Creative Zen Micro vs iPod vs iPod Mini

Peeps, whats the best MP3 player on the market? I want something small, stylish and not bloated. I want to know your epxeriences with the above players or any other good players as I'm currently trying to decide which mp3 player to get.

So far, I'm opting for the mini iPod as its sleek and relatively unique (regular iPods are too common place these days ). The only thing is that I hate iTunes (bloatware). Hence, why the Zen seems like a nice option syncing with WMP10 and use as an external drive. Also, does Foobar support transferring mp3's to iPod?

I'm not really considering a Sony as the Sonic s/w seems like a dog to use.

Let me know what you guys think.

#256461

i'd recommend an ipod mini mainly because its mac and also because its cool looking. actually i read on appleinsider.com that the newer ipod minis have 5gb drives in them and have a software block in them to only allow one to use 4gb of the drive so if someone hacks the firmware to unblock it, i suggest you get an ipod mini. now a 5gb ipod mini i have to say is very unique.

EDIT: i forgot to say the other good things about an ipod mini. its got an alarm clock/off timer (lets you go to sleep and wake up to music) and some games. i personally like breakout. its a very cool piece of equipment. it has even more than i said. go to http://www.apple.com/ipodmini to see the other good things about it.

EDIT2: i also have to say hat itunes is NOT bloated. it has many features but they can all be disabled. also it doesn't appear to use hardware for the scrolling so it takes a lot of cpu when you scroll but it works very smoothly on my pc if the window isn't too big and i have an amd athlon (regular athlon, not xp) at 950MHz.

#256473

Well the zen micro cost about 20$ less, has 4 more hours of playback via the battery, which you can replace and purchase new batteries for like 15$. It has better sound, and 20% more storage capasity. Oh yeah diod i meantion it has a FM radio/voice recorder, custimised menues, my contacts, a Calendar , a to do list as well?

ps the creative also has alarmclock functions

I think the chioce is kinda clear, you can either buy a fantastic creative product that outshines the ipod in nearly everything, or you can imho overpay for the prestiege of being 'unique' and get the ipod mini just like everyone else does.

edit: i guess you cant play games on the micro.

#256477

there is a foobar plugin in development, you should check it out before you decide. click.

btw, i was under the impression that the ipod, like most mp3 players, shows up inside my computer like a removable drive once it's connected. if so, you don't really need any synching software as there is enough space on it so you don't have to downsample your mp3s in order to fit more of them onto the ipod.

#256480

You need to select a few options in iTunes to get Ivan's idea to work in addition to playing with hidden files on the iPod itself. There's a specific folder organization behind the music, so it's probably a bad idea.

The Creative is truly a great little player. When you plug it in to the computer, nothing happens until you load WMP. Even then, nothing happens until you tell it to Sync (in WMP). In other words, your computer doesn't drastically slow down when you plug in your Zen Micro.

This also means that it will not appear in My Computer when you plug it in. Instead, you have to press a button on the Zen which enables it to become a flash drive temporarily. It is much faster in syncing with the My Computer section than any iPod used as a disk drive. You can also set the amount of space to use (64MB, 128MB, 256MB... etc. up to 5GB) in order to prevent you from running out of space for music.

There is only one slight complaint for me... the controls. You will adjust, but you might need to change the sensitivity (there is an option for this, along with practically everything else).

Zen Micro > iPod mini

#256495

Dont buy the iPod mini or the iPod. Buy the Zen Micro or the Zen. I've got an iPod Photo and it sounds horrible when it comes to deep bass and high trebles. The only reason I brough the iPod because the GUI is easier to use. Other than that, I regret buying the iPod. It's typical of Apple, it's all about style.

Hope that helps

#256523

Is this true about ipods in general about the battery? Does the warranty cover it if your battery dies? Really, then its planned absolesence, Apple just making money by inticing u buy more ipods when the battery dies.

What do people think about the L1 20 ?

#256723

There's nothing special about the battery Apple uses in their MP3 players. In fact, Li-ion batteries are the same everywhere, and last about the same number of recharge cycles.

Sound quality wise, you have to listen for yourself. Not everyone has the same tastes for music. And if you find the output not satisfactory, don't just blame it on the player, look at the quality of the earphones you are using, and evaluate if it's even optimised for the genre of music you listen to.

iPods work best with Macs. The integration is there, something you can't find in other OS to date.

#257019

The iPod syncs brilliantly with my PC, top marks there for Apple. I use Shure E2c in-ear phones with my iPod, the iPod saturates too quick in the low frequencies, therefore you get distortion. So if you want ease of use, get an iPod, but if you want sound quality get a Creative or Sony.

Sky

#257045

i'd recommend an ipod mini mainly because its mac and also because its cool looking. actually i read on appleinsider.com that the newer ipod minis have 5gb drives in them and have a software block in them to only allow one to use 4gb of the drive so if someone hacks the firmware to unblock it, i suggest you get an ipod mini. now a 5gb ipod mini i have to say is very unique.

EDIT: i forgot to say the other good things about an ipod mini. its got an alarm clock/off timer (lets you go to sleep and wake up to music) and some games. i personally like breakout. its a very cool piece of equipment. it has even more than i said. go to http://www.apple.com/ipodmini to see the other good things about it.

EDIT2: i also have to say hat itunes is NOT bloated. it has many features but they can all be disabled. also it doesn't appear to use hardware for the scrolling so it takes a lot of cpu when you scroll but it works very smoothly on my pc if the window isn't too big and i have an amd athlon (regular athlon, not xp) at 950MHz.

1.) An iPod is not Mac. Sorry to tell you, the most inexpensive Mac is still US$499 [Mac mini].

2.) I'm sure that if he is using a computer, I know what an alarm does.

Well the zen micro cost about 20$ less, has 4 more hours of playback via the battery, which you can replace and purchase new batteries for like 15$. It has better sound, and 20% more storage capasity. Oh yeah diod i meantion it has a FM radio/voice recorder, custimised menues, my contacts, a Calendar , a to do list as well?

ps the creative also has alarmclock functions

I think the chioce is kinda clear, you can either buy a fantastic creative product that outshines the ipod in nearly everything, or you can imho overpay for the prestiege of being 'unique' and get the ipod mini just like everyone else does.

edit: i guess you cant play games on the micro.

1.) "capacity". Please use spellcheck.

2.) Yes, iPods can have customized menus!

3.) Yes, iPods sync with Address Book for your contacts!

4.) Yes, iPods synch with iCal for your calendar and to do list!

5.) Yes, iPods can function as an alarm clock!

6.) It hardly "outshines" it by "everything".

7.) HAHA! More games for iPod users!

You need to select a few options in iTunes to get Ivan's idea to work in addition to playing with hidden files on the iPod itself. There's a specific folder organization behind the music, so it's probably a bad idea.

The Creative is truly a great little player. When you plug it in to the computer, nothing happens until you load WMP. Even then, nothing happens until you tell it to Sync (in WMP). In other words, your computer doesn't drastically slow down when you plug in your Zen Micro.

This also means that it will not appear in My Computer when you plug it in. Instead, you have to press a button on the Zen which enables it to become a flash drive temporarily. It is much faster in syncing with the My Computer section than any iPod used as a disk drive. You can also set the amount of space to use (64MB, 128MB, 256MB... etc. up to 5GB) in order to prevent you from running out of space for music.

There is only one slight complaint for me... the controls. You will adjust, but you might need to change the sensitivity (there is an option for this, along with practically everything else).

Zen Micro > iPod mini

I like not having to open the iTunes window and right click my iPod and select Update, and then launching iSync and clicking my iPod and then clicking Sync. Please note the iPods and Zens are HARD DRIVE based, sorry no FLASH memory.

I'm sure that everyone much prefers the iTunes interface over the provided software for importing music, organizing music, et cetera. IMO, if you really can't afford the 20$ for an iPod mini, go work at McDonalds for a few and then you'll have your cash to buy an iPod mini. It looks much better, and it's more comfortable to use. The Click Wheel is actually an intuitive controller, and you have the iPods award winning interface! We all know iTunes > Windows Media Player, and everything else. Please read this, and you will know why Creative sucks.

#257061

The iPod does not have a longer battery life than its competitors, neither does it have a larger hard drive capacity, nor an FM receiver. But the one thing that you can never find in any other players is its ease of use.

The user-interface is Apple's trump card for the iPod.

#257068

Apple's trump card for the iPod is it's philosophy - coherent and 100% user-oriented. iPod is meant to play your music - and that's what it does at the highest level among others. No FM receiver or crappy voice recorder is needed - you put your music inside and it plays. If you want someone else's music (radio ), go get iTrip. iPod is meant to provide the essential for listening to music. You don't have to worry about complicated UI, you can plan everything not only at home with iTunes (which is intuitive and very easy to use aswell) but on-the-go too, by creating custom playlist whenever and wherever you want.

About sound quality: a lot depends on the quality of your mp3s and even more depends on your phones. Even if default white Apple headphones have brilliant, balanced sound (yes, for people who want to listen to whole spectrum of sounds, not only deepest basses), iPod's sound quality can be dramatically enhanced with a proper Sennheiser or Beyerdynamic headphones. And let's remember one thing: people ranting that their mp3 players don't have crystallic sound are ridiculous. Definition of mp3 standard excludes possibility of having highest sound quality.

About ease of use: the part of Apple's user-oriented philosophy. You won't find more intuitive, easy and amusing interface on this planet. Take 10 people with you to Apple Store, give them iPods to play with and watch them drool (I've done things like that )

About battery life and disk capacity: let's face it: are you a 24hr worker or traveller who goes to 3-4 week expeditions in the jungle? I suppose no. 12 hours of listening music is way too much for common user. And who really is capable of listening to 60GB of music? I have circa 15GB of music now, iTunes says it's 8,5 days of listening. Pure abstraction. When you fill your iPod you get almost a month of listening without any break. Is that what you want to do? I doubt it.

Last but not least: care for the smallest detail in the design. iPods are indeed very well made. No gaps, no loose parts. The only thing that might piss you off is the mirror back side which easily gets scratched. but again, it's a part of Apple's philosophy: you're supposed to love your iPod, treat it like a child, almost nurture it I know it sounds crazy but ask any iPod user and they will tell you about their very strong attachement to their little white machines.

Yep, emotional attachement. I truly love my iPod photo and I'm not afraid to admit it

#257121

The iPod is one of the most overpriced thing ever, I'd definately go for a Zen Micro.

It might not be as sleek and have a wheel, but it's got everything else, and it's cheaper. It can also record, unlike the iPod (well you can on the iPod but you gotta hack it). The iPod is superior, but not worth the extra money, that's my view.

Then again I doubt this is the ideal forum for asking such a question, as most users here are Apple maniacs

#257136

The iPod is one of the most overpriced thing ever, I'd definately go for a Zen Micro.

It might not be as sleek and have a wheel, but it's got everything else, and it's cheaper. It can also record, unlike the iPod (well you can on the iPod but you gotta hack it). The iPod is superior, but not worth the extra money, that's my view.

Then again I doubt this is the ideal forum for asking such a question, as most users here are Apple maniacs

Record...what?

Also, would you rather pay less and get a crap one, or pay more for the best one? Really, if you want people to make fun of you for having a ZEN, go ahead and buy it.

#257205

Record your voice, etc etc. But then again if you don't need it, whatever

And no, I'd rather pay less for a great one, than too much for a slighly better one. Anyway, your money, do what you want with it :cool:

#257211

in my view both are fabulous. just depends on your taste and preferences. some people like zen, some people like ipod. others like ipod shuffle, other likes the other 256 mb mp3 market players. but for me, i use itunes only and that's why i should use ipods. zen is good too, but because of my preferences i will use ipods. i don't think you will regret either one.

you asked for a less bloated one? the contradicting thing is that zen micro is more bloated than ipods. more features mean more bloats. but that dosen't matter at all really. so don't judge by bloatness of mp3 players. also, pe8ter has a very good point. suppose you have an ipod or zen micro that has 200 years of battery life. will you make use of it? maybe in like 8 generations.

#257243

the only downside of Creative's mp3 players is that they work with WMP and as many of you already know, WMP sucks

If you can cope with WMP, go for the Creative, otherwise, iPods are the best choice.

#257253

WMP 10 is brilliant. WMP <9 are really horrible. If you do go for the Zen, make sure you download WMP 10.

#257407

Indeed, I love WMP10.

Anyway, this is rather off-topic, but if you live in the city, an iPod shuffle worn around your neck isn't the way to go because anybody can simply walk up to you and pull it off the cord thing and run away

#257505

one would look like an idiot if he or she wore the iPod shuffle around their neck with the cord.

#257745

one would look like an idiot if he or she wore the iPod shuffle around their neck with the cord.

erm no...

They're even making lanyards for the iPod mini...they would only do that if the majority of iPod shufflers wore their lanyards. Anyways, I'd like not to hold my shuffle or place it in a pocket for fear of DROPPING!

And yes, in the city you shouldn't wear it outside of your clothes. Wear it underneath your shirt to prevent stealage .

Oh an with the iPod mini updates, you could get a 4GB for cheap! Only $199 and they ship today. $50 more to get the 6GB.

#257747

they just updated the mini, you now get 18 hours of battery life, comes in 6gb flavor, prettier

go for it

#257851

Yeah... the price drop in the 4GB makes it more worthy than the Zen... ($200 for 4GB iPod)

#257854

Yeah the iPod Mini is looking like an attractive proposition - 6GB at £169 i think. Do Apple have any plans on releasing colour screen versions like with iPod Photo?

Thanks for the opinions peeps!

#258172

I did some serious reseach before I bought my iPod. I looked at several players including the Zen Micro, the iRiver MP-10 and several flash devices. When I added everything up, the iPod came out on top. I do not use WMA files, prefer AAC and OGG, and most of my music in the MP3 format. Unfortunatly the iPod does not support OGG (bummer) but form factor, software (I have been use iTunes since it first was release for WIndows), avaible accessories, and looks swayed my purchase. And I have not been dissapointed (except I should have waited a couple of weeks. Such as life...)

#258216