Zune vs. iPod - In Pictures!

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.jakeludington.com/zune/20061001_zune_and_ipod_photo_comparison.html' target='_blank'>http://www.jakeludington.com/zune/20061001_zune_and_ipod_photo_comparison.html</a><br /><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;">&quot;I got face time with a Zune this weekend and decided to look at how the form factor compares to the 80GB iPod I picked up a few days ago. The Zune weighs considerably less than the iPod, although I didn't have a scale on hand to get exact comparison. It felt like the Zune was more comparable to my Cingular 2125 phone, while the iPod weighs quite a bit more.&quot;</span><br /><br /><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/zt/2006/wey-20061002-zuneipod.jpg" alt="" /><br /> <br /> Side-by-side with the iPod, the Zune does look larger in height and thickness. However, according to Jake Ludington, the Zune feels lighter, which is a real bonus. Jake's final pictures show the black Zune and the blue trim in all its glory (I'm really digging this colour scheme), with large album art and a neat UI (something I'm also digging). <a href="http://www.jakeludington.com/zune/20061001_zune_and_ipod_photo_comparison.html" target="_blank">Check it out</a>!

[kiwi]

nice to see a real photo.

I was a bit surprised at some of the details regarding the WiFi use of the Zune.

Price will be a major factor in the success of this device, though, after visiting the the New Apple store last weekend in Etobicoke, Toronto (Sherway Gardens) and seeing the new ipods in action Microsoft and their resellers have a tough time to compete. Apple Ipods are alwayds demonstrated at the apple store and places like BestBuy with a live model the consumer can touch and play with NOT a dummy plastic mould.
That's a HUGE thing in the marketing of these devices in my opinion.

B.

[Sage]

Comparing it against the larger, 80GB iPod - coincidence or conspiracy? :)

[James Fee]

I'm not sure what is up with Jake, but the 80GB iPod (5.5 ounces) does weight less than the 30GB Zune (5.6 ounces). :confused:

[Darius Wey]

I'm not sure what is up with Jake, but the 80GB iPod (5.5 ounces) does weight less than the 30GB Zune (5.6 ounces). :confused:

Yeah, that hit me after. I guess Jake was working out one of his arms before comparing the two. ;)

[Jason Dunn]

I'm not sure what is up with Jake, but the 80GB iPod (5.5 ounces) does weight less than the 30GB Zune (5.6 ounces). :confused:


Well, picking them up in your hands, you're not going to be able to tell a .1 ounce difference. The iPod is percieved as being heavier, likely due to the fact that it's smaller, but essentially the same weight as the Zune. Put one pound of feathers in one hand, and one pound of lead in another, and you'll feel that he lead is heavier.;)

[Aaron Roma]

The height / width difference doesn't bother me as much (especially with the larger screen.) However it just looks SO much thicker in that vertical photo.

[James Fee]

Well, picking them up in your hands, you're not going to be able to tell a .1 ounce difference.True, but Jake said:
The Zune weighs considerably less than the iPod
That is very different than saying you can't tell the difference between the two. About the same would have been more in line with what logic would tell you.

[Jason Dunn]

True, but Jake said...

James, what's the alternative other than a perceptual difference he felt as he held both in his hands? That Jake Ludington is purposefully lying to us all, and he's hoping we won't look up the actual weight online? Come on, that's just stupid. I don't understand what your purpose on this thread is - to "expose" Jake somehow?

:confused:

[Jason Dunn]

The height / width difference doesn't bother me as much (especially with the larger screen.) However it just looks SO much thicker in that vertical photo.

Yeah, the thickness might turn some people off. Me, I'm not bothered by it (on paper at least) because I'm ok with the thickness of my Zen Vision and the Zune is considerably thinner than it. We'll see how the Zune feels in my hands though, that's really the true test of a device.

[James Fee]

James, what's the alternative other than a perceptual difference he felt as he held both in his hands? That Jake Ludington is purposefully lying to us all, and he's hoping we won't look up the actual weight online? Come on, that's just stupid. I don't understand what your purpose on this thread is - to "expose" Jake somehow?

:confused:
Woa, we are jumping to conclusions here. All I was responding to the fact that they are very close in weight. There are people I think would try and ignore the facts, but jake Ludington IS NOT one of them. Jake admited that he didn't have much time with the product, but everyone has seized on his quote that the Zune feels much lighter than the iPod. I guess I was hoping people WOULD check to see the weights of the products before posting them as news stories.

[JakeLudington]

That is very different than saying you can't tell the difference between the two. About the same would have been more in line with what logic would tell you.

Can't find my other login - so I made a new one...

James, what I said was "It felt like the Zune was more comparable to my Cingular 2125 phone, while the iPod weighs quite a bit more." Obviously if you look at the spec sheet there's a negligible difference in the weight of the two devices. I didn't have a spec sheet in front of me when I made my SUBJECTIVE assessment of the weight, nor did I have a scale. I didn't even have a decent camera with me.

I stand behind my statement that while holding a Zune in my left hand and an 80GB iPod in my right hand, it felt like (to my sense of perceived weight) that the iPod was noticeably heavier.

Maybe that was because the Zune has a more even weight distribution. Maybe it was because the iPod is smaller and therefore packs a similar weight into a smaller package. Or maybe the Earth's gravity is considerably greater on the right side of my body. Whatever the reason was, at that moment in time, the iPod seemed noticeably heavier (to me).

[JakeLudington]

Comparing it against the larger, 80GB iPod - coincidence or conspiracy? :)

The 80GB iPod was in my bag. I suppose I could have taken pictures of the Zune next to my HP laptop to show how much smaller and lighter the Zune is than a computer, but the iPod seemed more appropriate. ;)

[JakeLudington]

I guess I was hoping people WOULD check to see the weights of the products before posting them as news stories.

I really just posted those as a "hey, here's some cool pictures of a Zune and iPod" post. I had no idea that the world was going to go nuts. I mean I shot them with a Sony DSC-T5 on the back side of a notepad - not exactly the scenario I envisioned for my most popular photos ever. :)

[Macguy59]

The more pics I see of the Zune the more it reminds me of an existing product. Is the Zune just a rebadged Toshiba Gigabeat?

[Jason Dunn]

The more pics I see of the Zune the more it reminds me of an existing product. Is the Zune just a rebadged Toshiba Gigabeat?


The design is certainly Gigabeat-esque, you can tell both are made by Toshiba and the same design group, but the Zune is bigger and thicker than the Gigabeat S (and has WiFi of course), so it's definitely not just a re-badged Gigabeat.

[Macguy59]

The design is certainly Gigabeat-esque, you can tell both are made by Toshiba and the same design group, but the Zune is bigger and thicker than the Gigabeat S (and has WiFi of course), so it's definitely not just a re-badged Gigabeat.

Ok so it's a supersize-me Gigbabeat :p For a non Apple player I like the Creative Vision:M and would consider purchasing one but I'm having a hard time seeing a Zune in the same light. Are you still optimistic about this player (platform?) ? Given how crippled the WiFi is I think MS would do well not to over hype it.

[Jason Dunn]

...but I'm having a hard time seeing a Zune in the same light. Are you still optimistic about this player (platform?) ?

Well, I did launch this site. ;) I'm a believer that Microsoft does platforms really well, long term, and that the Zune as a platform is going to succeed, even if this first device does not. I really can't say much about this first Zune player until I get my hands on one, which is sadly proving to be quite difficult (John Starkweather tried to get a Zune to bring to Mobius Thailand, he couldn't). If I were you, I'd wait just a bit longer before getting that Zen Vision...

[Macguy59]

Well, I did launch this site. ;) I'm a believer that Microsoft does platforms really well, long term, and that the Zune as a platform is going to succeed, even if this first device does not. I really can't say much about this first Zune player until I get my hands on one, which is sadly proving to be quite difficult (John Starkweather tried to get a Zune to bring to Mobius Thailand, he couldn't). If I were you, I'd wait just a bit longer before getting that Zen Vision...

And by your own admission you knew next to nothing about the device when it launched including what it actually looked like ;) I have no current plans to change from my iPod. What I think will ultimately happen is MS will have to reduce the price to $199 to spur product movement.