Ipod or Zune

iPod - no question. I have a Nano, and will probably get a Touch - essentially a pocket PC.

 

To me it comes down to the software... I think iTunes SUCKS. And yes, I do
run it on a Mac. Sucks even more in Windows. While there are a few 3rd party
iPod apps, I haven't found one that works any better than iTunes.

I'd recommend some sort of MP3 player that simply uses folders for storage.
You just paste a new album folder (or a bunch at a time) into the player and
you're done (gotta build playlists of course, but that's the same in all players).

My wife uses a Zen player (Sandisk I believe) and loves it.

I believe Zune is folder-based as well, and works with Windows Media Player,
which I feel is MUCH better than iTunes.

Just my 2 cents (iPod Classic, 160gb, MacBook 13.3 Snow Leopard - still sucks but
I live with it and use it all the time... and grumble every time).

Jedi.

 

Since you already are accustomed to the shortcomings of iTunes, might as well buy another iPod.

 

Neither! I like some of what the new Zune "HD" does... and was too early of an adaptor for the first Zune.

Non USB compliance for mass storage is a huge issue IMO for both the products. Zune marketplace bad, perhaps worse than iTunes... and iTunes is horrible!

I ~think~ some consumer electronics are going to start becoming available over the next year that fit the bill better than either... notably from Palm, and Android based. Nobody knows what the C40 is for sure from Palm (rumors are that it is a iPad competitor); but it could just as easily be an iPod touch competitor... IE: Better instantaneously.

If you need something immediately... get something cheap to satisfy the urge, and hold out for a true competitor.

 

I'd check out mp3 players made by Sandisk. I've had 2 and they've been great. The first one met it's demise by being smashed by a weight at the gym.

For the past 1.5-2 years i've had Sansa Fuze 8gb. Why pay a lot more money for somethings that's no better or worse. Plus you won't have to be annoyed at joining the crowd with the ipod. But, i'm with Jedi b/c i hate itunes.

 

+1, I have a old one that still works, the downside to mine is that it's only 512MB, so I have like 60 songs, and it's full.

 

No 3G though so you need to be in a wifi hot spot, or Mcdonalds, or your home. However if you have an internet enabled mobile phone you can download a program which acts as a constant wifi service where ever you are.

I do have a touch and it's brilliant I recommend it to everyone



P.S. Go for the ipod preferably get a touch instead of a Nano if you have the means.

 

Excellent suggestion. There are a few that are better than iPods (and less than half the price)... best of all, NO ITUNES!!! I use my phone for music & love being able to Bluetooth songs from my work PC onto it - without having to sync up to iTunes and watch all my home iTunes data get erased.

I'd highly advise against the Apple Touch, unless you find a really good case. The screen will shatter if you ever drop it while jogging for example.

 

Congrats!

I'm sure you'll enjoy it, plus being able to simply drag and drop what songs you want instead of hasseling with itunes.