful. It's all flash, and little substance, and makes library browsing hard. The subscription service was theoretically convenient, but they never had the music I really wanted, and it was, again, buggy.

I've missed the radio in my Zune (major NPR geek here,) but I'm coming to the realization that a few solid podcasts can take the place of the radio for those times when I'd want it. (See the infinity+1 podcast threads here for advice.)

For the iPod touch, Apps are a huge upside - even stuff like remote library control (free app!) or the various virtual mouse apps are surprisingly convenient, and they just work. If you're into portable gaming, it's a surprisingly robust platform (beats my DS any day.)

My advice is to download the Zune PC software and try using it as your music player for a while to see if it really is what you want.
posted by Wulfhere at 8:08 AM on February 21, 2010


Best answer: I have a Zune 30GB and an iPod Mini. My wife has an iPod touch. I have kept up with the latest Zune software. I've seen a Zune HD but haven't played with it much.

My take on this. If you are only interested in music and podcasts, Zune wins hands down. The software is MUCH better than it once was - I think better than iTunes in some ways. Podcasts are available on the Zune (even podcasts that you find only in the iTunes store can be pulled down, one way or the other) and the podcast interface is better than iTunes.

Music selection is not an issue now that everyone's selling MP3s. And the subscription music and radio are pluses that you can't get on the iPod.

On the other hand if you have ANY reason to use apps, then you definitely want the iPod touch.

I need apps, so if I were to buy a player tomorrow, it'd be the Touch.
posted by dudeman at 8:17 AM on February 21, 2010


Response by poster: I don't want to deal with the g1 because a) syncing to the memeory card is more of a hassle than I want to deal with, b) it is large and I'd rather not have to hold it when it go out running, c)headphone adapters are annoying, and d) I've already worked the plus in part kind of loose and I don't want to use it for anything other than charging, especially things where whatever is plugged it may move around.

I will head down to the apple store and hold the nano for sure. I should have thought of that before. That, and I know I know people with one, just can't think of any right now. Tepidmonkey, the display may be beautiful, but I have a hard time believing that it's is better than the OLED one on the zune.

Yep, I've tried rockbox on my brothers' sansas (e250, not fuze, but I'm sure this goes for both) and have found syncing to be a HUUGE pain. Especially when a memory card and internal memory come into play. Seriously, I spent over an hour trying to delete some music once. And it wasn't some simple issue, like I wasn't showing hidden folders.

I will be checking out mediamonkey for sure. Thanks! I knew there must be other options out there. WMP is just so difficult.
posted by R a c h e l at 10:28 AM on February 21, 2010


Let me just take a moment to tell you that I had both an iPod Touch and a nano and the Touch got the worst sound quality I have ever experienced. I'm guessing it's because so much room is devoted to "apps" and whatnot. I mean, if you buy it for music, don't get that piece of crap.
(I don't know why people like it; that stupid touch screen gets old. Fast.)
posted by lhude sing cuccu at 1:17 PM on February 21, 2010


lhude sing cuccu: You must have gotten a defective model. My iPod touch's sound quality is just as good as I get from my computers and other devices.
posted by JDHarper at 12:18 PM on February 22, 2010


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