What mp3 player do I want?

[freeflir29 0]

I vote ZVM. I have had it for 5 months or so and I love it. File types don't matter as it acts like any other external drive. I can store music, video, or any other file I want. The battery life is AWESOME! the book says 19 1/2 hours and I think it's been really close to that in actual use. Most people I work with have IPods and the sound quality of the ZVM is WORLDS better. I stayed away from IPod because I have learned in the past that proprietary software SUCKS. Go with the ZVM..........you won't be sorry! Oh one other thing...........the price is EXACTLY the same for the unit and the accessories are cheaper.

[Samurai136 0]

Dude! Thanks for the informative posts. I've been looking at the same issues since Christmas when my cousin got a Zune. I'm always suspicious when a product has a killer marketing campaign, tons of accessories and still has horrible customer service stories.

AFAIK Apple's solution to Ipod problems:

1. try synching it with iTunes.
2. if that doesn't work, Buy a new one.

"Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian
Ken

[FrancoR 0]

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I have a very large mp3 collection that gets bigger all the time. This could start to include movies and tv shows compressed for the format of the player I purchase.

I have had a Archos Recorder 20 for 3 years now and it works great, but it doesn't play movies, it is ugly has hell and i wanted a new toy so i got the Creative Zen Vision W, that i am now selling on ebay again .
If you have a large mp3 collection and possibly a lot of playlists make sure that whatever you buy can sort your collection properly, the Vision W only sorts with ID3 Tags and did not support my m3u playlists. It is incapable of just showing the files in their folders, it sorts them from the information in the ID3 Tags creating a complete mess if they are incomplete. For expample if your mp3s have nothing in the ID3 Tag field for album, it will not sort this file at all and you are not able to move them back to folders you create, you would have to update.

I think i will get myself one of the new Archos models after i sold my Creative.

Franco

If it does not cost anything you are the product.

[Guest]

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The Apple iPod - the big dog on the porch.

Cons: DRM... reliability is in question. Have read horror stories about Apple repair and support.

Boo-loney. Buy your Pod, then replace the Apple OS with Rockbox - voila! no more DRM!

The two systems can co-exist as well. If for some reason you want to boot back into Apple, just rename the rockbox boot file to something other than "rockbox.ipod" and restart. The Rockbox bootloader, upon not finding the boot file, loads the Apple OS instead. Tres facile. You can also blow away Rockbox and go back to factory settings for the iPod if you insist.

However, as with all things, there are some disadvantages:

The first is that Rockbox reduces battery life by approx. 30 percent or more. I can only get about four or five hours out of my 5G video iPod before it's necessary to recharge.

However, I find this a modest price to pay, given that I despise iTunes and its (to me) user-unfriendly interface. With Rockbox, simply connect the iPod to your computer, and it's just another USB drive that you can drag and drop your MP3s into. There is no delay while iTunes converts your MP3s into DRM-compliant files.

Another is that Rockbox only works on the Windows-based FAT32 file system only. It won't work with the Apple File System.

The third is that video support is still in development by the Rockbox coders, so it's going to be a while until you can watch TV shows or movies. I don't care for that anyway because of the screen size, but that may be an important point for you.

So in conclusion, the iPod is the way to go, and with a replacement OS for the device (5 easy steps), you've got the best of both worlds: a first-class MP3 player and NO DRM.

mh

.

"The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat."

[Thanatos340 1]

Why bother with all that when you could just buy a Zen Vision M and be done?

More Battery Life (Not Less)
Better Video
Great Video Support
Better Sound Quality.
USB Drive out of the Box.

Is it really that important just to say “I have an iPod"??

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So in conclusion, the iPod is the way to go

How is that?? Why is it the way to go??

What does the iPod (even with Rockbox) do that the Zen Vision M doesnt do??

[Thanatos340 1]

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The only gripe I have about my ZVM is the dongle needed to plug in the usb or power cords.

I completely agree with you on that! Creative really screwed up on that.
Buy this cable and throw the Dongle away.

[Guest]

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Why bother with all that when you could just buy a Zen Vision M and be done?

More Battery Life (Not Less)
Better Video
Great Video Support
Better Sound Quality.
USB Drive out of the Box.

Is it really that important just to say “I have an iPod"??

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So in conclusion, the iPod is the way to go

How is that?? Why is it the way to go??

What does the iPod (even with Rockbox) do that the Zen Vision M doesnt do??

Although it is largely a matter of personal taste, I prefer the 30GB 5G Video iPod for its form factor (thin, slim) its simplicity and ease of use, and its understated elegance. IMO, it's the Bang & Olafsen of MP3 players.

Coupled with Rockbox, it's unbeatable.

mh

.

"The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat."

[sartre 0]

I think "tres facile" was the only thing I understood about that whole paragraph!

[gmanpilot 0]

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People that rave about the iPod generally have never tried any other MP3 Player. I still challenge anyone to point ut a single thing the iPod does that the Zen Vision M doesn’t.

I've had the first gen Ipod Mini since it came out, but the GF recently got me an in-dash Alpine cd player ($179) for Christmas that includes a proprietary cable that is now running to my Ipod (a few other manufacturers have these units too). The cd player controls and charges the Ipod and retains all of the Ipod's functionality and audio quality. In short... it rocks, and has increased the usability factor of the Ipod by a large margin.

If Creative wants to take market share from Apple, they might think about making some deals with the makers of these auto head units. They may already have something out, but I did not notice a single unit with the full interoperability of the Ipod/Alpine gizmo. I think some of the new BMW's and VW's are similarily interfacing with the Ipod now.

_________________________________________
-There's always free cheese in a mouse trap.

[Slappie 9]

Very lopsided poll. Most of it's iPod users but no one wants to comment on why. Those that do have had ZVM (thanks for the acronym) users shoot them down. I've seen no argument for the iPod that comes close to explaining to me why it's the better product. Sort of reminds me of the Saturn and the Saturn "lifestyle" commercials. People have been sucked up into the marketing and believe it to be the best only because Apple and everyone who has one says so.

Those 4 people who voted Zune didn't even post a reason. DuH! They must work for Microsoft or Toshiba (makers of the Zune) trying to keep their jobs.


After actually reading the posts here and doing some more searching and reading. I think the ZVM is the one I want even though it lost in the poll by a large margin.

For the ZVM users. Can you buy iTunes music and shows and still play them on the ZVM? Seriously I'm just curious.

"Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them."

[livendive 8]

I vote for the iPod for three reasons.
1 - It's the only one I've heard of
2 - Price (I got an 80 gig video iPod for my birthday )
3 - Jay is a skinny doo-doo head.

Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[NWFlyer 2]

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The only gripe I have about my ZVM is the dongle needed to plug in the usb or power cords.

I completely agree with you on that! Creative really screwed up on that.
Buy this cable and throw the Dongle away.

I just bought a Creative Zen Vision M as a Christmas present to myself. Speaking of cables - I've got mini-USB charger cables (wall and car) for my Blackberry. They should work with the MP3 player, too, right? (with the stupid adapter thingie of course). As much as I'd like to not have to have that with me, I also like the idea of being able to use chargers I already own.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[mnealtx 0]

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The only gripe I have about my ZVM is the dongle needed to plug in the usb or power cords.

I completely agree with you on that! Creative really screwed up on that.
Buy this cable and throw the Dongle away.

I just bought a Creative Zen Vision M as a Christmas present to myself. Speaking of cables - I've got mini-USB charger cables (wall and car) for my Blackberry. They should work with the MP3 player, too, right? (with the stupid adapter thingie of course). As much as I'd like to not have to have that with me, I also like the idea of being able to use chargers I already own.

As long as the voltage/amperage is the same, it SHOULD be ok... caveat emptor and all that, of course!

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[Lindercles 0]

Or better yet, caveat effector, which I just made up, but it's grammatically sound.

[Thanatos340 1]

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For the ZVM users. Can you buy iTunes music and shows and still play them on the ZVM? Seriously I'm just curious.

Not sure.
I do know that you have MANY more choices for buying Music with the ZVM. Napster, Rapsody, yahoo Music to go and most all others that sell MP3`s work with the Zen. Also Subscription services such as Napster to go and others (That allow you unlimited Downloads for a set Price (usually $9.99 a month) work with the ZVM but NOT the iPod.)

Napster is fully integrated into WMP (Windows Media Player) v11 and works just like iTunes.

The iPod limits you to iTunes only. The one thing that iTunes offers you more of is Downloadable TV shows however Creative just launched Zencast.com which should help there as well.

Also dont forget that the Zen Plays almost all standard Video file types (DivX4 & 55, XviD5, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG4-SP, WMV9, Motion-JPEG) so if you can download a Video in any of these formats, All you have to do is drag and drop it onto the ZVM. With an iPod you would have to convert any of these types into an Apple format such as QT (MOV) and then add them to itunes and then Sync your iPod (Rewrite everything on the devise to add a single file and dont even dream of trying to delete a file from an iPod. This takes over an Hour on my iPod 80gb 5g and that is if I only want to add 1 File or 1000 files. Takes less than 1 minute to add a file to my ZVM)

iPod, you have one choice.. iTunes.
ZVM, Everything else.

[mnealtx 0]

how about caviar emperor?

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[Thanatos340 1]

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They should work with the MP3 player, too, right? (with the stupid adapter thingie of course).

Spend the $12 on new Cables and Trash the Adapter Thingy. It sucks and was Creatives biggest mistake with the Zen.

[Thanatos340 1]

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If Creative wants to take market share from Apple, they might think about making some deals with the makers of these auto head units. They may already have something out, but I did not notice a single unit with the full interoperability of the Ipod/Alpine gizmo. I think some of the new BMW's and VW's are similarly interfacing with the Ipod now.

Actually the Move in general is to a standard USB interface that works with everything. Most all new Head units and Home theatre systems have this USB port that works with anything (Including ID3 display and controls)

Attached is a Picture of the Head Unit I installed in Clays DZ Trailer. Both the Ipod and Zen work just fine plugging into the USB port (With Tag Display and navigation from the head unit)

This weekend I will be also installing a new Home theatre System in the DZ Trailer. It also has front USB inputs that you can plug ANY USB MP3 player into.

Go to any electronics store (Circuit City, Frys, Best Buy) you will see that almost all new Head Units and Home Theater System have this feature. No need to be stuck in Apples proprietary world.

[shropshire 0]

MP3s are soooo last year..... you need one of these babies....

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[Slappie 9]

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MP3s are soooo last year..... you need one of these babies....

When I was a pre-teen I actually had one of these8 track players My favorites to listen to were Earth, Wind & Fire or Pink Floyd. Even as a child I was eclectic with my music tastes.

"Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them."

[mailin 0]

Dude, I told you earlier this year to get a Zen... why are you second guessing?

Seriously... its a far superior product! Like Jay, I think I've owned them all too and the Zen is top of the line. Ipods get stolen at my gym more often than the other players, simply because Ipod is all the rage right now and due to their marketing campaign, are easy to spot. Do you homework, read what Jay wrote, and get a Zen... you will NOT be disappointed, seriously.


Jen

Arianna Frances

[Slappie 9]

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Dude, I told you earlier this year to get a Zen... why are you second guessing?

I am! I was just curious what the populous on DZ.com had to say. I also wanted to kick in some Apple bashing.

No seriously, I wanted some positive and negative feedback about both products.

"Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them."

[gmanpilot 0]

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Actually the Move in general is to a standard USB interface that works with everything.

It would be great to be able to use a standard cable, but can you operate the mp3 player from the head unit with a usb cable and have it display the album, song, and whatnot? When I plug in my Ipod, I just stuff it in a dash compartment and all of the functions of the Ipod work and display thru the head unit (switching playlists, genre, artists, etc.). If that's the way the ZEN works, then great. If not, then they have some catching up to do in that area. I do, however, like the idea of not having to use Apple's lame software.

_________________________________________
-There's always free cheese in a mouse trap.

[tmaricle55 0]

Best Buy has the Creative ZEN V on sale for $ 199... will be picking one up on Friday. Luck enough a Vendor sent a $ 50 gift card for Best Buys as a Christmas Card this year.

Muff Brother # 3883, SCR # 14796 ICD # 1 - Pres.
Yeah, I noticed and I think it's funny!

[Lindercles 0]

When I first got my Creative a couple years ago it came with white earbuds. I quickly switched them out for black ones just so no one would think I had an ipod.