Apple's iPod vs. Microsoft's Zune

Reviews: Multimedia

Author:
Editor:
Sponsor:
Published:

Bradford Day
Kurtis
N/A
May. 1, 2007

Specifications

<< Home

Next >>

Introduction

Update: Check out Brad's podcast review of the Microsoft Zune at WhiteRoofRadio.com.

It's time to settle the debate. iPod or Zune? Did Microsoft kick the pod where it counts or is the mighty whitey still the king of the ring? Each player is loaded with features, flashy video capabilities and music storage galore. What one should you take home? Well, I can't tell you exactly which one you should rush out and buy. But maybe I can help to point buyers in the right direction.

I've fiddled with each of these players for well over a month each and have developed likes and dislikes, fondness and disgust (see our Zune and iPod reviews for complete coverage). Each player tackles the needs of consumers in a different way. Sometimes it works, sometimes not so much.

Enough talk. Let's just get right into it. Here is my short list of what I consider to be the most important features of any portable media player. Which player fulfills these criteria and which stinks up the joint? Let us begin.

<< Home

Page 1 of 4

Next >>

Page 1: Introduction
Page 2: The Face-Off
Page 3: The Face-Off, Continued...
Page 4: Conclusion

Subscribe to Portable Media Players [more info]

Add Comment

4 User Comments

1 - Posted by nate011 on May 2, 2007 - 1:35 pm

horrible review.

Many things this guy is talking about are rated the complete opposite then what several reviews on the web and magazines have repeatedly rated the two players. I am not biased in any brand, but the Zune is suppose to be considered one of the best mp3 players for sound quality. I work in recording studios and hands down the Zune sound quality is much better than the Ipod. We ended up switching over to the Zune mainly for this reason in our studio. both are good players but some things he rates acutally are winners for the Zune instead of Ipod and vice verca.

2 - Posted by handrail on May 2, 2007 - 2:39 pm

well, i think i've read quite a few reviews of each player and i disagree with some of your statements. most of what i've read agrees with my general assessments. i rated both players evenly in sound quality because with the stock headphones there is very little difference between the two. your professional ear can probably hear subtle differences but the majority of folks can't, especially while wearing ear buds.

and if my reviews are different than what is out there, please send along some links. my personal preference is going to differ from other reviewers. i also like to think that we don't automatically give an apple product a good rating just for being an apple product, or a microsoft product a negative rating for being a microsoft product for that matter.

i can't see how any of my rated categories are biased or opposite of what has been reported. some people love the apple scroll wheel but there is no way it is more precise than the zune's. and NO ONE can dispute the fact that the Zune marketplace is far less extensive than the iTunes library. and i don't think i made up the numbers for weight or dimension.

feel free to flame my reviews all you want, but please give some specific examples if you're going to compare us to another site or try to take me to task for errors.

thanks for the comment.

brad.

3 - Posted by blackjet on May 4, 2007 - 5:19 am

I liked that review, to the point and easy to follow. It listed all the pros and cons that a general consumer would want to know about and it wasnt too wordy.

nice one brad :-)

4 - Posted by handrail on May 8, 2007 - 7:42 am

so....you're saying my reviews are normally too wordy? :)

thanks man,

brad.

Add Comment

To add a comment without being a member, you may omit the password field, but you must enter your name (or nickname) along with your comment. * Denotes required fields.