Ive been deciding if i should get an ipod mini or zen micro? what do you guys think?

This has been on around here many times.
Here is a tip.
If you want style and ease of use, get iPod min.(Though I personally like Zen Micro's looks better
If you want better functions, get a Zen Micro.

Can the Zen Micro make use of smart playlists? Can it make playlists on the device? Can it read audiobooks?

i can create playlists on the go. personally i think my zen micro is better looking than an ipod mini.

which is smaller, side by side comparsion shots anywhere?

Zen Micro

I don't think Zen Micro supports Audible, but yet Zen Micro supports more formats.

The zen is a bit thicker but shorter too.

My vote goes to the Zen Micro.

I have one, excellent player. I can't fault it!


5GB Capacity Against 4GB
Better Battery Life
Smaller, easier to hold.
Not a fashion Accessary
Easy to use.

I'd recommend this over a iPod Mini ANYDAY!

The zen has a 2 dollar case that comes with mints! An Altoids tin

zen micro all the way

my wife wants one @@!!/$/"/"$%/"

I'd recommend the iPod mini. It's compatible with smart playlists from iTunes, supports Audible, the interface is better (and Creative tried to copy it as well as they could), and the click-wheel is much better than that...touch strip?

it simply has to be the Rio Carbon
the Zen Micro looks & feels like really cheap plastic

Stop with the ignorant comments.

The Verticle touchpad is excellent and a cheap plastic case?

Have you ever held one?

I suggest you go to your nearest store and try one out.

i was holding one yesterday in MediaMarkt - it looked and felt like cheap plastic, so the ignorance is yours brother

I love my iPod mini and its better than the Zen over stuff like ease of use, looks, and size, but 1 more GB of music makes the Micro much better. Until they make the 5 GB mini, I would buy the Micro.

If you wait abit longer thou, you can get a 5 GB ipod mini!

Well I agree to disagree then

Id highly recommend the Zen Micro over the iPod or Rio.

Of course this is my opinion and your welcome to yours.

I guess, the topic starter would have to go to a store and try all 3 to make his/her mind up.

the area in which the Micro wins is surely the ability to replace the battery - now why can't other manufacturers get going with this level of support...

Could you give me how you found out that 5GB iPod mini is coming out?
I don't think so.
In my belief, 1GB does not make much difference. I would still buy the Zen Micro if it were 4GB. It is great, you know. I love the super-futuristic looks of it when it lits the blue LED lights from inside and just looks very sleek and feels VERY comfortable in your hands. If you knew, I owned an iPod mini but returned the same day because I did not like it. It took me a week to buy a Zen Micro, because everywhere else was sold out. But yes, the choice could differ from person to person.
Here is a review between iPod mini and Zen Micro.
http://www.monsternet.org/features/zenmicr...dmini/index.php


iPod mini






iPod Mini
What's good - Classic Apple minimalist design
- Simple navigation
- Fast transfer
- Works as removable drive without any additional steps
- Mac and PC compatible
- Sleek metallic finish
- Click Wheel eliminates need for seperate buttons
What's bad - Over-simplified interface lacks advanced functions
- No custom EQ
- Battery life still needs to be improved
- Non-removable battery
- Low resolution LCD is disappointing

Creative Zen Micro








Zen Micro
What's good
- Improved interface
- Ingenious combination of simple and complex interface
- 5GB, 25% more than iPod Mini
- Small, curvy design fits in the hand
- Sounds great, plus 5-band custom EQ to make your music sound just the way you want
- Higher resolution LCD display makes text easier on the eyes
- FM tuner & recording
- Voice recording
- Longer battery life
What's bad
- Slow, slow transfer
- Removable drive feature requires partitioning and enabled before connected to PC
- A lot of features seem copied from iPod
- Buggy software that causes both Media Explorer and Zen Micro to hang
- Too much hype

Information given from MonsterNet.Org

Well I think this clears it. Read it, and pick your choice

well i still cant make up my mind... should i wait for the iriver h10? or maybe the zen micro photo? zen micro? ipod mini?
TOO MANY CHOICES!!!
help me guys!!!

oh yea btw the pics arnt working

I've got to tell you that you HAVE to go see it in person if you can't make up your mind.
I'd get H10 over Zen Micro Photo, but Zen Micro over iPod mini.
If you want photo-functioning HDD player, get H10, or if you want just a HDD player than Zen Micro. (Just my opinion)

ones id go for (in order)
zen micro
iriver h10
ipod mini
zen
dell dj

So.. there's such a thing as expensive plastic? How does that work.... plastic is plastic.

No, but some people associate plastic with cheapness, including me. The iPod mini is made out of Aluminum, which is associated with higher quality than plastic.

the minis aluminum looks cheap. its just a wrapper around it. it looks ugly IMO. you have to hold it in your hand to see it.

What were you expecting, a solid Aluminum bar with no place for electronics?

LOL
Well yeah that's what you should expect so that high-respected brand like Apple can make something like that

I am right now. It's a pretty thick piece of aluminum. My iPod mini has been dropped from about 4 feet three times now on hard cement. Still works like a charm besides some minor nicks in the aluminum. Oh, and the vertical touch pad has one major flaw: you have to pick up your finger, place it at the top, and start moving down again. Certainly not as easy as the simple circular motion used on the click wheel.

I've compared sound quality and I can't really notice a difference. Many people can't. Some people just get so nitpicky with devices these days that they compare things that they don't even use.

Yup that is true. You cannot scroll continuously with the vertical touchpad. To me it is only minor. I'm pretty used to it and the touchpad is PRETTY sensitive on the Zen Micro. I can scroll halfway by just flicking my thumb once on the pad. When I use my friend's iPod i always miss the song because I'm used to ZM and iPod is more uncomfortable. So through this I think this only matters on which player you play.
Also on the player cover part, yes, iPod may be built stronger, but who WOULD want to drop their players? I mean, if you love it, do you not think that you would actually be more careful? I think dropping your player has to do more with your carelessness than the actual players.
Well that's my opinion. Don't troll though please.

powerbook...

No an electronic that IS a solid aluminum bar

The vertical Pad certainly isn't as good as the iPods wheel. (Who can reinvent the wheel anyways!?) But Creative has certainly done a great job catching up. The interface on the Micro just looks too iPod wannabe.

I must agree with you though on the sound quality. A lot of people are I know bought iRivers because they say it has better specs in the Audio compare with the iPod but when I ask them none can compare the difference.

I hate it when people deliberately don't by the iPod because they think its too much of an trendy accessory and by something 'just to be different'. Its like getting a Mac 'just to be different'. Its just as dumb as someone getting an iPod just to be cool.

Having said that thought, right now, I would get a Micro simply because of the fact it has more storage space. If design matters then the iPod mini, most people can agree its sleeker. When I first saw the Micro I thought it looked fairly decent but at further inspection, it didn't look as good in pictures. The iPod is easier to use as well. Who knows, if you wait a while, there might be a 5 GB iPod mini.

If there was a poll i would vote for the ipod, build quality, style and ease of use wins it for me.
And yes i have tried both so kiss my ass flamers,

If you did not know, that kind of interface came out WAY before iPod came out.

The fact the Zen Micro can natively play WMA is a bonus but I do prefer the iPod range of products.

Wasn't the interface changed a bit when they came out with the Micro? My friends Zen Extra had a similar interface e but not one that was what I would call wannabe iPod.

If anything, iPod copied Creative's interface. Not that it matters though, whatever works... stick with it.

Justify this...

It was discussed in that huge iPod vs. Creative thread. Also, just take a look at the early Zens. The interface is slightly different... nothing revolutionary from the Zen's interface.

well i got a zen micro and i guess they are still some with the extra battery and its awsome so far i just need some tips on some of the features and which are the best... and do i need to update anyhting?
thanks guys

Hello the Nomad Series was launched Before apple even came out with the IMac so stop the Ipod wannabe remarks and check you history for gods sake. and about the interfaces i don't know if you noticed but there standardize now so they all basiclly have the same menu system except a few "features" you may or may not like

You DON'T have to upgrade but there are new firmwares that you can upgrade.

I have yet to see a Zen Micro in stores. After reading the comparision someone posted the Micro looks very cool and a lot more powerful than the mini.

It is

http://www.mp3.com/iPod+Mini+vs.+Zen+Micro/stories/1149.html

mp3.com has done a "battle" against the two player. pretty good comparison... i also like the winner lol

iPod Mini unless you want to spend your time trying to play around with the super-sensitive Zen Micro to get to where you want to go - Music, Options, Calendar etc.

dL

Buddy, it's Creative that copied iPod.

dL

I've never had a problem with the sensitivity on the Zen Micro.

Ummm hey... can you support that?
Because obviously I can that Creative is the pioneer of the typical interface that most of HDD players have.

i personally agree with the article and its a good battle.