Zune

[southerngale]

Anyone here have a Zune? I have an antique Sansa 1gb MP3 player. I'm always behind on these things because I could care less about having the latest and greatest, and I just really haven't put the time into exploring what I'd want to buy to replace it. But I will readily admit... I want more storage! I can't get many songs on that thing, although it's several years old and still works perfectly. It would be nice to have a newer one while unpacking and working on the house, and whenever else I can find time to use it.
I know some people who have had iPods and Zune and while they have good things to say about both, it seems that most people who have used both like the Zune better. I know that doesn't mean everyone does or will, though. Btw, I'm talking about the iPod classic or other ones comparable to the Zune products, not the iPhone. I like a separate phone anyway, so I wouldn't be interested in that or a similar product by Zune if they ever make one.

I'm looking at the Zune 120gb. I don't need that much storage, but it's not really that much more than the Zune 80gb, so why not spend a little more and have it? The reason I'm considering a Zune over an iPod is that it has a few more features that I think I'd like... FM radio and you can click to buy songs from the radio, wireless sync, wireless file sharing, and a bigger screen. Plus, I don't really have much of an iTunes library... just some LOST episodes that I bought and watched a few months after Rita hit since I missed everything during that nightmare. I use WMP and from what I've read, my music should be easy to transfer to the Zune.

I've never even burned a DVD from my computer before, so my playing with that on any device should be interesting. I've burned CD's though. heh Anyway, as with all products, I have read people who can't stand the Zune for whatever reason, can't stand the iPod for whatever reason, declare Zune the best, declare iPod the best, etc. Some of them actually get defensive. It's an object. lol
Anyway, I've read a ton of reviews, but just wondering if any of you guys have owned BOTH and which you like better, and why. I'm not against getting an iPod, but I think I like the features of the Zune better.

[lurkey]

Anyone here have a Zune? I have an antique Sansa 1gb MP3 player. I'm always behind on these things because I could care less about having the latest and greatest, and I just really haven't put the time into exploring what I'd want to buy to replace it. But I will readily admit... I want more storage! I can't get many songs on that thing, although it's several years old and still works perfectly. It would be nice to have a newer one while unpacking and working on the house, and whenever else I can find time to use it.
I know some people who have had iPods and Zune and while they have good things to say about both, it seems that most people who have used both like the Zune better. I know that doesn't mean everyone does or will, though. Btw, I'm talking about the iPod classic or other ones comparable to the Zune products, not the iPhone. I like a separate phone anyway, so I wouldn't be interested in that or a similar product by Zune if they ever make one.

I'm looking at the Zune 120gb. I don't need that much storage, but it's not really that much more than the Zune 80gb, so why not spend a little more and have it? The reason I'm considering a Zune over an iPod is that it has a few more features that I think I'd like... FM radio and you can click to buy songs from the radio, wireless sync, wireless file sharing, and a bigger screen. Plus, I don't really have much of an iTunes library... just some LOST episodes that I bought and watched a few months after Rita hit since I missed everything during that nightmare. I use WMP and from what I've read, my music should be easy to transfer to the Zune.

I've never even burned a DVD from my computer before, so my playing with that on any device should be interesting. I've burned CD's though. heh Anyway, as with all products, I have read people who can't stand the Zune for whatever reason, can't stand the iPod for whatever reason, declare Zune the best, declare iPod the best, etc. Some of them actually get defensive. It's an object. lol
Anyway, I've read a ton of reviews, but just wondering if any of you guys have owned BOTH and which you like better, and why. I'm not against getting an iPod, but I think I like the features of the Zune better.

have you checked out the iPod Touchs? I have a 32GB.... its thin . . easy to stick your pocket . .. has WiFi, you can purchase music wirelessly from I-Tunes. . . I stream podcasts from I-tunes on it nowdays. . while it doesn't have FM radio (which I could care less about anyway) there are apps like Pandora and Tuner that access internet radio... apps for the weather, . . new video streaming capabilities are coming online.. . I can post on the board and the chatroom, at work now if I want to..

[southerngale]

That sounds great, lurkey. You said that you can purchase music wirelessly from iTunes. What about existing music in Windows Media Player? How would you get that on there? I don't have an iTunes library, so being able to get my music easily from Windows Media Player is important to me. I have thousands of songs.
I like the FM radio feature, but it isn't necessarily a deal breaker.

Do you have to pay extra fees to be able to get online? If I had something like that, I'm sure I'd use it, but I don't need it. When I'm going somewhere that I want to be able to get online, I just bring my laptop. Of course I wouldn't have my laptop sitting in traffic, waiting for an appt., and a gazillion other opportunities to whip out your media device and hop online for a few. But still... while it's really cool and all, anything better than my 1gb Sansa will be cool to me. Since I likely won't use it nearly as much as younguns with more free time, I am still trying to convince myself that I'll get my money's worth from the 120gb device, whether it be Zune or iPod. I just saw how much the iPod touch costs. And I started off looking at a SanDisk Fuze, either 4gb or 8gb after checking out someone's 4gb and thinking how much nicer it was than my ancient device. Those are under $100. Now I'm talking about a $400 device. It's just like shopping for a computer... but for this much more, I'll get this. Well, if I'm going to spend that on this, I might as well spend a little more and upgrade to that over there. Well, for only a little more than that, I can have this! And so on... lol

[lurkey]

That sounds great, lurkey. You said that you can purchase music wirelessly from iTunes. What about existing music in Windows Media Player?

is it .mp3 or .wmv? .mp3 yes .wmv -- no if unprotected it can be converted to .aac or .mp3; if protected . . mmmm there are ways to convert it but they are a pain .wmv and .wma, btw is Windows proprierty music/video codec

How would you get that on there? I don't have an iTunes library, so being able to get my music easily from Windows Media Player is important to me. I have thousands of songs.

I-tunes is free and you can import music (.mp3 and .aac) not bought at the i-Tunes store into your library. I buy a lot .mp3s nowdays at Amazon.com and all my audiobooks come from Audible.com. . . plus a lot of mp3s ripped from CDs

I like the FM radio feature, but it isn't necessarily a deal breaker.

You might like Pandora or internet radio. .. a lot of FM radio streams over the internet.

Do you have to pay extra fees to be able to get online? If I had something like that, I'm sure I'd use it, but I don't need it. When I'm going somewhere that I want to be able to get online, I just bring my laptop. Of course I wouldn't have my laptop sitting in traffic, waiting for an appt.,

I use my WiFi network from home or hop on the WiFi at the office. . so it's free. . .though you can probably tether the iPod Touch to the laptop and use the internet that the laptop is using. . . I normally like to use free wifi hotspots. . .

and a gazillion other opportunities to whip out your media device and hop online for a few. But still... while it's really cool and all, anything better than my 1gb Sansa will be cool to me. Since I likely won't use it nearly as much as younguns with more free time, I am still trying to convince myself that I'll get my money's worth from the 120gb device, whether it be Zune or iPod. I just saw how much the iPod touch costs. And I started off looking at a SanDisk Fuze, either 4gb or 8gb after checking out someone's 4gb and thinking how much nicer it was than my ancient device. Those are under $100. Now I'm talking about a $400 device. It's just like shopping for a computer... but for this much more, I'll get this. Well, if I'm going to spend that on this, I might as well spend a little more and upgrade to that over there. Well, for only a little more than that, I can have this! And so on... lol

I purchased it because I wanted an iPhone, without the phone part.. . it can pretty much be classified as a touchscreen PDA or handheld computer. . . I have a calender, address book . . I check my e-mail (wifi) . . . buy new apps or get free ones wireless as well as music(wifi). . . stream or download my podcasts(wifi) . . . keep quick notes and grocery lists, read ebooks, listen to internet radio(wifi), have two weather apps, buy things from Amazon.com (wifi). . .have about 32 games on mine. . UNO, bowling, card games, air hockey, pool, Bejeweled, two physics-type games, texas hold'em, etc. .. . surf the 'net(wifi) . . drop into the storm2k IRC chatroom (wifi).. . follow twitter feed (wifi) . .

If anything, its a portable replacement for my laptop...

[DESTRUCTION5]

My wife has Zune...minimun cost is 14.95 per month...But its for unlimited songs...It works great too but....after reading lurkeys I may make her switch..LOL

[southerngale]

I just randomly checked a bunch of songs and most are .wma but also quite a bit of .mp3 - I've ripped a ton of CD's and occasionally buy mp3's from Amazon as well as other places in the past. I bought some from American Idol a few years ago. lol

Yeah, I've listened to internet radio and that would be fine with me. If I'm going to use my Wi-Fi at home, I might as well get on my desktop or laptop though, so I'm not sure I'd need to pay so much more money just to be able to get online that way. I can see how it benefits you and why you'd want one, but I'm not sure it's for me. I think I'd rather compare the Zune 120gb to the iPod Classic 120gb. Yours is certainly fancier and does more, but I don't know if I'm ready for that yet.

[southerngale]

My wife has Zune...minimun cost is 14.95 per month...But its for unlimited songs...It works great too but....after reading lurkeys I may make her switch..LOL

You don't have to subscribe to the Zune Pass. It's optional if you want unlimited downloads per month. You can just sync your music from your computer with no additional costs.

[DESTRUCTION5]

My wife has Zune...minimun cost is 14.95 per month...But its for unlimited songs...It works great too but....after reading lurkeys I may make her switch..LOL

You don't have to subscribe to the Zune Pass. It's optional if you want unlimited downloads per month. You can just sync your music from your computer with no additional costs.

Humm...From where? they got that darn thing on lockdown if i dont connect to the puter every 2 weeks or so...

[southerngale]

My wife has Zune...minimun cost is 14.95 per month...But its for unlimited songs...It works great too but....after reading lurkeys I may make her switch..LOL

You don't have to subscribe to the Zune Pass. It's optional if you want unlimited downloads per month. You can just sync your music from your computer with no additional costs.

Humm...From where? they got that darn thing on lockdown if i dont connect to the puter every 2 weeks or so...

I'm not sure what you mean. I don't have one, but from the gazillion reviews I've read, some people subscribe to the Zune pass for $14.95/mo. because they want unlimited downloads and others don't subscribe to the service. It's an optional service that is offered. You get it only if you want it.

Lockdown? You mean it dies? I'm just speculating as I don't know exactly what you mean, but is it because it needs charging? Connecting it to the sync cable charges it as well as syncs your music, pictures, or whatever. Or you can charge it with an AC adapter or Zune dock. Putting it on the dock also syncs it wirelessly if you have WiFi.

[lurkey]

Humm...From where? they got that darn thing on lockdown if i dont connect to the puter every 2 weeks or so...

I'm not sure what you mean. I don't have one, but from the gazillion reviews I've read, some people subscribe to the Zune pass for $14.95/mo. because they want unlimited downloads and others don't subscribe to the service. It's an optional service that is offered. You get it only if you want it.

Lockdown? You mean it dies? I'm just speculating as I don't know exactly what you mean, but is it because it needs charging? Connecting it to the sync cable charges it as well as syncs your music, pictures, or whatever. Or you can charge it with an AC adapter or Zune dock. Putting it on the dock also syncs it wirelessly if you have WiFi.

Lockdown meaning music won't play unless the Zune checks in with the central server every two weeks. And if they (TPTB) ever decide to shut down the service. . .it's bye, bye music. . just ask Yahoo Music and some Rhapsdy subscribers. . . . in effect, you don't own the files. . .you are paying for the right to listen as long as you are subscribed to the service. . . you leave, you lose the right to "listen" to the files.. .

[lurkey]

I just randomly checked a bunch of songs and most are .wma but also quite a bit of .mp3 - I've ripped a ton of CD's and occasionally buy mp3's from Amazon as well as other places in the past. I bought some from American Idol a few years ago. lol

Yeah, I've listened to internet radio and that would be fine with me. If I'm going to use my Wi-Fi at home, I might as well get on my desktop or laptop though, so I'm not sure I'd need to pay so much more money just to be able to get online that way. I can see how it benefits you and why you'd want one, but I'm not sure it's for me. I think I'd rather compare the Zune 120gb to the iPod Classic 120gb. Yours is certainly fancier and does more, but I don't know if I'm ready for that yet.

. . i also have a iPod classic 160GB. . . most of music is ripped from CD, bought from Amazon.com DRM-free from I-tunes, Audible.com or other sources. . . . as for the FM radio. . I bought originally as replacement for the radio in the car. . . I can't stand FM radio anymore. . . didn't care for WiFi either... . .

[southerngale]

Humm...From where? they got that darn thing on lockdown if i dont connect to the puter every 2 weeks or so...

I'm not sure what you mean. I don't have one, but from the gazillion reviews I've read, some people subscribe to the Zune pass for $14.95/mo. because they want unlimited downloads and others don't subscribe to the service. It's an optional service that is offered. You get it only if you want it.

Lockdown? You mean it dies? I'm just speculating as I don't know exactly what you mean, but is it because it needs charging? Connecting it to the sync cable charges it as well as syncs your music, pictures, or whatever. Or you can charge it with an AC adapter or Zune dock. Putting it on the dock also syncs it wirelessly if you have WiFi.

Lockdown meaning music won't play unless the Zune checks in with the central server every two weeks. And if they (TPTB) ever decide to shut down the service. . .it's bye, bye music. . just ask Yahoo Music and some Rhapsdy subscribers. . . . in effect, you don't own the files. . .you are paying for the right to listen as long as you are subscribed to the service. . . you leave, you lose the right to "listen" to the files.. .

Ok, I hadn't read anything about that. I guess since most people sync and/or charge more often than that, it's not an issue.

I wondered about the service, but I doubt that would happen since they're planning to expand the service to other devices and not just the Zune. As for the subscription service, if I get a Zune, I wouldn't subscribe to that, anyway, at least not anytime soon. I have more than enough music right now, and it would be more economical for me to buy the occasional mp3 when I just want one song. Plus, I usually like to buy CD's, so I'll have a hard copy. For those who do want to subscribe to the unlimited downloads per month for $14.95, true that you lose the songs if you unsubscribe, but you do get to keep 10 a month. That with the unlimited downloads and usage each month seems like a good deal.

[southerngale]

I just randomly checked a bunch of songs and most are .wma but also quite a bit of .mp3 - I've ripped a ton of CD's and occasionally buy mp3's from Amazon as well as other places in the past. I bought some from American Idol a few years ago. lol

Yeah, I've listened to internet radio and that would be fine with me. If I'm going to use my Wi-Fi at home, I might as well get on my desktop or laptop though, so I'm not sure I'd need to pay so much more money just to be able to get online that way. I can see how it benefits you and why you'd want one, but I'm not sure it's for me. I think I'd rather compare the Zune 120gb to the iPod Classic 120gb. Yours is certainly fancier and does more, but I don't know if I'm ready for that yet.

. . i also have a iPod classic 160GB. . . most of music is ripped from CD, bought from Amazon.com DRM-free from I-tunes, Audible.com or other sources. . . . as for the FM radio. . I bought originally as replacement for the radio in the car. . . I can't stand FM radio anymore. . . didn't care for WiFi either... . .

That sounds more like what I'd be interested in, but the 120gb would be more than big enough for me, by any brand.

I admit, I do like the idea of the Wi-Fi. In all the reviews I've read, people just love it. I am pretty media-device challenged, so whatever I get will likely be a chore to learn. lol But everyone raves about the Wi-Fi and that it's faster than using the sync cable. It's not a necessary feature, but certainly a plus. I do like that the iPod has been around longer, though. But I also can't ignore the many people who own or have owned both products and like the Zune better. Since I'm not one to likely own more than one similar device and also likely won't upgrade anytime soon, I just want to make sure I make the right choice. Overall, I think the Zune seems more appealing for what I want, but I'm just not sure. Since I don't want a phone or internet with it and the "touch" part isn't a big deal to me, I guess I'm kinda trying to see if there's a reason that the comparable iPod would be a better choice. Since the Zune has a few more features that I like, it seems like the logical choice, but since I am a little clueless in this subject and really just started researching when I could this past month, I wanted other opinions. They both seem like really good devices.
Thank you.. I really appreciate all of your input.