The Comparison of the Zune and the iPod

Everyone knows that the iPod steals the show when it comes to MP3 Players, but are they the best option out there? I am going to give you an in depth comparison of the Zune mp3 player and the iPod.

Lets start with some of the features that the Zune MP3 Players have while the iPods do not: Wi-Fi, Pre-loaded Video, Pre-loaded Audio, FM Tuner, Landscape Mode, Wireless Sync, Custom Background, Wireless File Sharing, Tactile + Touch Control, and an X-BOX Marketplace Integration. That is quite a few features that iPod does without when you look at the list. Another thing that may bother some is that the iPod already comes preloaded with a virus, although not one that will do any major harm to your computer, the idea that a company is willing to put a virus on products whether it be for tracking purposes or something else doesn't exactly sound like the most appetizing product.

So far the Zune mp3 player is putting up a good fight, lets keep it going. One feature that the iPod does have that Zune MP3 Players do not is a click wheel, which can prove to be quite useful when searching through your thousand plus song play list. This part of the iPod is probably one of the biggest reasons it is so popular due to the fact that having the wheel makes the navigation and ease-of-use unbelieveable, but is that really enough to balance the differences? If you try to get all of the music you want to listen to through iTunes you will go broke, because you have to pay for each and every song. On the other hand, Zune MP3 Players have a Zune Marketplace in which you pay only $14.99 a month to receive unlimited downloads to all the music you want.

Lets take a little time to review the comparison. The Zune does have a lot more features than the iPod, and while a great concept and all, some of those features are broken or close to useless. Still, for the ones that do work and have any use, they outshine the features of the iPod, but only barely. When it comes to comparing screen sizes, they match up almost exactly the same, with the 80GB Zune having a small lead, and the iPod nano being a little wider but shorter than the Zune 4GB.

Now, I understand that it may still be hard for you to make a decision on what MP3 Player you would like to purchase. Just look at the facts, the comparison definitely shows that both companies are here to fight, but there is a few things that stand out for the Zune as opposed to the iPod, although the iPod does have the X Factor when it comes to their product. That being said, if you are going to purchase an mp3 player, it can go either way, although the iPod is more known and more popular, on paper the Zune looks like it is a little better.

For anyone who likes to follow fads and be a follower, purchase what everyone else has or is wearing, then regardless of what an article says about how something may be better, you've probably already made your decision. But if your open to new ideas and concepts, and are willing to do the research to get the better product, then you have a good chance of changing your mind. So, unless your dying to have a scroll wheel, I think we all know what mp3 player is better, but I'll leave that one for you to decide, thank you.