New 80GB+ player needed, no iPod or Archos

Stoned Hippy

Well I finally lost my Archos 504. I've been seriously loyal to the Archos brand for the last few years going through their last 4 generations of players but finally their unreliableness and crap battery life have gotten to me.

I have about 75GB of music so need a player of at last 80GB, preferably more. Some of my music is in wma so ideally i'd prefer not to convert that. I do occasionally watch movies on the go but it's not a deal breaker for me.

Are there any real alternatives to the new Archos and the iPod classic? I've never used or seen a recent a Zune, do people recommend them?

My ideal player is probably and itouch with a 120gb hard drive and iPod classic matching battery life that can play wma, wouldn't that be something?!

ballyrhy86

Have had a 30gb zune for a year, nice big screen, great menus especially since the latest firmware update, good software, plays you're wmas and comes in 120gb.

it won't be launched in europe til end of 2009 though, so no consumer support for it if something goes wrong. i cracked the screen on mine so i'd to buy a new screen and install it myself, bit of a pain in the ass! highly recommended otherwise though, hope that helps!

Stoned Hippy

The no support until later this year is interesting doesn't really bother me.

About the only thing the iPod supposedly has over the zune is an extra 6 hours of battery life and is about 40 euro cheaper (if I buy one up North when i'm going next week). The battery life is very important for me as I would mainly be using it while travelling so every hour counts.

How has the battery been for you on the Zune for listening to music with the wifi off?

ballyrhy86

It'd last up and down on the train to dublin, bou 3hours each way and light enough use during the week, i'd say 12 hours plus anyways. i'v fairly low brightness and the backlight to go off fairly quick to save battery. i'd find it decent for my use,not as good as an ipod though.

microsoft might be announcing something in january about the zune at the CES show, around the 10th i think. its probably just a mobile phone version of the software, but you might be best to leave until after that in case they go and bring out new players just after you've bought one!

Edit: Forgot to mention you can download the software from zune.net for free and get a feel for it, i think its a good program!

Cow Moolester

The Zune won't be launching in Ireland or Europe at all. Although, Microsoft will be supporting it through software here so they'll be releasing apps.

I would recommend it though. Great integration with Live services

ballyrhy86

well according to engadget (http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/13/third-gen-zune-to-hit-in-2009-make-it-to-europe/) and some others sources the zune will eventually make it to europe. Also try zune.ie and you will find its under construction, this will potentially be the official zune site for ireland as zune.net is the official site for the US and canada. might be all bs of course!