Zune and IPod go Head-to-Head

Picking out your favorite tunes is easy, but finding the right digital music player can be as hard as listening to Ozzy Osbourne sing Ave Maria.

Your Money spoke with Matt Buchanan, associate editor for gadget blog Gizmodo.com, about what to look for and how much to expect to pay for an MP3 player. We also asked whether music lovers are better served by an Apple iPod or a Microsoft Zune.

This sounds interesting, I wonder what they have to say about both of these players. Lets take a listen shall we?

There are options beyond the Big Two, such as SanDisk, but Buchanan likes the iPod and the Zune for their style and intuitive interfaces.

“They’re really easy to use,” Buchanan said. “And the Zune is really beautiful.”

If you’re choosing, practicality should play a big part in your decision.

“First and foremost, having one that works with your setup is important,” Buchanan said.

That means a Zune isn’t a smart choice for a Mac owner, since it only works with Microsoft’s own software. Likewise, if you’re not a big fan of Apple’s iTunes, you may want to stay away from an iPod, since no other program will let you copy music onto it.

True, that is one comeback with the Zune. You have to have a PC to listen to use the software as opposed to ITunes working on both PC and Mac. Lets hope Microsoft comes out with something for our Mac people.

Zune has this touchpad (the Zune Pad), iPod has the clickwheel. Both are good,” Buchanan said. “Some will prefer one to the other.”

For real digital audiophiles, the iPod Classic (160 gigabytes of storage, $335) boasts the highest capacity of any current iPod model, but it’s larger and less flashy than the rest.

Microsoft offers the Zune 120 for $250. Like all Zune models, the 120 has an FM radio tuner in addition to its music and video capabilities.

“If you’re not on a Mac, I might just recommend a Zune over the iPod,” Buchanan said.

Does it sound like we have another Zune fan in our midst? You just have to love the features and the aesthetics Microsoft has packed into the Zune.

Have I whetted your appetite? Here's the full review: http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2009/03/02/2009-03-02_the_sound_investment.html