The MP3 personal music player market has been fiercely dominated by the Apple iPod since its debut in 2001. Apple's entry into the MP3 player market wasn't the first MP3 player made available, but ever since its inception, the term iPod has become synonymous with the term mp3 player. Users have embraced the iPod for its sleek design, seamless integration with both Mac and PC's, and the user-friendly functionality of the device. A smaller market share has always been devoted to other mp3 players as well. Rio, Sansa, and other mp3 manufacturers have also cultivated a loyal following of users but none so much as the Apple iPod. However, in 2006 Microsoft - the powerhouse corporation that made Windows a household name across the world - entered the mp3 market with the Zune.
Criticism abounded about the Zune before it even debuted. Some said that the device was too large, too unsightly, or didn’t have enough storage capacity. However, many of these critics had forgotten that this was only Microsoft’s first effort into the industry and had big plans for subsequent models to become available. Additionally, Microsoft has all-but-swept the gaming console market since it debuted with its immensely popular Xbox and subsequently more powerful Xbox 360. So the software giant was clearly not going to be satisfied being an “also ran” in the race to manufacture an innovative and popular mp3 player. So when the Zune was finally released just in time for Christmas 2006, audiophiles and technophiles quickly grabbed them up, if for nothing else than to compare the Zune to the almighty iPod. Who came out the successor?
The most obvious question when comparing the two would be “Who can use them?” Since an mp3 player that is incompatible with the owner’s choice of computer is about as useful as a paperweight, this is an obvious consideration. While the iPod has always been compatible with both Mac and PC, the Zune is only compatible with Windows. Score one for the iPod.
Zune proponents always point to the Zune’s larger screen, which they say will be better for viewing videos. While the Zune’s screen is, indeed, larger at 3” (the latest iPods have a 2.5” screen) the resolution is exactly the same. What this means is that there is still the same number of tiny dots that broadcast colors onto the screen on both the iPod and the Zune. So while the iPod has a smaller, crisper screen the Zune will have a larger and markedly more pixilated viewer. Score two for the iPod.
Next, the question comes about capacity. The Zune debuted with a 30 gigabyte capacity player. While the iPod also has a 30 gigabyte capacity player, its flagship player has no less than 80 gigabytes of storage space. While the prices of the two players are not compatible, the fact remains that if you have over 30 gigabytes worth of music and want to carry it all, you probably won’t be looking at the Zune. Score three for the iPod.
It’s no secret that many mp3 player users are interested in (legally, of course) downloading music directly from the internet. Apple’s iTunes store has, literally, millions of available songs and videos for download. However, Microsoft has launched its service that allows as much downloading as you want for a monthly fee. So while Apple has a positive for having more downloadable media, those that don’t wish to pay for every single download will probably favor the Zune. This one is a wash.
Finally, ever since it came out, critics of the iPod have pointed out a very obvious lack of an FM tuner. iPod enthusiasts have countered that with the large available storage capacity of the iPod means that there is little, if any, need for an FM tuner. However, most will agree that it’s nice to have and so Microsoft has included one in their line of Zunes since their debut. Score one for the Zune.
So the final tally is 3 to 1 with the iPod coming out on top. However, this should be no surprise to fans of the iPod and even fans of the Zune. If Microsoft wanted to seriously compete with the iPod, then it would have addressed these issues from the start instead of implementing other features that next-to-no one would be able to use right from the start, such as its Zune-to-Zune file sharing capability. So the iPod rules for a little longer, at least until Microsoft works out the kinks of its dismally-released Zune.
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