So, planning to buy a Zune HD. I know you care.

[Snoggums]

Why? Because I like them, and they're pretty and they're cheaper than iPods. I'm sick of going from cheap mp3 player to more cheap mp3 players. Time to settle down with something sexy and useful. 

So, I've decided on four different looks for one. I'm trying to figure out which one, so why not let you guys vote/critique/etc all these looks. Knowing me, I'll probably go the exact opposite of what you all suggest, but whatever. :|

Option One - It's poetic or something.
Option Two - Sexy, but no words.
Option Three - Doesn't make sense, but I like it.
Option Four - I really like the design and color. :x

Also, suggestions on color, etc? There's white, black, light blue, light purple, dark purple, light green, and red. Or you could just, you know, click here.

Thanks in advance? :x

[Cardinal]

64 GB Zune Hd - $350
160GB iPod Classic - $250

wat

Anyway, 4 by a mile.

[Snoggums]

Compared to the iTouch. Which is $300 for a 32GB. :x

[Empirical Pussy]

64 GB Zune Hd - $350
160GB iPod Classic - $250

wat

flash memory :x

1. lol zune
2. #4

Compared to the iTouch. Which is $300 for a 32GB. :x

Or $400 for a 64, which is really only $50 more than the Zune

[Fluffy Cocaine]

Okay, um. I know my typical bias when it comes to this probably invalidates my opinion, but I am not sure how good an investment that would be. Microsoft has been getting some serious investor pressure to downsize their consumer electronics department and I would not be surprised if the Zune was one of the first casualties. I would go the Sansa route personally.

[Mark]

If it matters, I'd personally support the iPod Touch over the Zune HD any day.  I'm far from an Apple fan, but I still strongly believe that the iPod Touch is the best portable media device option available right now.  At least, as long as we're factoring in price.  You could get better, but it gets very expensive at a point.  If you're talking about a Zune HD anyway, then the iPod is still within your general price range. 

Of course, it depends what you intend to do with the thing.  If you just intend to listen to music, the iPod Touch is overkill.  In that case, Freeze's suggestion of a Sansa is probably your best option.  A Zune would be overkill for that, too.  Unless you intend to watch video heavily.  I'm not sure any Sansas do that well.  Or at all.  I'm behind on those.

Also, I like option two.

iTouch

Don't ever do that again.

[Snoggums]

Eff, Mark. I didn't even realize I did that. :x

As far as Sansa goes, I got a Sansa Fuze last year and I honestly hated it. :x I left it somewhere for about a month, forgot about it, found it, realized the screen was cracked, shrugged, and went on with my life. I've played with various different Zunes, iPods, and some other device which I can't remember... anyway, point being I liked playing with the Zune, and I loved using it in general. It may be confirmation bias or whatever, but everyone who I know (and with my experience) is that it's not a bad mp3 player and it's pretty durable (which I *need*).

And since I'm sharing a Zune Pass with someone else, it'll be like a 1000x more convenient. I just like it, and I'd to have the guilty pleasure of splurging on something far more ~fancy~ and ~pricey~ than what it should be. All in all, there's a 99% chance it'll survive within my possession.

The only thing that kills me is the lack of apps, but whatever.

I honestly do appreciate the input, though. I'll look at other stuff before I actually purchase a Zune.

[Fluffy Cocaine]

Oh, I wouldn't try to convince you that they aren't great devices. I have to admit that even my huge anti-Microsoft bias doesn't prevent me from acknowledging that they are pretty neat. I just have a fear of buying something discontinued.

[Rosti LFC]

Sony have some decent cheap players too, if you don't want need more than 32GB. I'd say if you don't want much more than music then they're easily the best solution in terms of price, quality and size.

If price doesn't matter hugely, there's a fucking awesome South Korean player that kicks the crap out of everything, but I forget what it's called and can't check at work.

Also Creative, but they've gone downhill a bit recently for the more expensive models (though they'll definitely be durable)

[Snoggums]

The Sony X series and the Creative Zens are (were, for the Zens) definitely on my list. The walkmans are actually my second choice. It's really great, but the prices aren't ~that~ different, so whatever.

Not just music, LOL. Portable (tiny) video would make a very happy me. And again, the Zune Pass, which is only DRM  , so I figure it'll will work better with a Zune.

[Rosti LFC]

Or you could just forget about the Zune Pass and not waste your time and money on it. I mean, I could be wrong, but from looking at it Spotify Premium would be a better option if you're going to pay the money.

Also this was the thing I was talking about and couldn't remember:
http://www.advancedmp3players.co.uk/shop/MP3_Players.1/Cowon_iAudio.15/COWONJ3-32GB-/Cowon_J3_32GB_MP3_Player.4380.html

[Snoggums]

That's incredibly sexy. :x

[Rosti LFC]

The 32GB one is apparently $300 USD, the 16GB one is $240. And it supports MicroSD cards to expand the memory too.

[Snoggums]

Screw it all, I might just buy a used one off of KSL. :x

[Jake]

Or you could just forget about the Zune Pass and not waste your time and money on it. I mean, I could be wrong, but from looking at it Spotify Premium would be a better option if you're going to pay the money.

Also this was the thing I was talking about and couldn't remember:
http://www.advancedmp3players.co.uk/shop/MP3_Players.1/Cowon_iAudio.15/COWONJ3-32GB-/Cowon_J3_32GB_MP3_Player.4380.html

My friend has that.  It's pretty solid for music and video except my thinking behind it is yes it has flash, yes it has a bunch of other stuff but it doesn't have the apps or wifi that the Ipod Touch does.  Really if it got down to that or an ipod touch or zune, I would take the Ipod Touch for sure.

[Alex]

Cowon's Chinese, I believe.

But yeah, I had a smaller Cowon player and the sound quality is incredible. I've been told the iAudio series is incredible all around.

[Empirical Pussy]

Cowon is generally fantastic (the best?) for sound quality, apparently.

[Rosti LFC]

Cowon's Chinese, I believe.

Their website disagrees.

[Alex]

Yeah, you're totally right. That's weird, I wonder why I thought they were Chinese.

[Snoggums]

If I can find a used Cowon mp3 player on KSL, I'll consider it...