iPod vs Zune

[FernandoDuarte]

After buying a Grado SR125 used I'm going to buy a mp3 player... There is some very cheap here, but they're not really good... I was looking for iPod but then I saw this Zune and am thinking if it's good... As it's from Microsoft I'm a little uncertain about, does anyone here has experience with it? Does it works fine?

Thanks!

[Afghan Dave]

No experience with that player but I would buy ANYTHING other than an ipod...

No way an I getting locked into iTunes and one format.

[gingataff]

No way an I getting locked into iTunes and one format.

What format would that be?

[FernandoDuarte]

Hummm I cannot upload the mp3 form my pc to iPod?? I really need to get them on iTunes? :?

[shobet]

What format would that be?

It will be that propriety MP3 format that everyone is on about. ;)

Let's not mention WMA on windows for being locked to a system or an OS, or the fact that Apple's AAC encoding scheme has way less patent and licence cruft hanging around it's neck than the mess around the patents for MP3 and it's enhancements. AAC also works on other players like the Zune, Walkmans or Ericsson mobiles, just as MP3 does. 

However the DRM ecapsulated stuff that Apple sell their music with does limit you somewhat to what you can play it on. But then again they do offer some DRM free downloads if you chose to purchase them. Those are aimed at iTunes as they have some extra ID tags and album artwork, but you can strip that off to make them playable on other software if you want.

There are alternatives to iTunes for managing your iPod, just a simple google search turned up this - http://www.simplehelp.net/2007/07/08/10-alternatives-to-itunes-for-managing-your-ipod/

[Supernaught]

Hummm I cannot upload the mp3 form my pc to iPod?? I really need to get them on iTunes? :?

No, you just have to use Itunes to put things on the Ipod.     You can put whatever like on Itunes, it works exactly the same as any other media player.

Ive been using Ipods for about 5 years and never had any problems with Itunes.   I use it for putting stuff on my Ipod and converting files into MP3, which is a godsend.     I dont use it as a media player, but theres nothing wrong with it.

Ipods are capable of playing MP3, AAC, WAV, M4A, MP4, amongst others.   To me, thats not restrictive and Im happy to use them.   Itunes will happily take any of these, as well as being able to convert them into AAC, MP3 etc.

The only reason I can think of for anyone critisising Itunes is for the store/download side of it, with the DRM etc. but as Ive never used the Itunes store or bought any downloadable music  for that matter, Ive not had any isssues with it at all.    Ive got my whole cd collection (500-odd albums) on there, plus quite a few albums Ive downloaded and to me it's ideal.

[jibidy]

If you've got some nice grado save money on a smaller mp3 player and get a nice cd player (not a portable one)

[gingataff]

If you've got some nice grado save money on a smaller mp3 player and get a nice cd player (not a portable one)

+1

I just bought some new 'phones and tried some Beyerdynamics and Shure, and the shop let me try them with my own iPod.
 The Beyers were very good but they showed how bad mp3s and the iPod's audio really are. The Shures are coloured and not what you'd call hifi but they covered up the weaknesses and in many ways improved the sound.

If possible try to demo a media player with your own headphones before you decide.

[horsehead]

I've got a an old 20GB Zune & it's lovely to use. Very simple interface but you are DEFINTELY locked into their software to transfer music across to it, so in a way it's no worse than iTunes...and I hate iTunes

[FernandoDuarte]

If you've got some nice grado save money on a smaller mp3 player and get a nice cd player (not a portable one)

I was going to buy the SR80, but they were going more than US$100 on eBay and then appeard this SR125 for US$99 AND shipping to Brazil... But it is intented to be used on portable media and not need to listen to these people who put the mobile phone to play mp3 without headphones...

Hummm I cannot upload the mp3 form my pc to iPod?? I really need to get them on iTunes? :?

but as Ive never used the Itunes store or bought any downloadable music  for that matter, Ive not had any isssues with it at all.    Ive got my whole cd collection (500-odd albums) on there, plus quite a few albums Ive downloaded and to me it's ideal.

That was my original question :D I've like 50Gb on a HD that I've downloaded ages ago (and finally could use it, buying a external HD) and am thinking in transger from this drive to iPod, is it possible? I got really surprised with this "only iTunes" because all the other mp3 I've seen you upload the musics from your pc...

And this Zune, can I do it? Or only buying online?

[Supernaught]

You load up Itunes, select "import", select the drive/folder/file you want.    This makes a playlist in Itunes, you then just transfer that onto the Ipod.

[FernandoDuarte]

hummmm thanks :D  I'm a little computer-retarded :lol:

[FELINEGUITARS]

I dont have anyproblems with iTunes or my ipod - in fact I love them both. I dont download from the iTunes store much other than audiobooks and podcasts - I still buy CDs and rip them to the computer and iTuns is fine with that

My iPod has made me listen to more music than ever before as it is so portable, and whilst the quality will be better listening to a CD dierect rather than an MP3 the practicality is what wins out every time

Getting the ACS t3 in-ear monitors has been great as well as the sound quality is fab and the background noise is shut out too

[tomjackson]

I've just got an ipod classic, it's great.  Loads of space, great quality vids and it also plays WAV's which the Zune doesn't.  As my own mixes are usually mixed in cubase at full quality to uncompressed WAV that's a bonus, at least my own tracks can be CD quality or above.

[noodleplugerine]

You're not locked to Itunes anyway, many media players can copy stuff to ipods now, including Winamp, which is the best anyway afaik.