IPod or creative?

mickomack

I am considering buying a 30gb media player and cannot decide between the creative zen vision: m or the new ipod 5g.If anyone has any advice I’d greatly appreciate it.

Regards

mickomack

seamus

* > iPod

If you buy Apple, you're locked into Apple.

Personally, Apple (and Sony, because they operate the same way) never even get a look in when buying an MP3 player. Go for the Vision:M, you will not regret it. When you buy an iPod you pay for the name iPod.

muckwarrior

Yeah, the Zen Vision:M kicks the iPod video's ass!

Here's just a few advantages:
Better quality screen,
Longer battery life,
FM tuner,
Plays a wide variety of video formats and resolutions so conversion is rarely needed,
High resolution AV out so that you can watch your vids fullscreen on your TV.

maxitwist

ya ther's no real point on asking a question like ipod or creative cuase ipod never wins! The creative is much better and creative is a pretty good company, I hope u get the creative!:D

muletide

muckwarrior wrote:

Yeah, the Zen Vision:M kicks the iPod video's ass!

Here's just a few advantages:
Better quality screen,
Longer battery life,
FM tuner,
Plays a wide variety of video formats and resolutions so conversion is rarely needed,
High resolution AV out so that you can watch your vids fullscreen on your TV.

everything he said it is way better

Bard

This isn't a forum for slagging off the iPod or any other player in a rude and unhelpful way. Feel free to point out the merits of one player over another but pointless, unhelpful or rude posts will, as ever, be deleted, as various posts in this thread just have been.

Thanks.

Blaster99

Boards would be pretty empty if all the pointless posts were removed. But whatever works for you.

I have never used a Creative whatever and I don't think I will either, but I can give you a few pros and cons with the iPod.

It's an excellent design, if you're into podcasting iTunes manages all of that very nicely and downloads them when they're available (if you're not into podcasting you probably will be with an iPod), you can purchase music easily, AAC is far superior to MP3, it's the only MP3 player that can be properly connected to a car, battery life is not good when playing videos, you need to convert videos to MP4 (which is not a big deal).

Bard

Blaster99 wrote:

#it's the only MP3 player that can be properly connected to a car,

While the rest of your points are valid, this one is simply untrue.

maxitwist

Bard wrote:

This isn't a forum for slagging off the iPod or any other player in a rude and unhelpful way. Feel free to point out the merits of one player over another but pointless, unhelpful or rude posts will, as ever, be deleted, as various posts in this thread just have been.

Thanks.

I know I'm just saying that any forum I go to where the choice is something or an Ipod something always wins

mrblack

I have just replaced my 2 year old 4G Ipods battery and it wasn't so easy to do-so I would recommend a player that has user replaceable rechargeable batteries which I think the creative has. Its a pain that the Ipod doesn't have an FM radio but my phone does so I use it for that purpose.

One advantage of the Ipod is that its robust-I have dropped mine plenty of times onto concrete/tarmacadam kitchen tiles etc and it keeps on ticking.

Despite all the disadvantages mentioned by the others posters I do love my Ipod tho! Lately I use it as much for podcasts as for music.

One poster said it links well to a car radio and there are many car radios out there now that do connect very well to Ipods such as Alpines.But the easiest solution is a lot simpler & cheaper via an FM transmitter

theCzar

mrblack wrote:

One advantage of the Ipod is that its robust-I have dropped mine plenty of times onto concrete/tarmacadam kitchen tiles etc and it keeps on ticking.

More luck than anything else I think? I don't think either player is designed to survive being dropped from pocket height, but you can be lucky or unlucky

mrblack wrote:

One poster said it links well to a car radio and there are many car radios out there now that do connect very well to Ipods such as Alpines.But the easiest solution is a lot simpler & cheaper via an FM transmitter

Would I be right, or entirely wrong in saying that due to radio band licensing laws in Ireland, these can only be purchased abroad? My friend has one, and I seem to remeber him spinning some yarn about having to get his brother to get from the states or something...

Ijust use the tape-on-an-earphone-jack method, quality isn't good if you try it on a stereo at home, but in a car with engine running, its a 9EUR solution.

I have a Creative zen 20GB and its great, I do envy the original IPod's slinkier design, as the Zen is a bit clumsy, but things have come a long way, and the latest Zen is dishy.

I chose Creative, and will again for the same reasons mentioned above. Better battery primarily, but also flexibility with formats.

Plus I don't trust Apple, they're evil I tell's ya! But seriously, I don't like to own a player from a company with vested interests in selling music, but that's entirely personal!

Bard

mrblack wrote:

I have just replaced my 2 year old 4G Ipods battery and it wasn't so easy to do-so I would recommend a player that has user replaceable rechargeable batteries which I think the creative has.

The Creative player being discussed here (the Zen Vision:M) doesn't have a replaceable battery. (Well not by design anyway, I'm sure where there's a will there's a way...)

It should have followed in the Zen Micro's footsteps and had a replaceable battery incorporated into its design though - would have been another big plus for it over its rivals.

theCzar wrote:

Would I be right, or entirely wrong in saying that due to radio band licensing laws in Ireland, these can only be purchased abroad?

You would still be right as far as I'm aware, although this is due to change with their impending legalisation.

witnessmenow

Ive had an ipod for years... im on my second one (the 60gb video)

Pros: Battery for music lasts ages(im sure theres players with longer but it definatly is good), Screen is suprisingly crisp for videos, I tunes is very easy to use, podcasts are cool, you can get car cd players that can control them when connected(use the buttons on the cd player to control the ipod), alot of companies make accesories so the can be cheap(i got a car charger on ebay for about E4)

Cons: Doesnt come with a stand alone charger(only a usb one), scratches very easily, battery for video is pretty poor(especially for something like music videos, switchin videos uses the most battery), converting videos to mp4 is a pain, headphones ALWAYS break(sound is fuzzy in one on every pair of ipod headphones ive ever used!), official accesories cost a fortune!

Im really happy with it, definatly would buy another ipod
8/10

In relation to connecting it to a car.. next time your in the market for a new cd player make sure you get one with a front AUX ... your not restricted to any player, quality is excellent and its not expensive.

metrovelvet

I have a nano and I love it. Its the only mp3 player Ive ever had so I cant compare. Apples supposedly are better in terms of how your files are organised.

Makaveli

That really depends on how you organise your files on the pc though, and whether they are properly tagged or not.
For example, my iRiver uses a file tree to sort through files as opposed to using ID3 tags, so it is the exact same setup as on my pc.

muckwarrior

metrovelvet wrote:

Apples supposedly are better in terms of how your files are organised.

Ipods sort using id3 tags just like Creative, so theres no difference in this case.

Also, here's a recent thread comparing the Vision:m to the ipod video.

higster

.....feck it.....it has the looks

Blaster99

Bard wrote:

While the rest of your points are valid, this one is simply untrue.

How do you connect a Creative to a car stereo so you can control it from the car stereo (or steering wheel buttons) like a CD changer? Ie the definition of "properly". I'm not talking poxy headphone cable connection here where you have to sit and fiddle with the MP3 player while driving.

I have my iPod connected to my stereo with the iPod in the glove box. I can see what track is being played, I can do practically all iPod functionality from the steering wheel, it's being powered/charged by the car, and I get pre-amp digital input into the amp of the headunit so I can apply all the amp technology of the headunit to the output. The last time I looked, the Creatives don't have an accessories port so I can't really see how this could be done. This was the primary reason I bought an iPod in the first place. I found lots of other benefits later.

Bard

Alright, good point, Blaster. The iPod is certainly better supported by accessories - particularly for the car.

Doomspell

I had an iPod mini, and it worked perfectly for 3 months. Then one day I droped (by accident) and it fell no more than a foot. And of course it broke. My friend however also had an iPod mini, she dropped it numerous times, even into a puddle at one stage and its fine.
It's really hit and miss with them.

Tar.Aldarion

Well, everybody i know with an ipod has had it break, at least once.
I drop my iriver hp-40 all over teh shop and it is fine. Ipods seem quite susceptable to damage.
As seamus said, for me * > ipod.
The reasons are listed on the thread, so meh.

mrblack

Hey Mickomack; Well which did ya go for in the end, Ipod or Creative?

mrblack

mickomack wrote:

I am considering buying a 30gb media player and cannot decide between the creative zen vision: m or the new ipod 5g.If anyone has any advice I’d greatly appreciate it.

Regards

mickomack

conzy

The creative is superior in every way, it plays more formats it even plays Divx so anyone that "obtains" videos on the internet can throw them straight onto the player, it has a better screen, it has better audio quality, It has video output, it has better software, it has a built in radio and a dictaphone, its available in more colours:) Creative have an offer every so often that includes a proper charger....

Buy an Ipod if you have a mac, if you want to be "cool" , if you want to use loads of overpriced accesories that are included with the Creative...

mickomack

mrblack wrote:

Hey Mickomack; Well which did ya go for in the end, Ipod or Creative?

mrblack

Mrblack I went for the Creative Zen Vision m thanks to everyone for all their advice.I'm very happy with my purchase.

fatal

creative vision m...i bought one a few weeks ago and it pisses all over any apple ipod out at the moment.......

Slice

My iPod mini has a dent in it from I don't know where and it still works fine

Bard

Slice wrote:

My iPod mini has a dent in it from I don't know where and it still works fine

What's your point? Does that make it better than the Creative player?

conzymaher wrote:

Buy an Ipod if you have a mac, if you want to be "cool" , if you want to use loads of overpriced accesories that are included with the Creative...

Creative have recently removed the mains adapter from the Zen Vision:M box. What are these other "overprices accesories" you suggest are "included with the Creative"?... 'cos I don't know of any...

Slice

What's your point? Does that make it better than the Creative player?

I don't know - I've never owned or had use of a Creative player, and I don't claim to have experienced prolonged use of both either... have you?

My point is that my iPod is quite reliable - I wouldn't expect anything I carry around to continue working after being dented - such as a mobile phone for example, and I've had it for nearly two years now. I'd say it probably has something to do with the aluminium casing.

Edwardius

Well now, that depends on how you managed to dent the thing. Was it dropped off a roof or did you just leave something on top of it? there is a huge difference you know? An aluminium case isn't gonna do jack **** to prevent damage in a fall as the impact usually takes out the board/Hdd/screen before the casing is too badly damaged, be it aluminium or plastic.

Bard

Slice wrote:

I don't know - I've never owned or had use of a Creative player, and I don't claim to have experienced prolonged use of both either... have you?

Oh! Well the thread is about which is better, the iPod or the Creative Zen Vision:M. Having not ever used a Creative, you're recommending the iPod over it? Grand.

Slice wrote:

My point is that my iPod is quite reliable - I wouldn't expect anything I carry around to continue working after being dented - such as a mobile phone for example,

I would - particularly a mobile phone. I've had a number of them in my time and all of them have taken more than their fair share of falls and knocks and most of them - particularly the Panasonic and Nokia ones have survived very well.

Royale with Cheese

One thing nobody's mentioned so far is that itunes (along with the awful sony connect player) is an atrocious piece of software to use. I have a creative jukebox zen xtra (kinda old and chunky) and the version of their mediasource player and organizer i received with it is excellent, very simple to use and none of this library + sync rubbish. Not sure what software comes with the new creatives though.

I actually don't use the creative software anymore to organize the player though, I upgraded the firmware so that my player would work with my xbox 360. Using some microsoft invention, playsforsure, it now comes up in windows explorer as a seperate drive and it's just drag and drop and will work when plugged into any computer without having to install creative sofware or drivers (like the irivers).

muckwarrior

Royale with Cheese wrote:

Not sure what software comes with the new creatives though.

It still comes with Media Source but also Media Explorer as well, which provides a couple of different methods for transfering stuff. Overall I cant really fault it tbh. Although admitedly I'd prefer not to have to use any software at all!

Makaveli

Mediasource was one of the worst programs I ever had the misfortune of using. Needless to say I quickly invested in Notmad Explorer after I got my Zen.

Slice

Bard: Well the thread is about which is better, the iPod or the Creative Zen Vision:M. Having not ever used a Creative, you're recommending the iPod over it? Grand.

I actaully didn't recommend iPod over Creative if you care to read my thread again. I'll presume you own both and let you make whatever recommendation you feel fit.

Dead Ed: Was it dropped off a roof or did you just leave something on top of it?

I'm not sure how it would dent from something being left on top of it. As I said I don't know how it dented except to say it happened while in my backpack. I've had plenty of things break in there from general recklessness on my part and that I'm sometimes inclined to use it as cushion to sit on. I really don't know. All I can say is that my iPod is still going and I'm happy with it.

Royale with Cheese

Makaveli wrote:

Mediasource was one of the worst programs I ever had the misfortune of using. Needless to say I quickly invested in Notmad Explorer after I got my Zen.

I don't know how you managed to go wrong using it. 2 sections (normally player on one side, hard drive or cd on the other), and an arrow in the middle to tell the computer which way to transfer the files. Incredibly simple.

Blaster99

My only experience with Creatives is one that I bought for my wife before I had seen the light. It incidently stopped working a few days ago. It's a horrid little thing generally speaking and she eyes my iPod with jealous eyes. Perhaps a good opportunity to put an end to her misery and get her an iPod as I don't seem to be able to find the purchase receipt. As for reliability, the few people I know with Creatives have all had problems and the many people I know with iPods have not.

haz

Royale with Cheese wrote:

I actually don't use the creative software anymore to organize the player though, I upgraded the firmware so that my player would work....

Any idea if there is a similar upgrade for the Zen Microphoto 8GB? The little bastard is tied into annoying library sync software and won't even recharge if you don't have Creative software running under Windows XP with a web connection.

maxitwist

Blaster99 wrote:

My only experience with Creatives is one that I bought for my wife before I had seen the light. It incidently stopped working a few days ago. It's a horrid little thing generally speaking and she eyes my iPod with jealous eyes. Perhaps a good opportunity to put an end to her misery and get her an iPod as I don't seem to be able to find the purchase receipt. As for reliability, the few people I know with Creatives have all had problems and the many people I know with iPods have not.

I have one of the older zen's, though not as old as the touch, it's the zen micro.
and it's brilliant, the touch pad's brilliant and easy to use/navigate, it has a fm radio with recorder, bookmarks, on the go playlists, brilliant audio quaility, custimizle EQ, mirophone and brilliant software which mimics the way you see your music in you zen, you also get a very good media player which pretty much does everything: rip's, burn's, converts between formats, plays vide, plays music, brilliant search funtions which updates as you type and it can also sync with your zen. With all this how could your wife possibly be jealous of an ipod?:)

iFight

Bard wrote:

What's your point? Does that make it better than the Creative player?

Tar.Aldarion said that iPods are easily damaged and break and then about how his iRiver has survived bashes. So it makes sense for someone to show how an iPod has gone through damage and still works I would have thought

aFlabbyPanda

I have had both numerous ipods and a Zen 60GB. I had the original ipod and then I bought the zen as I needed more storage. I sold it 3 months later. I hated the software, its would constantly corrupt data (known problem I was told by tech support) and sperate charger/sync cable was also a pain. It just didnt suit me. Since then I've had the a shuffle, photo & video all without problems. I was very happy with itunes until it stopped importing album art while ripping so I'm undecided about it at the moment (but it is simple to use IMO)

I sold my video as I'm traveling a lot and wanted a smaller player so was tempted by the nano but I was also thinking about the creative again. However my poor experience with them before it holding me off. Plus there are rumours of larger nano's (up to 10GB) coming on Sept 12th and if they do appear I will more then likely get one.

maxitwist

mickomack wrote:

Mrblack I went for the Creative Zen Vision m thanks to everyone for all their advice.I'm very happy with my purchase.

why are we still posting on this post when the reason for this thread being posted has been resolved?

and mickomack I knew you'd be happy with a creative:D

stev2604

If i bought a Creative Vision:M could i put all my music on iTunes into the creative software and would that convert it to a format the Vision:m could play?
And also i cant find anywhere the 30GB iPod videos video battery life and the video formats it plays? Can iTunes convert video formats?

Thanks

Makaveli

Royale with Cheese wrote:

I don't know how you managed to go wrong using it. 2 sections (normally player on one side, hard drive or cd on the other), and an arrow in the middle to tell the computer which way to transfer the files. Incredibly simple.

I didn't go wrong it did. Stopped working, random crashes, wouldn't sync, wouldn't rip cds. The buggiest piece of crap ever. Reinstalls and updated versions made no difference.

rogue-entity

I have an iPod mini, I bought it when they came out, and its still going great. I dropped it many times, once it smashed off the footpath, leaving a small dent in the metal casing, and its still going great. I havent used a Creative player but, Creative Sound Cards = best of the best, Creative DVD Drives = rubbish.

sambora

I have a creative zen micro. Its only the 5GB. And I've recently just ordered a 30GB iPod video from Apple. I've used one before and like it so I don't really have any complaints about either Creative or Apple. I think they are both really great!

stev2604

stev2604 wrote:

If i bought a Creative Vision:M could i put all my music on iTunes into the creative software and would that convert it to a format the Vision:m could play?
And also i cant find anywhere the 30GB iPod videos video battery life and the video formats it plays? Can iTunes convert video formats?

Thanks

Anyone know?

Oafley Jones

If you asked me a year ago to suggest an alternative to the iPod, it would have been an iRiver. Couldn't recommend them at the moment though; reports of quality issues etc. they seem to be lagging further and further behind with each generation. I don't have much time for the Creative players either, although they are improving i never could get behind their design.

The best alternative to the iPod at the moment is the Toshiba Gigabeat S, a lovely machine with lots of great features. It's so good microsoft are using it as the basis for the zune.