Gothamist: Zune In or Zune Out

m.

Mon, 18 Dec 2006 17:51:26 -0500

in repsonse to no.24: actually the ipod isn't the best product out there in terms of being easy to use. i had one and i didn't like the way it worked. the scroll would often times over shoot you past where you wanted to go and besides it never felt comfortable using. as for the itunes being unbeatable, most record stores beat itunes for selection. even sam goody's. as for content management the itunes sucks in my opinion. in fact when i got my ipod i had to use musicmatch as that is what came with it. i couldn't use itunes. i never liked the way itunes was setup or how it worked. and don't get me started on it's musical content. i have had 3 mp3 players: a rio, a zune, and a ipod. both the rio and the zune outperformed my ipod. hell i washed my rio in the washing machine and it still worked. i've been as careful as i can with my ipod and it looks like it's gone three rounds with a young mike tyson. the zune so far has held up pretty well so far. for all the complaints about microsoft and it's shitty software/devices i haven't had hardly a lick of trouble with microsoft. yet i have consistently have had trouble with my ipod and with the itunes. apple is batting too well with me. i think i'll pass on the apple. besides i don't want technology devices/mp3 players that are "trendy".

imi

Mon, 18 Dec 2006 13:22:53 -0500

love that zune, love it so much

Not Amused

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 09:13:33 -0500

This goes to #14:-> " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "" "'{" "' ''''" '"'"'' "' ' " . Did I use my ("),and(')'s in the correct line of written "Speech" ? Is "It" ok by your standards ? I hope that I don't make any more typo's here at "The Gothamist", If I do, I will expect you to point them out for me so that I may correct them .

milovoo

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 20:04:09 -0500

It's VERY EASY to replace the batteries of an iPod just buy a kit at compUSA or order one from NewerTech or amazon. I've seen even non-techie oafs do it - then you'll have another couple of years with your iPod.

anonymass

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 23:31:00 -0500

Evangeline, there have been alternatives to the iPod out for quite some time. Some of which are, to me, in more interesting form factors and color schemes. Frankly I'm a little tired of the brushed metal theme. That said, the most important features for an mp3 player are: 1) ability to navigate through your music files quickly on the mp3 device 2) ability to organize music flexibly and painlessly on your host source As for 1): No other mp3 player I've seen or tested is as easy to use as the iPod. The click wheel makes all the difference. Perhaps some enterprising company will come along and build a better mousetrap, but that company isn't Microsoft. Regarding 2): as capacity on these devices increases, a good content management system becomes exponentially more important. iTunes is unbeatable. As a long-time Mac user, I'm not particularly comfortable running with the herd; however, I wouldn't use any other mp3 player currently on the market.

Hiddenflower

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 20:24:37 -0500

To tell everyone the truth, I actually want to get a Zune. I mean, most people here love iPods, but for people who don't have iPods its worth looking at other brands. Now, my mom is having doubts on whether I should buy an iPod or a Zune because Zune just came out and iPods already have most of the market for MP3 players. My friends told me that iPods break really easily, which is why most of them bought the extra warranty. But I don't know what I should buy, I'm liking the Zune because its unique, while there are so many iPods out there. Can someone give me advice for what I should buy, a Zune or an iPod? Peace out!!! Evangeline

Tom

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 16:23:31 -0500

Neil, I'd check that really carefully.. it's directly opposite to what David Pogue wrote in his review of the product, and everything else I've seen written prior to release. It seems to me that if you could actually share MP3s without the DRM, that would be the single biggest feature, and Microsoft (and everyone else) would be yelling and screaming about it. Not to mention the music industry absolutely going nuts over what would essentially be a handheld version of Napster (the old one.)

neil

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 14:01:30 -0500

#20 (formally #3) - The device's battery is not user replaceable, like the iPod. When I asked the MS rep about replacement they said that they are aware of Apples PR issues with the iPod, but they haven't taken a stance on it yet as it's too early in the products lifecycle that battery concerns should be an issue. #18 - The same MS rep said that any NON DRM files that you transfer will remain DRM free. So you can transfer MP3s without restrictions. (will check my audio tape to confirm). I did ask them about music concerts, like why not use the wifi in zune to get free music from the show you just saw at the venue. They said that's something their thinking about, but nothing to talk about yet.

DCist Matt

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 13:39:14 -0500

Does anyone know the answer to the battery question in #3? I would buy a Zune for that reason alone. My iPod as of right now is a $250 paperweight.

anonymass

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 11:56:50 -0500

To sweet naive K, Understand that there are more solutions in the entire world of ergonomics than 1) a scroll wheel and 2) *not* a scroll wheel, you dolt. Just as Windows was a jury-rigged hack of the MacOS, this Zune p.o.s. looking thing is attempting to mimic the iPod but will similarly perform like an also-ran. MS should stick with what it's actually good at: X-Box development and application development. They can't get an OS right and most other non-application ventures have produced less than impressive results.

Tom

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 11:53:14 -0500

I think the part about sharing MP3s is an error -- every other report I've seen has said that even if you have a file in MP3 format, when you do the wireless sharing it's sent with DRM and the three-day/three-play restriction. That's very different from what's described in this article. One of the major criticisms of this has been that even if you own the music (say, it's a recording of your own band) you can't effectively share it with other people using this system. They'll just get the DRM-limited version and when it expires, there's no place they can download it from unless the Zune store sells it.

mog

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 11:48:29 -0500

At the very least, hopefully this will offer some competition to Apple and force them to produce a better-quality product. I know very few people who have managed to keep their iPods working for more than a year. It's obscene when you consider how much they cost that they break so easily.

S.D.

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 09:38:14 -0500

I think it has potential as a decent player, but seems a little Odd for them to get in the game so late. Also, Isn't the ability to Share MP3's copyright violation? Seems an odd position for them to take...

billy

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 09:09:42 -0500

#14 see number #7 #13 He's not ripping on Microsoft for not having a scroll wheel. He's ripping on them designing the control to resemble a scroll wheel when it does anything but behave as one. It's confusing in its design.

emmbee

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 08:54:57 -0500

Do you re-read your posts after you write them? Learn the difference between "its" and "it's" and delete all of your extra commas!

K

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 05:35:33 -0500

fvcking apple fanbois... rip on MS for not having a scrollwheel, but if they add it, they would be ripping off the iPod.

Not Amused

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 04:45:28 -0500

Personally, I have near zero interest in the Zune. I have enough problems using windows as it is ! I find that it's easier to use my Mac programming and a whole lot less of a hassle (No bugs to deal with)then Windows . I've had no problems with my ipod. When apple found out there was a bug in there systems they correcred the problem right away . I wonder what Microsoft will do when they get there first virus . My stock of faith in them has dwindled to all time lows . Good luck .

bklynd

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 21:50:10 -0500

Of course, if you buy a Zune you are also paying a portion directly to Universal Music Group, who thinks you owe them some extra cash for not downloading enough shitty DRMed tracks.

jj

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 21:18:59 -0500

I never got DRM. You actually pay for something that you have limited use for but if you steal it then you have unlimited use. Way to stick it to consumers.

I'm buyin it

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 20:16:26 -0500

I kinda like the brown color. Very understated. Nothing more irrating than podcasts and podcasters. I can see them now, buying the DIY podcast kit.

a

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 19:15:51 -0500

Not supporting podcasts is enough reason to buy it. Like most people need that stupid functionality.

Margaret

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 18:13:26 -0500

#6 is absolutely right and thank god we have him to correct us. Let me give an example, for further clarification. "It's a shame that guy, adamks, has nothing better to do. This post communicates effectively despite its minor typographical errors."

adamks

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 17:55:17 -0500

its = possession it's = contraction

TI

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 17:52:22 -0500

Zune = the future. Just watch. It'll change the way we interact. Or at least, force its competitors into incorporating the whole portable media sharing into their own products. Hence the change.

S.D.

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 17:29:20 -0500

Toby, did you see the Error Image MS picked?? ;) Neil, nice write up.

Steve Jobs pollutes the earth

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 17:24:24 -0500

The real question is can I change the battery myself without sending it back to the manufacturer or am I supposed to throw it out every 18 months?

Toby

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 17:18:12 -0500

It will most likely be another high quality, bug free Microsoft product.

anonymass

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 17:11:50 -0500

Microsoft pilfering ideas from Apple? How 1980s. Oh, and 90s. Actually, what am I saying? Vista is OSX in a leaky diaper.