Creative Zen Vision M v Apple iPod Video

[tellboy]

Thinking of buying a portable media player (about �200) and have read loads of reviews. Without any research I was just going to get the iPod but just looking through Amazon Customer Reviews the Creative Zen Vision M gets about 64 fantastic write ups the iPod Video gets 102 very iffy write ups.

Any Answerbank members support this view ?

[Machecoul]

http://forums.americas.creative.com/creativelabs

http://discussions.apple.com/category.jspa?categoryID=146

You could have a trawl through some of the above discussion forums to see what problems people are having with both - and they will be!!!

We have three Creative's in our house and are VERY pleased with them - but not the ZEN vision.

[fo3nix]

iPod.

Too many reasons why, just get it. Ideally from a shop so you can easily take it back if it develops any problems.

[tomd]

There are far too many reasons against the iPod - it's a fashion statement over practicality, durability or life expectancy. If you want to be flavour of the week, but have it pack in 18 months down the line, then get an iPod. Otherwise get a Creative Zen, iRiver or an Archos.

[tomd]

I think the fact you have to but it from a shop just so you're covered for problems does seem to speak in my favour.

[wideboy]

Go for the Creative - more facilities - don't be swayed by fashion! I believe it even has video output. However, I'm more than pleased with my 20GB Samsung YH-J70 (Black - now available in white and also a 30GB version). It has video/photo, radio, and direct recording. Currys were doing it.

[birdie1971]

A friend of mine recently bought a Creative Zen and I have to say it's superb. The picture quality is fantasic - as is the sound. I personally don't like Apple's products at all - not just because the hardware is mediocre at best, but also because I think the software that comes with iPods is pretty shoddy too.

[fo3nix]

The software that comes with iPods? iTunes is the best music software there is, for usability and general interface design. You couldn't get much simpler. Sure I don't like it on the grounds of it not being free software, and I think Apple should release the system controls for the iPod itself so other software writers can write better software more easily, but iTunes itself is brilliant.

and I realise there are a lot of people who have had bad luck with the iPods, but how many of you here who say they don't like the iPod for its bad reliability actually have owned one? I have one, a 3G version; it's over 2 years old and still works perfectly. The earlier ones did have some battery problems, but lots of companies have these sorts of problems, not just Apple.

There is some level of thought that Apple make expensive stuff that isn't really that good. This was certainly true a few years ago. But now their OS, Mac OS X, is far superior than anything Redmond is offering, their hardware is cheaper than Dell's (the new MacBook for instance is cheaper than the equivalent Dell laptop), and their software is far better from a usability standpoint than anything out there too, just about. Their only real problem now is that their hardware quality is slipping a bit.

I didn't buy it because it's a fashion statement. Sure, some people buy it for exactly this reason. And yes, it does look a lot better than any other player out there (even the Creative iPod clones), but it's also very easy to use, easier than just about any other player. And like many Apple products, it really does "Just Work."

[birdie1971]

I was expressing my opinion on Apple's software. If you like it then fair enough. Personnally, I don't. One of the reasons is that God awful Quicktime Player which they bundle in with everything. It's such a pervasive program that by default, hooks into your system, becoming the player/viewer for almost every multimedia file on your computer. It also, totally unnecessarily, inserts itself into the system tray taking system resources. Can you tell I don't like it? :-/

[fo3nix]

I wasn't trying to provoke anything by saying that.

Yea, Quicktime can be annoying. But this is mainly because you're using it on Windows, and it was first developed for the Mac itself, where it is an integral part of the OS. Hence it all fits in much better for the Mac, and has to be pushed to do things on Windows.

I believe it only registers itself with different file formats if you want it to though, mine certainly didn't take over different formats. And many programs are configured to startup automatically, Apple are certainly not an exception.

[tomd]

Cheapest MacBook (Intel Core Duo 1.83, 13" Widescreen) �749, Dell Inspiron 6400 (Intel Core Duo 2.0, 15" Widescreen) �599. Opps.

The fact that MacOS is slightly more stable isn't at all impressive, considering that it's only needed to be run on one processor, one video driver type, one audio driver etc., compared to Windows, which can run on literally thousands or combinations of hardware.
Macs have a place within professional recording, graphic design and video editing applications, as some of the software used is only released on Macs (and the stability is needed), but you're paying over the odds for the hardware and support is limitied. If you're using a Mac for basic home computer use (internet browsing, word processing, basic mutlimedia (music/video etc)) you've paid though the nose for something that was overpriced, is mostly incompatible with released software, and for which upgrades are less readily available and also highly priced.

[birdie1971]

I couldn't have said it better tomd.

[birdie1971]

And, in response to fo3nix - I agree, some programs "hijack" your file extensions without your permission. With regards to Quicktime, unless you select a custom installation, it becomes the default player for almost everything. In addition, when you select a custom installation, the software says something along the lines of "... do you wish to alter the MIME settings...". MIME settings? Unless you're pretty knowledgeable about PCs, what would the average user make of this question? I suspect most people wouldn't change the MIME settings because they wouldn't know what a MIME setting was. Unfortunately, this is where you can specify which type of media file Quicktime takes control of. What Apple have done is effectively tried to bury the options that allow you to stop Qucktime from becoming a pervasive application. Not good in my opinion.

[fo3nix]

While a lot of what you say is correct (and yes I also think most home users would be fine using something else such as Ubuntu GNU/Linux), it's the fact that OSX simply gets out of your way when you want to do stuff. It beats Windows hands down not just on the reliability (though, any UNIX clone can do this), but the fact that it's doing what you want it to do, and you don't have to battle the OS itself just to get a job done.

And I was referring to things such as:
http://kurafire.net/log/archive/2006/04/25/deb unking-the-price-myth-apple-vs-dell
http://www.cubeowner.com/forums/index.php?show topic=11670


But anyway this is going offtopic.

[fo3nix]

birdie, I agree with that.

And yea, I've never seen that sort of thing because as a rule I choose the custom option every time, because as you say, otherwise it tries to control too many things for you.

[tomd]

But they're manipulated figures, and with the Dells you could buy aftermarket RAM anyway and push those prices right down. GNU/Linux is definately a good idea, but things like the default directory structures and the install procedures make it too complex for most home-PC users. While most of the MacOSs are more efficient once you've learnt them, home users are used to the MS Windows interface

I've found OSX isn't anywhere near as stable used in a workplace as with the home PC - I do use them, working in a recording studio, (they're neck-and-neck with PCs for recording on, but editing we need the reliability of Macs, and software) but rather though lack of choice rather than choice.

[tellboy]

Help my thread has been hi-jacked by MAC OS v Windows arguments.

Anyway just ordered a Creative Zen Vision M.

[fo3nix]

I guess it's down to individual opinion then; people should still give macs a go. What the price comparision doesn't include though is the great extra software that comes with macs (apart from OSX itself, iLife too), and the actual design of macs: the MacBook has a built-in iSight camera, scroll touchpad, and has good little ideas like the fact that the ports are all along the side of the laptop beacuse having them at the back like many other manufacturers makes it annoying to unplug and plug things in, etc. And a slot-loading CD player; I really don't understand why most others still use tray-loading players.

tellboy: as long as you're happy with your purchase, you've made a good purchase!

[wideboy]

Tellboy, let us know later how you get on with the Zen 'M' and what you think of it (start a new thread?).

Cheers

[maxpower06]

Have to say - BAD CHOICE!

The iPods are the best mp3 players on the market - Thats why Apple have sold over 10 million of the things. 10 million people cant be wrong ;p

I love my iPod :D

[tellboy]

I am very happy with my choice of the Creative Zen Vision M.
Reply above?
Have you read the technical reviews comparing Sound and Image Quality ?
The Ipod came off second best.
The Ipod is an I tunes player after all.