The Other Option

iPodded Out? Could it be true? iPod this, iPod that, is there another alternative? The iPod has a serious challenger as of a few days ago. As you may or may not know, Microsoft has its own version of the iPod called the Zune. Many people have never even heard of it because it is not near as popular as the world famous iPod. Maybe it's because Microsoft can't match Apple's excellent features for the iPod, or maybe it's because Microsoft just hasn't done a great job with advertising. It's all going to change now. People are going crazy about Microsoft latest Zune, just released on the 15^th of September; a revolutionary device that has Steve Jobs back to the drawing board: The Zune HD.

Screen

Type: OLED

Size: 3.3 in

Resolution: 480 pixels x 272 pixels

iPod type: LED

iPod Size: 3.5 in

iPod resolution: 480 pixels x 320 pixels

This is one of the newest, and most sought for, features to come out on a portable device. An OLED screen, without getting into all the "techy" details, is a new type of screen that is thinner, brighter, and has higher contrast and more battery life. Basically it means it's an awesome screen compared to regular screens. Worth noting though is that the iPod has a screen .2 inches bigger and it has a better resolution. So it might not be an OLED, but technically speaking it is better, so it all depends on your taste. Do you like a brighter longer screen or a bigger sharper screen?

Size and weight

Size: 52.7 mm x 102.1 mm x 8.9 mm

Weight: 2.6 ounces

iPod size: 61.8 mm x 110 mm x 8.5 mm

iPod weight: 4.05 ounces

Now this is an interesting feature. The Zune has less width and height than the iPod, hence the smaller screen, and is ½ a millimeter thicker, but it is half as heavy. The iPod weighs in at 4.05 ounces while the Zune comes in at an astounding 2.6 ounces! This is because of the new OLED screen that doesn't need a backlight. Again, it's up to you to decide- a little smaller and thicker, or super light?

Capacity

Available sizes: 16 or 32 GB

Available iPod sizes: 8, 32, or 64 GB

If you haven't already heard, Apple did away with the 16 GB and brought down the 32 GB to the same price of the 16 GB. Another exciting change is that Apple introduced the new 64 GB iPod. The Zune doesn't have an 8 GB at all, which is good because it's only a few bucks more than the 8GB iPod and double the capacity. Many people don't have that many songs so they buy the lowest available size possible and to start off with 16 GB isn't bad. On the other hand, many people have a lot of songs and they need the 64 GB size to hold all of their stuff. That's one downside, but I wouldn't be surprised if within the next year they release a 64 GB version.

Price

16 GB Zune: $229

32 GB Zune: $289

8 GB iPod: $199

32 GB iPod: $299

64 GB iPod: $399

Yes, they are a bit pricey if you haven't ever bought one before (better start saving up). One thing very interesting though is that the 16GB Zune is more than the 8GB iPod. Microsoft has made sure that the prices are better when in comparison to the iPods. But yet again, it all goes down to how much you're willing to spend.

Other

The Zune HD is mainly advertised for it High-Def capabilities. Beware though, the screen is too small to play HD content, but it can playback HD video to an HD screen when connected with the right adapter bought from the Microsoft store. Many people didn't like the fact that you couldn't personalize the iPod touch, but when you order it from the Zune store online, you can add designs and colors.

The iPod has dominated the media industry for the last decade, but Microsoft might be able to catch up with its competition with their new innovative ideas.

If you are interested in buying a Zune HD, then check out Valerie Ferrari's article, Zune HD 16GB Digital Media Player - Best Price, to find out where to get good deals.