Can anyone tell me the difference between an ipod and a zen?

Question

I want to buy a new portable media player and just dont know which one to go for when I do a search on the internet there are so many, does anyone have any good advice on this one

thanks

Answer 1

Buying an iPod will get you a popular device that (to some) look nice, has a nice interface, and has TONS of adds-ons. It will limit you to DRM-protected music from iTunes.

Buying something else (like a Zen) may be cheaper, have slightly better sound (most people can't tell the difference), and more features. Some devices have FM radios, recording, and other nice features that the iPod doesn't have. What you lose, by not going iPod, is the cache of the brand and the wide range of accessories that are available.

How to decide? All depends on what you really want out of it. If all you want to do is listen to music, you could really go with most any option. If you want videos, then an iPod isn't a great choice (small screen, no widescreen display) and you're better off with a device with strong video capabilities.

I'd suggest first thinking about your needs. Need to hold thousands of songs? Or will a few hundred do? Need video? Want to run/exercise with it? Need something tiny? Or will a larger device work for your needs? Need something stylish? Or will any-old brick be fine with you?

That'll tell you if needs a flash-based player (low memory, but tend to be tiny and can be used with exercising)? A hard-drive based player (holds thousands of songs and videos, but tend to be larger and may skip or not work with vigorous shaking)? A media-player (which will have a large screen and video recording capabilities, but be rather large and awkward for a music player)?

Once you know that, you can then limit by brand.

In the end, if you go with an iPod, you'll have made a safe choice. Not the cheapest or most advanced out there, but it works. If you need advanced features, then a Zen or other device will be a better choice.

Answer 2

Some people will tell you that the Zen costs less than the iPod. This is not true. Both 30GB models retail for $250 (just because you found yours cheaper once does not mean that that's the base price). Some people will tell you that iPods only work with iTunes. This is also not true. iTunes songs, as downloaded, will only play on iPods (and the iTunes store has the largest variety of legally downloadable music out there), but iPods will also play the universal MP3 format as well as songs ripped directly from original CDs. Some people will tell you that the Zen screen is brighter and better than the iPod's. This is half true. Yes, the colors tend to pop more than they do on an iPod, but shadows will devour any detail. Comparison photos that I've seen suggest that the Zen screen has the contrast set too high, so the colors (including black) are oversaturated. Some people will tell you that the Zen has FM recording capabilities while the iPod does not. This is entirely true, but what they don't tell you is that the FM reception on a small handheld device will not be anywhere as good as it is on a home stereo. For my money, I wouldn't mind so much listening to FM pulled in through an MP3 player (indeed, I do have an FM receiver for my iPod), but I sure as heck wouldn't ever bother to record it. For that, I'd much rather get a perfectly clean internet feed if possible.

What I'll tell you is that the Creative line predates the iPod, but even coming from a Mac-exclusive format in a PC-based world, the iPod has managed to take 90% of the hard-drive based market. In part, that's due to the great design of the iPod controls and the iTunes program, which, while not suitable for use with any non-iPod devices, has a higher level of integration with the iPod than any other software has with any other player.

Answer 3

Creative Zen's graphics are much more detailed with beautiful bright colors. Also, the Zen has a voice recorder and the ipod does not. (This is great when you want to record conversations-people think you are just listening to music). The Zen M is a bit bigger and sturdier than ipod. I see this as a plus because there is a real danger in leaving the player in my pocket and then washing my clothes. In other words, I did not want a player that was so light I would forget it's in there and damage it somehow. The Zen interfaces with more music/movie download sites then ipod.There are other features I like too-just too many to mention. I did extensive research before deciding that the Zen beats ipod hands down.

My advice: make a list of the properties YOU want in a media player and then research each player to see which one comes closest to your personal list. You may decide you do not need the Zen or the ipod but something else entirely. Check out anythingbutipod.com for more information.

Answer 4

Oh do i, Between the two. The zens has a brite hi definition LCD screen. ipod hi definition LCD screen is dark. Zen has fm radio(that you can record from) line in recording (that you can record straight from a dvd,cd,tv.etc...) the ipod NOT. according to all the pros, they say that Zen is the best of the two and even has a better sound. zen is easy to use. I have a 30 gig zen vision m, my son has a 30 gig movie ipod.

ipod however has itunes.

zen $200.00
ipod $250.00

http://www.creative.com/products/mp3 .check out specs

Answer 5

I dont know anything about the zen, but I do know that Ipod batteries have a tendency to die out really quickly, so it may be a better option to go with something else.

Answer 6

iPod:
• Made by Apple.
• Plays MP3 files.
• Plays MP4 files but not WMA files.
• Uses iTunes software to transfer music.
• Works with the iTunes Music Store but hardly any other online music stores.

Zen:
• Made by Creative.
• Plays MP3 files.
• Plays WMA files but not MP4 files.
• Uses drag-and-drop or Creative MediaSource software to transfer music.
• Works with many online music stores but not iTunes.

Answer 7

both use technologies designed by creative

except that ipods use java based
and creative dont

so music from other sites than itunes sometimes fails on an ipod

Answer 8

i HAVE SOME GOOD ACVICE. wHETHER YOU TAKE IT OR NOT IS UP TO YOU. One is spelt ..an ipod. The other is spelt a zen. If you find out5 any more info let me know at [e-mail] I am a technophobe hence my unhelpful answer. But I'm willing to learn aso please instruct me

Answer 9

Ipod is the best