Just to give my opinion, hope you don't mind
paul34 said:
Well, I will say that first of all I really do like the iPod - it just "works." I hear this is true for many of Apple's products, which is always a plus. Not to mention of course, the nice, elegant styling of the iPod.
However, I've heard they have their fair share of bugs and lag issues - I really hate any type of lag. Regardless, it doesn't play all the formats I'd like for it to play, and the battery is not easily user-replaceable. Plus, I'd appreciate it if it wasn't so closely integrated with the iTunes software. I know that other programs can be used with it, but this is more of a personal annoyance than anything else.
honestly the only time I have lag is when starting up a movie. which to me is to be expected and it is very short.
there's nothing better than iTunes
I think overall my only "complaint" would be short battery life and the fact it doesn't support too many formats. I've also heard that on default settings, iPods will basically self-destruct (with regard to all its music!) when connected to another computer. That is terrible... just shows how the record companies are crossing the line by trying to control the consumer.
I dunno, a 20 hour battery seems pretty darn good to me, I guess it depends on what you need.
I don't know where you heard the self distruct thing...
here is what happens when an iPod is connected to another computer...
If it is setup as a disk (you can turn that on or off) it shows up as a harddrive just like an external harddrive does.
Where the dude may have been confused, is that if iTunes is installed on the computer, and opened, a box will pop up saying "This ipod is synced with another computer, would you like to delete that music and sync with this computer? (yes or no)"
also, if both computers are verified to the same account, you can even trasnfer songs off that iPod and onto the other computer so you can transfer songs from one computer to another easily.
and the only format itunes doesn't accept (I think) is WMV, and songs can be converted from WMV to MP3 er whatever very quickly. (most things don't play WMVs anyways)
If you were to buy a product right NOW, I think I'd recommend the iPod. The Zune seems like a nice little product, but not ready quite yet. I'd give it maybe a year or so for the second generation of Zune to come out.
I know a lot of people will criticize Zune simply because it is a Microsoft product, but I think it is rather unfair. Remember the first generation iPods? Yea, neither do a lot of people
. It took Apple a few tries to make the great iPods we all know today.
iPod is a great product, it became popular when Apple wasn't popular.. if Zune is anygood, it will become popular.
just my .02
