Who here has a Zune???

I'm looking at the Zune and the 60gb Creative Zen since they are about the same price. I'm leaning towards the Zune even though it's only 30 gigs but I figure 30 gigs is plenty just for music.

But anyway, here's my main question. I don't 'buy' music online, all my music comes from my ripped CD's. With the Zune, does it simply work as easily as plugging in the USB then copying the music files to it? This is how my 2gb Sansa works and I love that :)

I think that's how my friend does it but I'd have to ask him. I don't think it's terribly complicated or anything.

The Zune is pretty damn nice.

Cool. I'm not really so much worried about it being complicated to use some kind of syncing software, It's just that I don't WANT to :)

I've already got everything ripped to MP3 with the cover art, I don't give a hoot about playlists, I don't buy MP3's online, all my CD's are already oganized...I just want to pick an album and play it!

Well you do need the Zune software to sync the Zune I think.

WHY would you want a zune??

its microsofts poor entry to try to kill the iPod... not gonna happen.

i'm not trying to be an apple fanboy (i'm a linux fanboy :P) but the iPod is a much better player in general. Its smaller than the zune, MUCH better software, much better UI.

The zen is a nice player, but i find it very unwieldy and bulky. The controls are also very counter-intuitive.

Please, the iPod has been dead a long time depending on the kinds of features you want. As far as I'm concerned my iRiver IHP-120 killed it 3.5 years ago when I got it, and there's still no iPod with comparable features.

Software and UI on the Zune are very nice, personally I think the ranting and raving about the iPod is exaggerated. A lot.

Goofy name but for the audiophiles out there, the Vibez is the way to go. It doesn't have the capacity of the Zune or full size iPod but is worthy in every other way. It's more or less the successor to the late, great Rio Karma. If you've ever owned anything from Rio, you'll immediately recognize and appreciate the funtionality. It's even less expensive. The iPod is a nice machine but it's morphed into something other than a great audio player. I have no experience with the Zune but it's larger than what I think a portable audio player should be. Another poster recommended iRiver product which I agree with checking out. Cowan is also good and until the Vibez was released, was where a lot of Rio people went after Rio went under.

I have a Zune, Xenos portable amp and Grado SR 60's The Zune rocks!

I've had 4 Ipods die within a 2 year time period, the zune is a superior product. Microsoft has enough money to grind things out with the Zune platform until the IPod is no longer dominant. I used to be a mac user a few years back, then I stopped sipping the apple kool aid, the present and future integration with Zune, 360 and Vista will be awesome, and Dominant. Just a matter of time.....

Microsoft MUST keep apple alive as a company simply because they need "competition" in the computer market, they'd get too many antitrust suits if they kill apple.

btw, the iPod will never die, the zune is NOT a better product, its all personal preference...
you are a microsoft and zune fanboy, just go tell bill i hate windows (I use linux!)

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Originally Posted by audio_dude

btw, the iPod will never die, the zune is NOT a better product, its all personal preference...
you are a microsoft and zune fanboy, just go tell bill i hate windows (I use linux!)

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The Zune is not a worse product either, don't go casting fanboy unless you can show you're not guilty yourself. I own none of the above and don't draw much preference. To me the Zune and iPod are fairly similar in the end, and I won't personally be buying either any time soon.

I have the Nano 2GB and the Zune. For the Nano I use AAC encoding and for the Zune I use a high bit-rate WMA encoding. The are both nice players however I find myself using the Zune more lately. As for the software iTunes is a little more straight forward but the zune will play the AAC files as well as the podcast.

My current preferred setup is Zune + Grado 60's

yes, i agree that the zune is a decent music player, as is the iPod... but it really is all in personal preference. actually, if I could go back and re-buy my first MP3 player, i probably would have bought a Rio Karma or something.

oh well, i've just grown to love the iPod, sure they may break, and even steve himself stated that he wants us to upgrade our iPod every 18 months or so. But still, even after that, i still love it.

i'm not saying the Zune is bad at all, i've never tried it so i will not claim to know. but for someone who JUST joined the forum to randomly spit out some massive piece of zune/microsoft fanboyism is just...

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Originally Posted by audio_dude

Microsoft MUST keep apple alive as a company simply because they need "competition" in the computer market, they'd get too many antitrust suits if they kill apple.

btw, the iPod will never die, the zune is NOT a better product, its all personal preference...
you are a microsoft and zune fanboy, just go tell bill i hate windows (I use linux!)

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Just look up the reviews that compare the Zune with the iPod (not the 2Gb version, the 30Gb one), and most of these will tout the iPod over the Zune for many reasons (size, weight, copyright restrictions, battery life, the list goes on). The Zune is a fine attempt for a ver1.0, but just like Windows, it will take a few versions before it's a competitive product. In the computer industry, we all know to avoid ver1.0 of anything, like the plague. Let others be the beta testers, and buy yourself a mature product like the iPod, you'll probably be a whole lot happier.

And just for the record, I'm a Rio owner and Linux user. If I'd have a need for a new MP3 player, and the Linux port to the iPort was better, I'd buy an iPod. Unfortunately my company doesn't see things that way, so I'm still forced to use Windows & MacOS at work.

yay, another linux lover!

Agreed, always avoid version 1 of ANYTHING in technology... and NEVER EVER EVER EVER! use a v.1 from microsoft... its just a nono

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Originally Posted by audio_dude

WHY would you want a zune??

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Mainly because every iPod I've ever had has been a pile of crap and I hate iTunes. PLUS, an iPod can't play any of my WMA files. That's crazy.

I went ahead with the Zune, I've had it about a week (I forgot my post here asking about the Zune!)..I love the Zune. This baby is sweet. I'll never have another iPod. The Zune software works great, which surprised me. Very intuitive.

well, thats good that you like it.

Personally i don't, but thats my opinion. Enjoy.

Oh I almost forgot....there's not an iPod that has an FM radio tuner in it. Apple charges how much for that thing??? :)

Just curious....what exactly don't you like about the Zune....other than it's a Microsoft product? It does everything the iPod does plus plays WMA files and FM radio, and has a bigger screen. What's not to love?

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Originally Posted by N. Abstentia

...other than it's a Microsoft product?

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I think you've stumbled across the reason.


I'm sure he'd be shocked to learn that I really like vista.

Must suck to be a Microsoft h8er :)

Meanwhile I'll kick back with my Windows computers, Xbox 360, and Zune. Enjoy your Mac, iPod, and....uhh....Newton!

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Originally Posted by N. Abstentia

Must suck to be a Microsoft h8er :)

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No, not really.

never owned a mac, newton or anything...

I'm an opensource, linux guy. Even my gaming system is open source! http://gp2x.co.uk/go.pl?A134 The GP2x, its great.

Microsoft has made a business of taking ideas of others, changing them a bit, making them flashy then putting a big fat MICROSOFT logo on it. (oh yeah, and a big fat price tag)

Yes, i do use windows XP for gaming. but the only thing i like from apple is the iPod.

I don't really hate microsoft, i just don't agree with them, so i use alternatives.

And i don't really have anything against the zune, just the fact that its microsoft ripoff of the iPod... like I said before. (oh look, a circular control pad!)

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Originally Posted by N. Abstentia

Just curious....what exactly don't you like about the Zune....other than it's a Microsoft product? It does everything the iPod does plus plays WMA files and FM radio, and has a bigger screen. What's not to love?

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Here you go:

http://www.roughlydrafted.com/RD/Hom...974628809.html,

and it's well researched too. If that's not enough, just do a Google search for more - there's a whole lot out there.

LOL.

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Well no, it doesn't have a clickwheel, just a round button designed to look like one. That means there's no circular input to spin through long lists of songs.

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This one just kills me. Do you know how many people are going to try to spin through songs incorrectly before they defenestrate?

I also enjoyed myth #10 and its accompanying pic:
http://www.roughlydrafted.com/RD/Images/zune.jpg

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Originally Posted by nightflier

Here you go:

http://www.roughlydrafted.com/RD/Hom...974628809.html,

and it's well researched too. If that's not enough, just do a Google search for more - there's a whole lot out there.

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Again, it must really suck to be a Microsoft h8er (not calling YOU that, NF..just making a statement). Not sure what iPod fanboi made that site, but after having a Zune for 3 days I've already proved most of their statements wrong (of course I can't prove the ones that are theory's ). But my Zune plays podcasts, movies, audiobooks, and everything else they said it can't do. Methinks whoever made that site has never even seen a Zune! This type of thinking is another reason I dislike iPods and their fanbois.

So you're saying it does have that iPod interface, where you can spin your finger in a circle to cycle through selections? 'cause everyone I know who has an iPod (I don't) says that the main reason they prefer the iPod (this was before the Zune came out) was because of the interface. So they either do not have the interface, or they copied it from the iPod. Neither of which is a good thing.

I'm not a "blind" Microsoft hater, but I keep getting new reasons to hate them all over again. My hate is well thought out.

It doesn't have the scrolly thingy, and it doesn't need it. The scrolly thingy is overrated.

No the Zune wheel does not spin, it works like a D-pad. My 15 year old JVC VCR does have a spin wheel though that jogs through the video, so it's hardly anything new. Imagine that...Apple stealing someone else's design!

Does the iPod's scroll wheel also scroll through FM radio stations? OH...sorry. I forgot the lack of an FM tuner in the iPod. Oops!

LOL -- you mean you actually (a) have a station worth listening to, and (b) have more than one, so you actually need to change stations?

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Originally Posted by emorphien

It doesn't have the scrolly thingy, and it doesn't need it. The scrolly thingy is overrated.

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I just told you that's what everyone I know who owns an iPod loves about it.

The JVC VCR thing is different. You twist it, it's not a touchpad. Sony had that too. I do, however, have a laserdisc player that has something analogous to that spinny scrolly thingy.

Don't get me wrong, the scrolly thingy isn't the best thing since sliced bread -- jeez, we're talking about a little gadget here that's about as expensive as a cell phone. I make fun of iPod users all the time: (stares down at navel, mimes the little finger spinny scrolly movement that instantly identifies all iPod users everywhere) See? I can even do it in ASCII. I'm just saying, it must be pretty frustrating making a device that's not as good and about 5 years too late, and wondering why one isn't instantly dominating the market.

Woo-hoo, it's got the Microsoft name behind it -- that's a reason not to get it. Kind of reverse branding, if you will.

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Originally Posted by Dusty Chalk

I make fun of iPod users all the time: (stares down at navel, mimes the little finger spinny scrolly movement that instantly identifies all iPod users everywhere) See? I can even do it in ASCII. I'm just saying, it must be pretty frustrating making a device that's not as good and about 5 years too late, and wondering why one isn't instantly dominating the market.

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iPod users are just so easy to make fun of, aren't they? :ciappa:

But I totally disagree with your other statement....especially about the Zune not being as good. Not as popular maybe (yet), but not as good? No. Worst case is they pretty much work the same. They play music. They play videos. But the Zune adds a bigger screen, WMA support, wireless sharing (which will be expanded on in the future to include other wireless access), and better software if any of that matters.

And with the Microsoft name behind it, let's not forget who actually funds Apple to keep them in business. Ahh yes...Microsoft (that must really make Zune h8ers puke). Plus you know for a fact that Microsoft does not care about money. They don't care if they lose 8 billion dollars on the Zune, they will just continue to add features and making it better.

Also, let's not forget that people were saying similar things about the Xbox when it came out years ago...too late, too big, it's Microsoft, it's not Sony so it sucks. Now who's the dominant player in the game console world? Hmmmmmm.....

I love that when people run out of ideas for a legitimate argument they just say something "isn't as good."

LOL

this is hilarious.

Microsoft HAS to fund apple or they'll fall as a company to many antitrust suits. Guys, sure the zune has a bigger screen... AT THE SAME RESOLUTION, so its just blockier... great...
oh, and yes, with the little apple radio remote, you CAN scroll through stations with the wheel... *sticks out tongue*

it also seems really akward to have to put your hand so far down on the player to use the controls, seems like it would fall.

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Originally Posted by audio_dude

Microsoft HAS to fund apple or they'll fall as a company to many antitrust suits. Guys, sure the zune has a bigger screen... AT THE SAME RESOLUTION, so its just blockier... great...

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Use one. The screen is indeed a lower pixel density screen than on the iPod, but it causes less eye fatigue than the iPod screen because you don't need to hold it as close to your face. At close viewing distances, just a couple inches further away can provide much lower eyestrain.

You can make circular arguments (pun intended) all you want about the control system. Personally neither the Zune nor the iPod has the best control interface (nor does my old iHP-120 for that matter). Just please try to avoid parroting stupid complaints about "oh the screen is the same resolutions" because there are still benefits to it that a smaller screen can't touch. Should it have been higher resolution? I wish it were, but it isn't and just as well for MS because even though the sum of the whole in hardware and performance might be greater than the iPod is (and I believe it is, like some other players), it's not going to sell for more than the iPod because the general public believes all should be judged against the iPod. Putting in a higher resolution screen would just lose MS more money and based on those who are using (and not just bashing) both players, the fact that it isn't higher resolution isn't a big deal.

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Originally Posted by N. Abstentia

But the Zune adds a bigger screen, WMA support, wireless sharing (which will be expanded on in the future to include other wireless access), and better software if any of that matters.

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The wireless sharing "feature" seems to be the one that Microsoft is most proud of, but it it the one feature that irks the most people. For every file that you share that way, the Zune adds DRM to it. Now think of this for a second, if you write your own music or have a public-domain file, and specifically intend for it to be distributed publicly, then the Zune still adds DRM to it. To me this is just a few clicks shy of a virus and I'm not even sure of the legality behind this "feature" when sharing public-domain files.

To top it off, the Zune won't work with Microsoft's own download format. How moronic is that? That would be like an iPod that won't work with iTunes. Now I'm sure Microsoft did this because it couldn't come to an agreement with the RIAA in time to launch the Zune before x-mas, and I'm sure they will fix it in the future. Yet, this goes right along with my comments about NOT buying a ver1.0 of anything.

If you consider all the other gripes people have with it and the fact that it's selling used for far less than the iPods (as a percentage of MSRP), it becomes clear that the Zune promised far more than it delivered.

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Originally Posted by nightflier

The wireless sharing "feature" seems to be the one that Microsoft is most proud of, but it it the one feature that irks the most people. For every file that you share that way, the Zune adds DRM to it. Now think of this for a second, if you write your own music or have a public-domain file, and specifically intend for it to be distributed publicly, then the Zune still adds DRM to it.

To top it off, the Zune won't work with Microsoft's own download format. How moronic is that?

If you consider all the other gripes people have with it and the fact that it's selling used for far less than the iPods (as a percentage of MSRP), it becomes clear that the Zune promised far more than it delivered.

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1) Meh. Not a concern for me. I don't plan to wirelessly share anything, but I'm looking forward to the future wireless capabilities such as streaming to my Xbox and such. Besides, even if the Zunes wireless were crappy it's still light years ahead of the iPod's wireless...which is non-existent. At least Microsoft is adding something new and useful.

2) Don't know who told you that, but they're clueless. I haven't had a single problem with it. Maybe you should actually use a Zune so you can see?

3) All they promised was an improved iPod that costs less. So far I'd say they knocked it out of the park.

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Originally Posted by audio_dude

it also seems really akward to have to put your hand so far down on the player to use the controls, seems like it would fall.

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Ok that was the stupidest thing i have herd......what do you have really week hands?

I have a zune, no problems for me.......I have used the wireless sharing.......not that exciting. I use the zune pass where u can download as many songs as you want, but only to your zune. Works out fine

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Originally Posted by audio_dude

LOL

sure the zune has a bigger screen... AT THE SAME RESOLUTION, so its just blockier... great...

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So when given the choice of a 14" TV running 1080p and a 42" TV running 1080p you always choose the 14"? That's real smart.

Why do you pic 1080p? Of course 42" is superior for a 1080p resolution most of the time, but pic something in between, like 480p. 42" isn't always the superior choice -- what if you're talking about a computer monitor...oh, alright, yes, I would love a 42" monitor, but most people would want something more realistic.

Don't bring the XBox into this -- that's an entirely different argument with an entirely different company, and I have no argument that the XBox is a superior product than the PS3. That doesn't extrapolate to the iPod debate.

Okay, 720p then. 480p. Don't matter...why would you ever choose the smaller screen assuming that the actual casings were the same size? That's something a stupid person would do. Makes no sense. Of course these are iPod fanboys we're dealing with :)

thats a HUGE exageration, thats like picking a 42" TV and a 50" TV... which would you rather have?

oh, and for the 14" one, i'd rather have that if I was sitting right up near it... neck strain galore for a 42" a foot away...