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Yet Another Creative Zen / iPod thread

R

RS3RS

[H]F Junkie
Joined
Dec 10, 2003
Messages
8,197
I'm making this thread for my girlfriend, who is going to be buying an MP3 player soon. She's debating between the Creative Zen and the iPod. Her brother works at Apple, so she can get a bit of a discount on an iPod. She can get a 20gb iPod for $225.

She's debating between this and the 20gb Creative Zen, which is $225 plus shipping at Newegg.

Basically, since they're the same price for her, which would you choose? I've heared that battery life on iPods is better, is that true? I'm assuming music quality isn't going to be much different?

Thanks guys. :)
 
RS3RS said:
I'm making this thread for my girlfriend, who is going to be buying an MP3 player soon. She's debating between the Creative Zen and the iPod. Her brother works at Apple, so she can get a bit of a discount on an iPod. She can get a 20gb iPod for $225.

She's debating between this and the 20gb Creative Zen, which is $225 plus shipping at Newegg.

Basically, since they're the same price for her, which would you choose? I've heared that battery life on iPods is better, is that true? I'm assuming music quality isn't going to be much different?

Thanks guys. :)
Click to expand...

If your gf has tried using an ipod before and likes it, I stay stick with it - especially since you can get a discount. I'm not a big fan of the ipod, but it is as mainstream as it gets. You'll probably get good warranty/tech support (not to mention fanbase, forums, and websites), and there are tons of products and accessories out there for it too. For 225, I might even consider it :)
 
vamp said:
If your gf has tried using an ipod before and likes it, I stay stick with it - especially since you can get a discount. I'm not a big fan of the ipod, but it is as mainstream as it gets. You'll probably get good warranty/tech support (not to mention fanbase, forums, and websites), and there are tons of products and accessories out there for it too. For 225, I might even consider it :)
Click to expand...

She hasn't actually tried an ipod before, so they would both be new for her. I don't think she really likes the iPod better than the Zen, I think it's pretty much 50/50 at this point, as she seems to be pretty torn between the two. I agree that the large fanbase would probably be a plus, I imagine it would be easier to get help with problems with an iPod than a Zen.
 
The Nomad Zen is a bit thicker and has a larger footprint. The navigation is said to be more difficult to use too.

I always read battery life was *much* better on the Creative product, something like 2x ipod life. I also know that the battery is user replaceable (without voiding warranty).

The zen is USB2 only, no firewire. I believe it also has no proprietary software, so you can use it like a removable harddisk.

Even with that said, I would also buy an Ipod if I could get a low price.
 
To make your life harder, look at the Rio Karma. That's my bet for a ~$225 player. Whatever you get, add in the cost of an extended warrenty to your cost comparisons. HD-based music players tend to fail frequently.
 
Under any other circumstance, I would go with the Creative Zen.

But, since it is possible for her to get an iPod at $225, I say go for it.
 
iPod:
Smaller
Better interface
iTunes integration
Requires no drivers to use as a hard drive

Zen:
Better battery life
User replacable battery
WMA compatible

Personally I'd go with the iPod.
 
Frangible said:
iPod:
Smaller
Better interface
iTunes integration
Requires no drivers to use as a hard drive

Zen:
Better battery life
User replacable battery
WMA compatible

Personally I'd go with the iPod.
Click to expand...

Yep, that pretty much sums it up.
 
I don't know how long an ipod warranty is, but there are lots of sites out there that have detailed instructions on how to open up the ipod and replace the battery yourself. It's definitely not rocket science.
 
Frangible said:
iPod:
Smaller
Better interface
iTunes integration
Requires no drivers to use as a hard drive
Click to expand...
Smaller : marginally
Better interface : You got me there
itunes integration : the zen's work with itunes
Requires no drivers : Mine doesn't require drivers.

Zen:
Better battery life
User replacable battery
WMA compatible
Click to expand...
Battery Life : 14 hours is what I get, but I've had mine for a year
User replacable battery : Yep, and they don't cost $99 either
WMA Compatible : Who uses WMA?
 
vamp said:
I don't know how long an ipod warranty is, but there are lots of sites out there that have detailed instructions on how to open up the ipod and replace the battery yourself. It's definitely not rocket science.
Click to expand...

But it is warranty voiding.
 
Laforge said:
Smaller : marginally

User replacable battery : Yep, and they don't cost $99 either
Click to expand...

Zen Touch: 105 x 69 x 22mm, 203g
iPod: 104 x 61 x 14.5mm, 159g

That is a fairly large difference in thickness and weight

iPod battery: $30
There is an extended battery that offers 2-3x the battery life for $70-90
 
Laforge said:
But it is warranty voiding.
Click to expand...

I was thinking that the warranty would be over by the time you might need to replace the physical battery.
 
Ipod. If she can't make a post on a computer forum, she's not gonna want to deal with a nomad. Ipod is just friendlier (and better imo)
 
I got my Zen Xtra 30gb for 200 bucks at zipzoomfly. I love it and wouldnt trade it for anything else. The navigation is easy cheesy even if you arent a tech wizard or anything..i dont think its worth the extra 25 bucks for a big name ipod and 10gb less space
 
tylerhskate said:
I got my Zen Xtra 30gb for 200 bucks at zipzoomfly. I love it and wouldnt trade it for anything else. The navigation is easy cheesy even if you arent a tech wizard or anything..i dont think its worth the extra 25 bucks for a big name ipod and 10gb less space
Click to expand...

True, but they're talking about the 20gb Zen. Perhaps you could direct them to the 30gb one for that price?
 
I have a zen touch and it's not bad at all...I have some issues with the touchpad, and stupid me lost the reciept so no RMA for me....but I found a fix, I just have to get the balls to open it up and do what I have to.....kinda hard when your messing with a $250 deck of cards....especially with my knack for effing up when it's my buck on the line.

It's a pretty decent size, great sound, about 12 hours of battery life, but doesnt work as a plug and play hard drive...that is the one thing that annoys the hell outta me.
 
MikeF98765 said:
Ipod. If she can't make a post on a computer forum, she's not gonna want to deal with a nomad. Ipod is just friendlier (and better imo)
Click to expand...
She can (and has) built desktops, overclocked her mobile 2400+ to 2.4 ghZ, and I would bet money she could own you at UT2004. Or Raven Shield. Or FarCry. Or HL2/CS. Or Splinter Cell. Etc. etc. etc.

I don't think being able to use a Nomad will be a problem for her :p
 
I'd say the iPod. Even though the shorter battery life is something that still irks me (especially when you compare it to the Zen, Rio, Dell DJ, etc... which have 12+hrs), you still cant beat its size.
Portable music players need to be just that... portable. Even if the dimensions make the iPod look marginally smaller, get both in your hands. The Zen feels/looks like a brick when compared to the iPod.
 
personally i'd go with zen micro. with napster to go (all the songs on napster to your mp3 player for only 15 bucks a month) you're getting a much better deal than itunes can offer.
 
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