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Newest iPod vs. the Nomad Zen NX?
flyingember asks: "I am considering purchasing an iPod, since they are so cool looking. I then came across the new Nomad Zen NX. Size isn't an issue, my current MP3 player being a MP3-CD player. The big thing is price. In the US the 30GB Zen costs $300, the 30GB iPod costs $500. Or you can get a 10GB iPod for $300 or a 20GB Zen for $250 on the low end. Has the iPod got better design and layout of controls to make the price difference worth it?"
The iPod is just more asthetically usable. I don't know how to explain it. My friend got a zen recently. It has a jog dial on the right somewhere, but the interface is just weird. It feels like the type of interface I'd expect on my receiver.
I like devices that have interfaces that match their use. Take palm and its OS. I thought grafitii is great. It makes sense for really quick input. The fact you don't have a start menu and just use the "applications" menu to get to stuff was also great. It even use(d) a low power cpu. It's the opposite reason why I really hate windows ce. I just can' get used to the idea of having a start menu and apps that take up so much screen space.
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Other reason I don't like the zen? Same friend, can't download the drivers from creative, and to use the drivers, he has to install the base software. But the software he prefers to use for syncin' needs the drivers. So to use one software, he's forced to use another.
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iTunes works really well w/ the ipod. Hopefully, the win version will be just as good.
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ping -f 255.255.255.255 # if only
No.
:) ]
Doesn't the Nomad have features that the iPod doesn't have?
Like FM tuner and recording?
[and there's also the anti-yuppie factor
your thin skin doesn't make me a troll
I wouldn't give up my 10 GB iPod for anyone else's machine, regardless of its capacity. The iPod is unbeatable when it comes to ease of use, putting CD players to shame. It's also got one feature that I've never seen on any other player, on-the-go playlists. If you don't know what I mean look on Apple's iPod site. Add to that the fact that you can charge it straight from the FireWire port, can grab a phone number or email address without having to pause the music and whip out the Palm, and will soon be able to record from it as well (you can do it already through a special developers mode, and Apple will supposedly release a firmware update in the near future integrating this function into the real interface), and I think the Zen has been soundly smacked. The iPod more than makes up for the price difference in its quality. It's also a rock. I don't know about the Zen, but I've never carried my 3rd gen iPod in a case for fear that it might get jumbled, scratched or crushed. The no-moving-parts philosophy probably has something to do with this. And if you're worried about vorbis support, just switch to AAC. The difference is amazing. And if you're really REALLY worried about vorbis support, the iPod will most likely support it once QuickTime does, which can't be too long. Oh yeah, and it won't drag your pants down if you put it in your pocket. Nice touch. I'm all about maintaining my pants-edness.
----- "All right. It was a miracle. Can we go now?"
The iPod plays AAC which may not seem like a big deal but it is the successor to MP3 so I suspect you'll be seeing more and more content that way
Ummm says who?
Don't be a stupid fanboy. The successor to the MP3 format seems to be the MP3 format, as size is becoming a non-issue. Microsoft also has the very nice WMA format if you want DRM. The installed base of players still skews strongly toward WMA, and right now more players are being shipped supporting WMA then AAC. That doesn't mean the AAC format is doomed just that it wil probably never become quite as important as WMA. It doesn't really matter though look at a place like AllOfMp3 they allow you to choose what format you want your music in, and the bitrate you want it at. So AAC will probably be around for a long time, but is almost certainly not the succesor to MP3
I'd do something interesting, but my server can't handle a slashdotting.
You cut out one of the biggest wins of the iPod and you also cut out one of the biggest reasons for the price difference. In electronics, if you want it smaller, you pay more. So, what should you do? I can't answer that for you because you've already shown that you don't think like me (I'm not saying that's bad or good, just different)...you've ignored the thing that I think makes the iPod worth the extra money... but, that's just my opinion...so I suppose, if it doesn't matter to you (size that is) go for the Zen...if you like how it sounds, as that's the second big win of the iPod and most important thing (to me) is cost...and that's where the Zen wins...so go for it.
"I'd take points off of the Nomad simply because it has Microsoft's proprietary WMA in it. Ish, don't encourage them."
Yeah. These things should support less digital formats.