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Creative Zen Touch, Apple iPod, and the like...
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Comfort_Eagle
Banned
Ive been wondering this too. Especially since the Zen touch retails about $30 less than a 15B iPOD and you get 20GB.
JackFrost2012
Banned
I have a 60GB Nomad Zen and have been mucho pleased with it. Dunno about the touch, but the series seems quite solid.
Just be sure to plunk down the $30 for Notmad Explorer to replace Creative's terrible, terrible software.
Just be sure to plunk down the $30 for Notmad Explorer to replace Creative's terrible, terrible software.
Apple will let the mass market slip through its fingers (again) if they start relying on style and iconic status in face of peers which provide the same, if not better functionality, at lower prices. I'd still buy an ipod today, but I can see a point where another company's offering will, on balance, be far better value for money..so much so, that it'll outweigh the plusses in favour of Apple. Hopefully there'll be fresh ipods announced in the Fall, along with cheaper offerings.
The only advantage that the iPod has is style. There are other players that are just as user friendly, have longer battery life, have equal or greater storage space, better sound quality (from what I've read anyway) and are cheaper. Personally, I passed on the iPod. The current model doesn't seem worth it to me. I'm interested in seeing what Apple does with the next version, though.
JackFrost2012
Banned
it's iPod sized. Basically it's their iPod-killer, or wanna-be-killer.
The Zen Jukebox is a bit larger, but it's worth it to me to actually be able to carry all my music around. I have 48GB, currently...
The Zen Jukebox is a bit larger, but it's worth it to me to actually be able to carry all my music around. I have 48GB, currently...
Great Wasabi Man
Member
I had the ipod the battery died, I replaced the batter and the HD died. Sold the Extra batterym Doc and Broken Ipod seperatly for more then enought to get the Zen Xtra which just 2 days ago I dropped and the hd broke. 
I liked the Zen better, more space for the money 30 gbs for 250 vs 10 for 300, easier to replace the battery, and actually replaceing the Hd or upgrading it isn't hard. $$$ replacing depends on how much you can get a 2.5" HD for.
My only problems with the Zen Xtra ars the buttons being on the side, navigating the menus sucks and it;s a bit on the bulky side compared to the Ipod.
Anywho...How much is the Touch? If it's affodable I'll just get that instead of replaing the Hd in my Zen Xtra. I really liked the Zen Xtra.
I liked the Zen better, more space for the money 30 gbs for 250 vs 10 for 300, easier to replace the battery, and actually replaceing the Hd or upgrading it isn't hard. $$$ replacing depends on how much you can get a 2.5" HD for.
My only problems with the Zen Xtra ars the buttons being on the side, navigating the menus sucks and it;s a bit on the bulky side compared to the Ipod.
Anywho...How much is the Touch? If it's affodable I'll just get that instead of replaing the Hd in my Zen Xtra. I really liked the Zen Xtra.
Crazymoogle
Member
Great Wasabi Man said:
Dirt cheap for a HD player, I hear - I think its selling for like $270 USD at the Creative online store. From what I can tell, the 20GB model is available, with 40/60GB versions unannounced but likely to be appearing in the coming months?
Echoes of Pink
Member
yoshifumi said:
"Included software lets you drag-and-drop data and music files to and from your Creative Zen Touch inside Windows Explorer"
http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=3&subcategory=21&product=10274&campid=20459
The touch sounds interesting. I think I'll wait to see how it turns out.
I have a 30 GB Nomad Jukebox Zen Xtra and I love it. I don't understand the complaints about the software, though. It installs two things; don't use the one with the fancy name. Use the Nomad Explorer (or whatever it's called). It treats the MP3 player as another drive and you just drag and drop and organize by Album, Artist, Genre, etc etc etc.
xsarien said:
True, but I think there will come a point where competitor offerings offer so much more in terms of value for money, that it overrides the status associated with iPod..its image/style/branding etc. Like I say, I don't think we're there yet, but I think we will be within a year or so if Apple don't adjust. Most people, I would say, still can't afford an iPod. The company that comes through with good battery, large capacity, reasonable design (at least) at a sub 100 dollar price will pick up a large part of the market. I don't see Apple doing that, but we can live in hope..
edit - in other words, whilst most would still covet an iPod, their sensible sides will find it hard to ignore other offerings..especially for those who can only borderline afford an iPod, or simply can't really afford one at all. We all want Porches, but we all buy Fords
Mason said:
I think the design still needs to be a bit better, especially in terms of size..it needs to compete on size. I heard the 30GB Zen is a bit bigger than iPod?
Though that said, I have started seeing a lot of talk in the media about alternatives to iPod, so perhaps it's slowly beginning. I think the products need to be better still, though.
The Iriver Ihp 120 is better than an Ipod. And about 20-30 bucks cheaper too.
The Iriver has optical out, built in mic, FM tuner, and a full featured in-line remote. All these features are things the Ipod lacks. The Iriver also has longer battery life than the ipod.
The Iriver has optical out, built in mic, FM tuner, and a full featured in-line remote. All these features are things the Ipod lacks. The Iriver also has longer battery life than the ipod.
Star Power
Member
How much is the Zen Touch?
Echoes of Pink
Member
Star Power said:
Creative's site says $269.99 for the 20 gig.
gofreak said:
If Apple's sales figures are any indication, I'd say that most people can afford one. But whether or not Apple "adjusts" to incorporate more features is, as you say, something only time will tell. But how much stuff can they really put into it outside of more codecs and more space? When you think about how practical it is, video is a rather dumbass thing to incorporate.
MrPing1000
Member
Hmm I'm seriously thinking about getting an ipod atm but I'm starting to have doubts after hearing a few non flattering things. I wonder when the Zen Touch will be released in the UK and will it be any good
MrPing1000 said:
Speaking as someone who's not terribly fun to shop with because of how much I scrutinize everything, about the only thing bad to be said about the iPod is that it's expensive, and yeah, the battery should be a bit more up to snuff with other players. (But in practice, 8 hours isn't terrible at all, you just need to be mindful about throwing it on the charger about as often as a cell phone.)
TAJ
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
>>>If Apple's sales figures are any indication, I'd say that most people can afford one. But whether or not Apple "adjusts" to incorporate more features is, as you say, something only time will tell. But how much stuff can they really put into it outside of more codecs and more space? When you think about how practical it is, video is a rather dumbass thing to incorporate.<<<
I might look past iPod's higher price and shorter battery life if Apple added digital/analog line in/line outs and good DACs. I DO NOT want video playback added to my HDD music player, though.
I might look past iPod's higher price and shorter battery life if Apple added digital/analog line in/line outs and good DACs. I DO NOT want video playback added to my HDD music player, though.
TAJ said:
The iPod does have a line-out, but as far as Apple's concerned, you need the dock to access it.
Good thing there are 3rd parties, though:
http://www.sendstation.com/us/press/release-040620.html
TAJ
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
>>>The iPod does have a line-out, but as far as Apple's concerned, you need the dock to access it.
Good thing there are 3rd parties, though:
http://www.sendstation.com/us/press/release-040620.html<<<
It will make the iPod bigger than the iRiver, and there's still no optical in/out, but things are moving in the right direction.
Good thing there are 3rd parties, though:
http://www.sendstation.com/us/press/release-040620.html<<<
It will make the iPod bigger than the iRiver, and there's still no optical in/out, but things are moving in the right direction.
The Nomad Zen (up until the Touch) is larger than an iPod. I don't mean to say it's huge or bulky, but you wouldn't need to line them up side by side to tell which one was bigger.
However, I like the bigger size of the Zen. The iPod just seems tiny and slippery. My friend has an iPod and I have a Zen, so I've messed with them both, and I prefer the Zen.
However, I like the bigger size of the Zen. The iPod just seems tiny and slippery. My friend has an iPod and I have a Zen, so I've messed with them both, and I prefer the Zen.
JackFrost2012
Banned
Cerebral Palsy
Banned
I love my o.g. iPod. I'll probably pick up a new one once the new models are out this fall/winter.
redchair's explorer software costs money. i have heard good things about it though. i may try the iriver version if i get bored. thanks to the no software requirement for the iriver players (and a good thing since iriver doesn't offer any) i haven't needed anything. i don't even use tags dude
The Faceless Master
Member
Comfort_Eagle
Banned
With the student discount from apple the 15GB iPOD comes down to $269, the same price as the 20GB Zen touch. So i would still be getting more for my money with the Zen, but damn those iPODs for being so sexy. In the end, Ill probably end up waiting a while. I wish I could mess around with the Zen as I have done so extensively with friends iPODs, but I dont think Ill be that lucky.
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