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SwiftFoxLit · Feb 19, 2006, 01:51 PM

For a while I have been saving up for an ipod video, and i have enough to buy one at the moment, but I have looked at alternatives. After my 4th gen ipod broke, I decided to look at some mp3 players other than the ipod. My best choice is the zen vision M. Im not sure wether or not to buy it over the ipod,so i came here for help.

Anyway, side by side, the zen looks quite alot better (even though its $30 more). The screen is more vibrant with 200k colors rather than 65k. It supports several popular video codecs, and i know creative has much better sound quality. The video playback battery life is 4 hours rather than the ipod's 2 (regular battery life is more or less the same). It sounds like a well built machine, but the ipod has so much support and class. Does anyone have any suggestions?

icruise · Feb 19, 2006, 05:33 PM

Well, it's not surprising that most people on an iPod forum are going to recommend the iPod. I've never used or even seen a Zen vision, but from what I have read you get the better screen and battery life in exchange for a somewhat chunky body. It's also apparently more difficult to use than the iPod, both in terms of its buttons and scrolling device and its software. But I would choose the iPod mostly for iTunes and the iTunes music store, not to mention the many third party accessories.

Mastrap · Feb 19, 2006, 07:30 PM

I say buy whatever works for you. You're the one who needs to live with whatever player works best for you.

My personal opinion?
The Zen is a chunky monster of a beast with a UI that's a rubbish as Zen's industrial design. The sound quality being better is something I've never heard before, the iPod scores higher every time a new model comes out and the Video iPod is pretty damn good for a personal player. I suspect that this is a highly personal decision, but I doubt very much the Zen is all that much better.

So, there you go. Buy what suits you and enjoy your purchase.

analogika · Feb 21, 2006, 06:16 AM

I have to agree with Mastrap.

The sound quality of the current generation of iPods is quite outstanding for a $400 device.

wilsonng · Feb 21, 2006, 06:58 AM

Well, can you demo the Creative Zen Vision in a nearby electronics store? See how it feels.... You pretty much know how the iPod operates but it now has video. You already know how to use iTunes. It's easy enough to add videos to iTunes and just sync your video playlist to the iPod. So you'll have a running head start if you get the iPod video.

Not sure what the software package is like for that Creative player. But the iPod/iTunes synergy is hard to beat.

There are enough freeware and payware programs that can convert most of your videos into mpeg-4 and/or h.264 so you don't have to worry too much about that. Yeah, the Vision is able to play all sorts of video formats but it's easy enough to convert to iPod compatible format.

heck, for your DVDs, you can just use Handbrake - just about the easiest way to convert DVDs to iPod video format.

Besides, the Zen vision M comes in 30 GBs. The iPod has 60 Gbs available....

The vision M boasts of having the ability to display more colors (supposedly) than an ipod but I find the iPod video just fine.

The vision m has a voice recorder but I've never used the voice recorder in my cellphone. It also has an FM Tuner but the reason why I got an iPod was to get away from the crap that is polluting the FM airwaves. I see that Apple has their FM radio remote but I don't think I'll have use it.

If voice recorder and fm tuner is important to you then I guess you'll let your choices lead you to one or the other.

Dr.Michael · Feb 21, 2006, 07:02 AM

My Girlfriend has a Zen (don't ask me which model). She uses it quite often and the battery life is great (20 hours). The user interface is indeed not a big hit but it works ok.

Complicated is the connection to the Mac. We do it with a third party freeware that is not more than beta at the best. Make sure you find a good software that connects the zen to your mac. Then the zen is easier to handle than the iPod because you just drop a folder on its drive and thats it.

Mastrap · Feb 21, 2006, 08:09 AM

Originally Posted by Dr.Michael

Then the zen is easier to handle than the iPod because you just drop a folder on its drive and thats it.

What, as opposed to plugging it in, waiting for two minutes and unplugging it? Which is what I do with my iPod.

Podcasts, updated. Old casts deleted as specified.
Newly bought music, updated.
Newly created or deleted playlists, updated.

Don't try and tell me the Zen is easier to handle. That's just 100% wrong.

icruise · Feb 21, 2006, 08:29 AM

Originally Posted by Mastrap

What, as opposed to plugging it in, waiting for two minutes and unplugging it? Which is what I do with my iPod.

Podcasts, updated. Old casts deleted as specified.
Newly bought music, updated.
Newly created or deleted playlists, updated.

Don't try and tell me the Zen is easier to handle. That's just 100% wrong.

I couldn't agree more. I suppose some people just prefer the "use the MP3 player like a disk" metaphor, but there's no way it's easier or more flexible than the iPod when used with iTunes. I have all sorts of smart playlists that automatically update new songs and TV shows so I always have something new to watch (and of course if your entire music collection is smaller than the iPod, then you an just sync it all and not worry about it). Either way, we're talking about just putting the iPod in the dock and waiting for it to update.

TheSpaz · Feb 21, 2006, 02:15 PM

That Creative player is not only UGLY but, it looks big and clunky as well. I've never tried one though. I play videos from my iPod to my TV and it is REALLY hard to tell that the video is playing on an iPod. I think the iPod's user controls with the clickwheel and scrolling are amazing. I too have Podcasts and playlists that automatically update with new content all the time. It's always a pleasant surprise when I turn on my iPod and notice that I have new stuff to listen to without ever having to manually update it.

Another thing that's way cool is how you can drag a video file directly from the Finder onto the iPod icon (in iTunes) and it automatically copies the movie without ever having to add the video to iTunes first. I would go with the iPod and get a nice case (I suggest the Agent 18 Video Shield).

However, if you're worried about scratches and dust (it's bound to happen) then either get the Agent 18 Video Shield for the iPod or another good case.... or you can get the other player which looks like it has more of a matte finish to it that doesn't seem like it would scratch as easily.

Any other thoughts?

Dr.Michael · 08:38 AM

Originally Posted by Mastrap

What, as opposed to plugging it in, waiting for two minutes and unplugging it? Which is what I do with my iPod.

Podcasts, updated. Old casts deleted as specified.
Newly bought music, updated.
Newly created or deleted playlists, updated.

Don't try and tell me the Zen is easier to handle. That's just 100% wrong.

More precise: I never autosync my iPod because I have more music than hd storage on the iPod. Manual filecopy to the iPod via iTunes is easy, I agree. But it is as easy to use a filebrowser to do that.

If you compare autosync on the iPod with dropping the whole iTunes Music folder - why one way should be easier than the other is not clear. Its different but both works well.

On the zen you can easily find the files and copy them wherever you want. Thus it gives you more freedom. On an iPod you need software or use a terminal and browse through the iPod control folder.

I did not mean to say that the Zen overall is easier than the iPod. I prefer my iPods over the Zen. But it is definitely usable and not too bad.

TheSpaz · Feb 22, 2006, 10:47 AM

I think Best Buy has these on display. I could be wrong but, I think I remember seeing them there.

Also, there's a freeware App called "iPodDisk" and it lets you browse your iPod in the Finder by creating sort of a virtual disk of your iPod. You can then browse by Artist or Genre or Playlist and all the files are there and ready for copying or whatever. It's pretty handy if you want music from your iPod that you may have lost on your hard drive. Check it out here:

http://ipoddisk.ourbiti.com/

demibob · Feb 22, 2006, 10:58 AM

i got a 30 gb zen a few months ago but i prefered my old silver ipod mini. The ipod mini did break after just two year's though.
It wasnt its fault it got damaged on a d of e hike.

tabascoishot · Sep 13, 2006, 02:39 PM

So now that the screen has been updated...is it more of a match quality-wise to the Zen Vision:M screen? If so then it's a done deal for me (in favor of iPod)

Cadaver · Sep 13, 2006, 08:45 PM

7 month old thread??

wilsonng · Sep 13, 2006, 09:33 PM

If you keep waiting for the next best thing, the boat will pass you by...

I always thought that the Zen Vision:M was playing catch-up with the iPod.... Not the other way around as tabascoishot suggests....

All I can say is that I am way happier with my iPod video than my brother-in-law who has a Creative Zen Vision:M.