Zune 80 vs iPod Classic
Has anyone of you guys seen the Zune 80. I read about it today and have to say that I'm impressed. I haven't managed to get a hold of an Classic 80GB here in Sweden yet, but I have become undecisive now that I have seen the second generation Zune.
Anyone of you Classic owner who have seen it and have a change of heart. I hated the first Zune but this new one is probably the iPods strongest competitor I've seen so far.
It comes with a big 3.2 inch display(quite good for movies), supports FULL syncing and sharing of content over WiFI(even to computers), is lighter than the Classic, has a good interface and looks pretty good. The headphones look high quality too.
As I see it, it's one hell of an alternative to the Classic 80GB. MS has really listened to consumers and put in effort. Also the early adopters who bought the first Zune will be able to download a new firmware and enjoy the latest features.
If the reviews hold up good I'll most likely be buying one off eBay and get it shipped here to Sweden.
On the down side the new Zune's don't support Mac which is a shame for all the Mac fanatics looking for a high capasity DAP.
Link to the press release (http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/02/microsofts-new-zunes-officially-in-80-8-and-4gb-sizes/)
Link to head-to-head spec comparison against Classic 80GB. (http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/03/zune-vs-ipod-specification-smackdown/)
[1489 byte] By [
homeboy] at [2007-11-11 21:15:12]
# 1 Re: Zune 80 vs iPod Classic
looks good except for the battery life, the most important part for me.
you know you can buy the classic from apple.se. i ordered my 160gb between the 25th and the 26th (at midnight) last month and had it in my hand the 27th for slightly less than 3300 kr including free shipping all the way home.
hopefully yours will work better than my iPOS though :)
btw, where in sweden are you?
kafkef at 2007-11-15 12:10:47 >
# 2 Re: Zune 80 vs iPod Classic
Eh, I wasn't impressed. I have a Halo 3 30GB Zune and I think it is a fine player except for the battery life. 14 hours for audio and 4 hours of video is cutting it a little too short in my opinion. The new Zune screens are nice and big but the only problem is that (it is presumed) Microsoft is still using 320X240 displays. This means that the iPod classic displays will have a sharper image quality. On top of that, the iPod classic screens are LED backlight which means they can get much brighter without using that much more power. I think the 80GB Zune is a step in the right direction but I still think it is missing some hardware features that the iPod classic has.
Microsoft did revamp the Zune software and added straight mpeg-4/h.264 video playback, users now no longer have to encode their videos to the crap that is WMV. I have a 160GB iPod classic though and the Zune features just don't compare. My iPod classic gets a twice as long battery life for audio playback and 2 hours more for video, has a capacity that is twice as big, has a brighter screen, etc. The only thing that the Zune has that the iPod line doesn't (except for the iPod touch) is wi-fi. However, if Microsoft continues using wi-fi like they have plans for then you can count me out. In my opinion, wi-fi is really only good for internet browsing and media streaming. This whole social sharing thing is BS to me and just an excuse to slap wi-fi in a device that doesn't use it to its full potential.
# 3 Re: Zune 80 vs iPod Classic
I just bought and 80gig classic, but that Zune looks pretty sweet. If it was available a couple weeks ago I might have gotten it instead of the ipod but too late now I guess. It doesn't come out for over a month anyways.
Microsoft appears to be making much more progress with it's players though so I wouldn't be surprised if my next portable audio player is a Zune.
chief at 2007-11-15 12:12:47 >
# 4 Re: Zune 80 vs iPod Classic
The have finally updated the POS software that didn't even have podcast support. That is one of the main reasons I sold my 30gb Zune.
I like my 80GB Classic but the laggy interface and iTunes almost make me want to switch. The videos I have seen of the Zune in action are impressive. The interface is quick and never lagged and they had a lot of music on it.
Looks like MS might be on the right track. That is a GOOD thing even if you hate MS or the Zune as it will make Apple work harder.
# 5 Re: Zune 80 vs iPod Classic
kafkef
I live in Gothenburg. My Photo 30GB broke so my insurance company is replacing it and have told me to pick a new iPod up at Siba only.
Looks like MS might be on the right track. That is a GOOD thing even if you hate MS or the Zune as it will make Apple work harder.
I fully agree. Apple have dominated the DAP scene too long which is both good and bad. I don't like the way Apple has treated us customers with the latest iPod products. The iTouch and iPhone are too crippled. I have no doubt that this second generation Zune will eat a reasonable but small percentage of Apple's iPod sales.
Hopefully MS will in the coming month launch a touch screen Zune with kick ### specs and features allowing us consumers to use it the way we want to, and not they way they want us to use it. That will make Apple improve their products.
kornchild2002
MS has changed and WiFi in Zune can now be fully utilised in the form of syncing music, videos and pictures with a computer over WiFi.
Hand-on video (http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/zune/zune-80gb-hands%20on-ui-video-306738.php?autoplay=true)
# 6 Re: Zune 80 vs iPod Classic
siba = bad service.. think you'll have to wait for a while unless you pre-ordered one already.
im from stockholm but i'm temporarily living in eskilstuna (studying)
kafkef at 2007-11-15 12:15:59 >
# 7 Re: Zune 80 vs iPod Classic
siba = bad service.. think you'll have to wait for a while unless you pre-ordered one already.
im from stockholm but i'm temporarily living in eskilstuna (studying)
Yeah they're kind of lousy. I don't like them nor any other electronic chain store in Sweden. Most of the sales people are incompetent. But I don't have a choice this time, I have to buy my Classic from them.
I stopped by a Siba store today and was told that they will likely get them on the shelves when the iTouch arrives which is on the 17th. I'll visit the store again in a few days and sign up to make sure that I'll get my hands on one, so that I can sell it and get the new Zune(if it turns out to be good).
# 8 Re: Zune 80 vs iPod Classic
As far as a head to head comparison I think the iPod still has the overall advantage.
However, the way apple has been headed with bugs and lack of support for anything other than the iPod Touch/iPhone I would consider my next media player to be a Zune..its really unfortunate I purchase so many tunes from the iTS...otherwise I'd probably be there already.
Apple needs to do something about the problems with the nano and classic and quit worrying about bottom dollar (ringtones/unlocked phones).
# 9 Re: Zune 80 vs iPod Classic
Never knew it wasn't compatible with Macs. Goes without saying I guess.
# 10 Re: Zune 80 vs iPod Classic
I like the direction they've taken it in, but I suppose we'll have to see. Of the things I don't like, one is about the wifi- specifically that in for the synch to occur, it has to be plugged into the dock, unless you're synching manually. The battery life is a bit of a worry as well, since they are "still testing," although 14/4 is just as good as the 5th gen iPod, but a bit weak now-a-days.
