Any Zune owners on FG?

[Deviate]

I recently got a 30 gig Zune.

After owning an 80 gig iPod video, I have to say it... I prefer the Zune. A little added space would be nice, but other than that the Zune has won me over.

I prefer everything about the Zune over the iPod, except the lack of docking support and the crappy selection of non-universal cases for it at local stores. The screen is MUCH nicer (and larger), I like the software a lot more than iTunes and it seems to have some pretty cool features that the iPod was lacking (FM tuner, wireless syncing, the ability to change the background pic).

Any other Zune owners/fans on Final Gear?

[Prost264]

I'm a fan of the new Zune.

I was going to buy one when my iPod's hard drive died, but it was coming out a month later and I needed something ASAP, so I got an 80gb iPod classic.

I like everything about it as well, the only thing is I actually like iTunes and it would have been tough going to something else.

[jayhawk]

It is sad world when you go against conformity by buying Windows products.

[Viper007Bond]

iPod Touch > Zune > all other iPods

[Deviate]

Originally Posted by jayhawk

It is sad world when you go against conformity by buying Windows products.

Hell hath frozen over.

I didn't buy the Zune to "stand out" in a crowd or stick it to the iFanboys. Actually, I didn't buy the Zune at all. Friend of mine gave it to me after the hard drive died and he didn't feel like messing with Micro$oft's warranty crap. Amazingly enough, I sent it off to Micro$oft on this past Monday and got a new one via FedEx today.

This is the first time I've really messed with a Zune. It wasn't a legitimate option for me when I bought the iPod video because nobody offers Zune support on in-dash car stereos, so I never even looked into the Zune. You pretty much have to get an iPod, use an aux input (and control it with the mp3 player itself) or use an FM transmitter (which gets interference from a different Mexican polka station every block). Since the AVIC-Z1 I was putting in the M3 had an optional iPod controller, that's what I ended up with.

I'm really digging the Zune thusfar. I wish they had more aftermarket support for the thing. It really is a cool little toy.

[Prost264]

^ I really assumed it did have a lot of aftermarket support. It seems like the most common "iPod alternative."

[Deviate]

Originally Posted by Prost264

^ I really assumed it did have a lot of aftermarket support. It seems like the most common "iPod alternative."

It is the most common "iPod alternative" as far as I know, but the iPod has taken SO MUCH of the market that aftermarket companies don't believe it's lucrative to make much in the way of Zune-compatible items.

Sure, you can find a clear plastic case here and there but that's about it. At least locally. I have yet to see an automotive headunit that is Zune-compatible, whereas I believe every major car stereo company makes at least one model that's iPod-compatible.

Everything else is "universal" stuff. Generic speakers that connect to any headphone jack, cases that will fit anything smaller than a brick, etc.

Edit: Looks like SanDisk has 2nd place behind the iPod...

[Prost264]

Well you just proved why right there, why make something for 3-4% market share?

[Deviate]

Originally Posted by Prost264

Well you just proved why right there, why make something for 3-4% market share?

Kind of a shame. I honestly believe the Zune is a much better product than the iPod (I haven't messed with an iPod Touch yet). It sucks that most people won't give the Zune a chance because it's not trendy.

I don't see the Zune line-up lasting too much longer before M$ pulls the plug.

[Viper007Bond]

The Touch is crazy good. It's a handheld computer. I often read the NY Times on it for example while listening to music.

[Deviate]

Originally Posted by Viper007Bond

The Touch is crazy good. It's a handheld computer. I often read the NY Times on it for example while listening to music.

HOLY HELL! $500 for the 32 gig?!?!?!

Screw that! It's neat that you can read the paper and whatnot, but I have a laptop with WiFi. Don't really need to spend that kind of money on a media player that's still way too small to fit all of my music (let alone video).

[Viper007Bond]

Originally Posted by Deviate

HOLY HELL! $500 for the 32 gig?!?!?!

Yeah, it's crazy expensive. I have the 16GB (no 32GB at the time) and since I'm not made of money, I never would have bought it (I got mine for free). Still though, it's an insane piece of machinery and shouldn't be thought of as "just a MP3 player".

I'd imagine (hope) that would be coming down soon though as you can get a 16GB iPhone for $300 (dunno if you can opt to not sign up with AT&T and instead just use it as an iPod + camera), but I think that's largely due to subsidizing from AT&T.

[SuperStalin]

I have a SonyEricsson W810i mobile phone which I used as a mp3 player,
then I bought an iPhone because I thought it would be a better mix of those two.

Now I use my W810i phone to listen to music, and use as a phone,
and I use the iPhone for surfing the web and watching movies and video while traveling.
Also, I installed SoulSeek on the iPhone, so I can download music ( there's no way of buying music Online where I live )

These walkman edition phones have incredible sound, plus stereo speakers onboard,
for those moments when you want to listen to music with someone... the only drawback
is the max. of 4GB storage for music and stupid stupid menus.

The Zune would probably be useless in most of eastern Europe because of all the DRM issues,
( or was that fixed? )

[Deviate]

Originally Posted by Viper007Bond

Yeah, it's crazy expensive. I have the 16GB (no 32GB at the time) and since I'm not made of money, I never would have bought it (I got mine for free). Still though, it's an insane piece of machinery and shouldn't be thought of as "just a MP3 player".

I'd imagine (hope) that would be coming down soon though as you can get a 16GB iPhone for $300 (dunno if you can opt to not sign up with AT&T and instead just use it as an iPod + camera), but I think that's largely due to subsidizing from AT&T.

As far as I know you can buy the iPhone without the contract, but it's considerably more expensive than their advertised prices.

I don't mind that my mp3 player doesn't have a billion gadgets built into it. I'm much more concerned about capacity. I don't like having to pick and choose which songs I can put on there and which I'll have to do without. Inevitably there will come a time and place where I'll want to hear a specific song. If that song isn't with me, it'll likely piss me off.

Idealy, I'd like to have a portable media player that will hold 300+ gigs and be compatible with AVI files. One day... (two weeks from now at the rate things are going).

[Viper007Bond]

They make ones with huge capacity, they just use hard drives rather than flash memory (which is expensive).

[Deviate]

Originally Posted by Viper007Bond

They make ones with huge capacity, they just use hard drives rather than flash memory (which is expensive).

Biggest one I've found thusfar is a 250g model from Wolverine.
http://www.adorama.com/WVESP250.html...07537369511426

Pretty big, but still not quite big enough to fulfill my pack-rat habits.

The Zune is hard drive based, btw. I can upgrade to a 120g Toshiba hard drive for ~$200.

[Viper007Bond]

You know, you don't need ALL you music on your MP3 player. My 16GB alone is nearly a week's worth. When are you ever gonna be away from your PC longer than that and will die if you listen to the same song twice?

[Prost264]

^

Originally Posted by Deviate

I don't like having to pick and choose which songs I can put on there and which I'll have to do without. Inevitably there will come a time and place where I'll want to hear a specific song. If that song isn't with me, it'll likely piss me off.

[Deviate]

Originally Posted by Viper007Bond

You know, you don't need ALL you music on your MP3 player. My 16GB alone is nearly a week's worth. When are you ever gonna be away from your PC longer than that and will die if you listen to the same song twice?

It's strange. I know 30g is A LOT of music. I know I could hit the play button and not hear the same song twice for a long, long time.

Still, though. It's that moment when you're hanging out with a friend, talking about music. You mention some obscure song from your teenage years that your friend has never heard of. You bust out your MP3 player to let him listen to it, but alas... you didn't have room for it.

Just knowing that all of my music collection is completely portable is nice. I hate leaving things behind, I guess.

[Prost264]

I know exactly what you're saying, and I feel and do the same thing, but lets be honest. How often does that situation really come up?