Zen Micro vs iPod mini
The MP3 'War' between Creative and Apple is a fight between features and style/cool-factor. Apple has a 'cult-like' following that is now going mainstream, thanks to dozens of voluntary endorsements from celebrities and artists. In short, Apple has become the new 'Prada'.
Creative on the other hand knows that it can't beat Apple in this department so it tries to equip its guns in the 'feature's department; most if not all of Creative's players have voice recording, FM radio, and a cheaper sticker tag, for now.
So now both companies leave the decisions in your hands, will it be style over function or vice versa?
The Micro comes with a holder where a 'leg' or a belt clip can be inserted. Without the holder, the micro reveals a nice curvy shape. The mini looks sexier though and their claim that 'the back of their products look better than the front of many of their competitors' holds true here.
The mini has a simple layout. The micro's Power switch also functions as a Hold button. There's an additional opening on the micro for voice recording. As for accessories out of the box, the Micro wins because it ships with a remote controller, albeit looking eerily similar to Apple's.
Slim and Sexy .... oooh ... aaahhh ... take your pick. The Zen Micro's curved back feels good in your hands but the mini's overall 'mini-ness' feels better. Oh and don't forget the ooh and aaah factors you'll get from the people around you when you have an iPod in your hands. The Zen Micro hasn't reached this status yet.
So which will it be? The 5G Zen Micro with FM, Voice-recording? Or a 4G iPod mini? By the way, I was at a Duty Free Shop recently where a would-be buyer asked the difference between these 2 and the sales person replied, "oh not much actually!". Well guess which the would-be buyer chose? The iPod mini. Now imagine this scenario happening in millions of other shops around the world and you'll know who will win the MP3 war.
posted by Skylar @ 8:06 AM
11 comments
11 Comments:
Aren't you a bit late to the party? Saying that the iPod following is 'cult-like' and that it's now going mainstream feels a bit out of step with the fact that since the iTunes Music Store went cross platform, iPods have been selling like snowcones in July to all sorts of people. Yes, it has become hip to be seen walking around w/the tell-tale white wires visable... to the point where other manufacturers are now selling white ear-buds. The 3rd party market for iPod accessories is huge, everyone wants to cash in on the hot selling iPod in its various incarnations.
The 'war' is and has been over for quite some time. Everyone else is trying to play catch-up and coming up short. Three words: Ease of Use. Three more words: It just works. I think celebs and artists are more then happy to be seen w/their iPods. Now if we can just get them to start carrying around PowerBooks and iBooks, Apple will be soaring even higher.
Nice review otherwise.
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>style over function or vice versa?
Umm the ipod has both. style AND function. the creative just has a bunch of clutter than 95% of people don't want.
if you are part of the 5% then buy all means buy the zen since THANKFULLY apple will never add radio or voice recording.
pc makers add more stuff in an effort to make up for ease of use.
apple just makes easy to use products.
I have bought two iPods and really like my 4G iPod a lot...I wouldn't trade it for anything. but if a Windows friend asked me about the options for a smaller, lighter player...I would be perfectly happy telling her or him of the Micro as well as the iPod mini. the Micros are very techno-looking, have roughly the same features and I love the voice recording option. I wish my iPod had that.
on the other hand, if this friend wanted to download music (that is, PAY to download music), I would steer them away from the Micro. there is nothing out there that compares to the iTunes Music Store.
>>... if a Windows friend asked me about the options for a smaller, lighter player...I would be perfectly happy telling her or him of the Micro as well...
Time to grow up!
Rule 1: Friends don't let friends drink and drive.
Rule 2: Friends don't recommend to afriends buying a Micro as an digital music player.
Rule 3: If you have any questions see rules 1 and 2.
The biggest difference is that the iPod is part of a "system", others aren't. That's why people will continue going with iPod no matter what features the others add. There is just no comparison.
EVERYONE, PLEASE READ! I need help.
I am about to buy a new mp3 player but still not exactly sure what im going to get. At first i was thinking iPod, obviously, but then i became more interested with the mini. but, heres the problem. i want to have music on the player other than cd's i own, but dont want to pay the 99 cents at itunes, but just almost got arrested for downloading on limewire. so, then i found out about Napster-to-go (for $15 a month, fill mp3 player as many times as you want) sounds great, but only three mp3 players work with it. creative micro, iriver h10 and dell pocket dj. the iriver and dell both suck so i know id go with the creative ( had the original Jukebox Zen at one time and loved it, too big now though.) so the real problem is: i like the mini better but i want to use the napster to go which requires the creative.
any suggestions?? please, comment. just tell me if you didnt follow all that.
could someone tell me how much an ipod mini costs nowdays in the usa and also the price of the zen micro (also in the US)
refer to email:
ehudtz@walla.co.il
thanks
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