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iPod touch First impressions of Zune HD

Sony Walkman X-series has similar characteristics to the Zune HD. Excellent sound quality, nice display, and responsible touch screen, but terrible browser.

I would say that if access to the Internet and superior browsing are your main requirements, then you can use the iPhone or iPod touch for that and have the Zune HD or any other device as your main music player.
 
Well I've had a couple of hours to listen to the Zune HD now and I've been able to compare it to a 5th Generation iPod Classic. I had an iPod Touch 1G up until a few weeks ago when I sold it in anticipation of the 3G, which has already been ordered on Amazon. So while I don't have the Touch 1G to directly compare, I did a lot of testing with the 5G I still have.

So the Zune HD does sound better than the 5G Classic. The Zune is a little more clear and it has a bit better stereo separation. I remember the 1G being much more smooth and a little more clear than the 5G Classic as well though. The 3G is supposed to be the best sounding of the touches as well so my prediction is that the Zune HD and the 3G iPod Touch might be neck and neck in the sound quality department.

Right now its really looking like the Zune HD is going back to Walmart. I think once you get over the newness and the pretty transitions you'll find that it doesn't offer a whole lot that the iPod Touch doesn't. The HD radio is nice and I do wish the iPod Touch had it but the "HD" part of this is only a bit better than regular radio.

One other thing that I really do like about the Zune HD and that I didn't quite expect is how light the device is. It really is super light and small and would be a bit easier to carry than an iPod Touch.

My main reason for exploring the Zune HD was for the music experience but I'm not finding it good enough to warrant keeping a second DAP around.
 
Does this device do anything when you plug it into a mac? Let's say you've set it up on windows, and once it's functioning, can the mac at least see the device as a hard drive or disk?

I'm wondering if we can browse the hidden directories on there and move over media by ourselves if necessary. I'd be OK with that.
 
PeterQVenkman said:
Does this device do anything when you plug it into a mac? Let's say you've set it up on windows, and once it's functioning, can the mac at least see the device as a hard drive or disk?

I'm wondering if we can browse the hidden directories on there and move over media by ourselves if necessary. I'd be OK with that.
Click to expand...

I've tried plugging it into my MBP, and it doesn't show up anywhere. So I don't think that's an option for us unfortunately.
 
Jodiuh said:
They also deleted my comments when I questioned them on it. I've had an iPod touch for less than 30 minutes and it's browser is FAR superior. It's faster and fits txt into the proper columns.
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Jodiuh said:
U have a 3G touch to compare then? Cool, looking forward to hear ur thoughts.

I still haven't listened to the touch yet. I'm afraid it's going to disappoint. It has big shoes to fill after listening to the new Zune!
Click to expand...

So, Jodiuh, are you saying that you've also bought a Touch as well? You mentioned you've "had an iPod touch for less than 30 mintues...", did you take the Zune back and exchange it?
 
chris975d said:
I've tried plugging it into my MBP, and it doesn't show up anywhere. So I don't think that's an option for us unfortunately.
Click to expand...

Damn. I would have bought one. I have a MacBook Pro with a bootcamp partition and a PC at home, but at work (where I spend most of my time, blah) we are all macs and no bootcamp/parallels.

I use my iPod to bring in a ton of music to listen to while I work, and I just plug it in and control through iTunes. I guess I can't do that with the Zune.

DAMN. I want one so bad.
 
PeterQVenkman said:
Damn. I would have bought one. I have a MacBook Pro with a bootcamp partition and a PC at home, but at work (where I spend most of my time, blah) we are all macs and no bootcamp/parallels.

I use my iPod to bring in a ton of music to listen to while I work, and I just plug it in and control through iTunes. I guess I can't do that with the Zune.

DAMN. I want one so bad.
Click to expand...

Zune doesn't even work with Microsoft's own WMP, never mind working with iTunes.

Zune HD vs iPod touch 12 page comparison
http://obamapacman.com/2009/09/microsoft-zune-hd-vs-apple-ipod-touch-3g-feature-comparison/
 
Consultant said:
Zune doesn't even work with Microsoft's own WMP, never mind working with iTunes.

Zune HD vs iPod touch 12 page comparison
http://obamapacman.com/2009/09/microsoft-zune-hd-vs-apple-ipod-touch-3g-feature-comparison/
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link. Some good info in there, buried between the fanboyism and some statements like this:

Props to Microsoft for making a device that’s easy to take apart. Perhaps due to the Microsoft Xbox RROD experience?
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Nice.

The reviewer didn't even have one on hand- he was basing some things off of the Zune website!

Ah well. I'm going to get a nano as a hold over. Perhaps MS will have mac support in a year, or apple will release an update to the touch that excites me.
 
I just read Engadget's review. Is it true that the Zune plays ads at you?!

A beautiful looking piece of hardware, but consistent with their track record, Microsoft always seems to find ways to take beautiful, cutting-edge hardware and screw up the user experience.
 
notjustjay said:
I just read Engadget's review. Is it true that the Zune plays ads at you?!

A beautiful looking piece of hardware, but consistent with their track record, Microsoft always seems to find ways to take beautiful, cutting-edge hardware and screw up the user experience.
Click to expand...

I was honestly thinking about looking at a Zune HD (if they ever bring it out in Europe that is) until I read that review and saw this:

zune_outside.jpg


Utterly unacceptable for me as I use my Touch outside about 90% of the time. No matter how good the screen indoors a portable music player MUST be able to work outdoors and from what I've seen of the Zune HD this simply isn't true.
 
I think it looks delicious. Hopefully this'll make Apple come up with a new media player/phone rather than simply bringing out essentially the same box with some slightly different innards year after year.
 
smiddlehurst said:
I was honestly thinking about looking at a Zune HD (if they ever bring it out in Europe that is) until I read that review and saw this:

zune_outside.jpg


Utterly unacceptable for me as I use my Touch outside about 90% of the time. No matter how good the screen indoors a portable music player MUST be able to work outdoors and from what I've seen of the Zune HD this simply isn't true.
Click to expand...

I saw that review and that pic you show is a dealbreaker for me as well. I would imagine for a lot of other potential buyers as well.
 
smiddlehurst said:
I was honestly thinking about looking at a Zune HD (if they ever bring it out in Europe that is) until I read that review and saw this:

zune_outside.jpg


Utterly unacceptable for me as I use my Touch outside about 90% of the time. No matter how good the screen indoors a portable music player MUST be able to work outdoors and from what I've seen of the Zune HD this simply isn't true.
Click to expand...

WOW.. that is unacceptable. Same with the advertisements. Both are dealbreakers for me.
 
Oh right - so I guess that's because the Zune is free and that's their way of making it pay...?

No way I'd pay £200 to be force-fed ads.

Fail.
 
MasterTick said:
Really? How many times are you going to change your music while in direct sunlight?
Click to expand...

Okay, example of my normal day - walk to work and back 30 minutes each way outdoors. Normally have my iPod on shuffle and use the screen to a) skip tracks I don't like and b) select another track if an album comes up that I'm in the mood to listen to. Both of these require me to see the screen and I probably have my Touch in my hand for about ten minutes of the thirty minute walk. There's also the minor detail of using apps while on the Underground which, oddly, is actually an overground for most of my trip into London so a screen that doesn't work well outdoors won't work well on that trip either.

Another example - I hook my iPod up to the car stereo and, while it can be controlled by the steering wheel remote a passenger just picks it up and makes changes. Can't do that on a screen that suffers with sunlight, sorry.

Not trying to pick holes here but an OLED screen with THAT much glare makes any music player useless to me and how I use it. Doesn't matter if it's a Zune or an iPod.
 
smiddlehurst said:
Another example - I hook my iPod up to the car stereo and, while it can be controlled by the steering wheel remote a passenger just picks it up and makes changes. Can't do that on a screen that suffers with sunlight, sorry.

Not trying to pick holes here but an OLED screen with THAT much glare makes any music player useless to me and how I use it. Doesn't matter if it's a Zune or an iPod.
Click to expand...

Just out of curiosity, what's your iPod -> car setup? With mine, though music can be controlled via the stereo/remote, you can't actually change any tracks using the iPod itself because it just says "Accessory connected".
 
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