iPod I quite like the Zune

[stainlessliquid]

I think the "video ipod" or whatever is going to be undoubtedly better (10 bucks says we see another regular ipod before the video one though). But the Zune interface is just head and shoulders better than the totally outdated "itunes" interface that the ipod has now. Apple is asleep at the wheel and thinks they can get away with not investing money in a new GUI since theres no competition (like what MS did with IE6 untill FF started snowballing), the Zune will hopefully light a fire under their asses and force them to give us something new.

Im not crazy about the looks of the Zune but that interface is just so cool in motion. While the scroll wheel will never be beat, I could live without it if the trade-off was a better GUI. If Apple doesnt come out with a new and different iPod soon then I'll probably end up getting a Zune. The ipod is starting to feel as stale as XP these days.

 

[feelthefire]

Too bad I'm willing to put $10 on the fact that the new "video" iPod is going to be way more expensive than the zune...probably will have a bigger hard drive, but people are predicting between $400 and $500...way too much to hand apple for a toy...

and for the record, I get annoyed when people complain that something "ripped off" the iPod. A "look and feel" can't be patented, and the iPod's design is not. Any other device can look as much like it as it wants and as long as it doesn't say iPod or have a real clickwheel (that IS patented) then nothing was "ripped off" from anywhere since there wasn't anything to steal.

As you yourself said, there's a difference between ripping off and being influenced by another product. The zune is different enough for me to be perturbed by people saying every freaking MP3 player that's ever released rips off the iPod in some way.

Also, considering Microsoft is actually a large stockholder in apple, they benefit even if the iPod keeps its stronghold since they make a percentage of those profits anyway.