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December 4, 2008 6:21 AM PST

Prizefight: iPod Classic vs. Zune 120

by Donald Bell

Photo of Zune MP3 player next to iPod Classic.

When two MP3 titans go head-to-head, only artsy black and white photos can do the moment justice.

(Credit: Donald Bell/CNET Networks)

Last year, our prizefight between the original iPod Classic and Zune 80 ended in the most upsetting verdict imaginable--a tie. I still get e-mails from disgruntled fanboys on both sides of the debate, claiming the fight was rigged. I assure you, it was not.

This year, as we pit the second-generation iPod Classic against the Zune 120, I can assure you of another thing...in this prizefight, only one MP3 player comes out alive.

Will the iPod repeat the domination we witnessed in Nano vs. Zune 16, or will the Zune catch a break?

To find out, read CNET's five-round, no-holds, no-mercy, iPod Classic vs. Zune 120 Prizefight.

Donald Bell is CNET Reviews' senior editor for MP3 players and portable audio, and one half of the MP3 Insider blog and weekly podcast. He also likes getting his hands dirty with digital audio tools for musicians and DJs.
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by Super2online December 4, 2008 6:43 AM PST
I hate to spoil the party by telling everyone the Zune won prior to your readers viewing the article but it's nice to see the experts finally stand up and acknowledge that the Zune MP3 players are a superior product.
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by tipoo_ December 4, 2008 9:05 AM PST
i noticed you guys are still calling the Zune 120 "3rd generatiion", which is incorrect. Microsoft even told amazon.com to change the name to 2nd generation, since its just an update to the 80. the third generation zune hasnt been released yet.
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by calculatorwatch December 4, 2008 7:09 PM PST
That's wierd, really it should just be the Zune 120, but the 80 gb was generally called the 2nd generation since they didn't change the name from the 30gb so I guess they're saying that the 80 and 120 are the same generation, or just trying to forget the 30gb all together since it pretty much failed, haha
Either way the software is 3.0 so it is kinda confusing.

Btw, I'm glad the zune won, the 80gb fight should've ended the same way but it's always tougher for the newcomer, funny thing is since the 80gb zune gets the 3.0 software for free and the 80gb ipod classic software is undeniably worse than the 120gb i guess the zune wins the 80gb prizefight too now.
by yipcanjo December 4, 2008 9:14 AM PST
Thanks for the prizefight, but I have to respectfully "disagree" with the Round 3: Compatibility results. I can understand knocking the Zune down a notch because it doesn't support DRM-infested tracks from iTunes, but how about the iPod's lack-of-support for WMA or WMV? Honestly, the format has been around long enough and is an entirely legit platform that Apple has neglected. Atleast call Round 3 a "draw" or give a single point advantage to the iPod.

http://www.zunescene.com/comparison/

Clearly the Zune should've been the outright Prizefight winner.
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by zip22 December 4, 2008 2:05 PM PST
Did you read the comments with the scores? The zune was marked down because its windows only, doesn't have support from any software other than zune, doesn't have nearly the accessory support of the ipod, and has a smaller available catalog.
by StuXU December 4, 2008 10:11 AM PST
I totally disagree with the results. I think many of the features of Zune are unnecessary. If you want FM radio then why do you have an MP3 player? Why would I want to listen to radio that will not necessarily play all the music I like, when I have an mp3 player with music I want to listen too. And if you want talk radio download a podcast. There aren't enough Zunes around to make multiplayer game useful. The only reason the Zune won is because of useless features. As a pure MP3 player, iPod wins due to compatibility with PC and Mac, the wealth of accessories available, and navigation. Zune is just gimicky.
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by rapier1 December 4, 2008 8:59 PM PST
Why would you want radio if you have a radio? Hoabout things like say - listening to news, traffic, NPR, sports, college stations, and the like? Sure, there are a lot fo shows available as podcasts *but* you generally have to wait until after the boradcast to get the podcast. Maybe these things aren't important to you but they do matter to some of us.
by ecolinv December 6, 2008 7:47 PM PST
None of the Zune features are gimmicky...like rapier1 pointed out about the radio, for example. The wireless option is useful and, well, at least it's an option. And it's not just that the Zune has a radio, it's the ability to tag songs for download later from the radio (RDS). Subscription is much better than 99 cents a song. Yes, the Ipod has the edge on PC and Mac compatibility and with accessories but no way on the navigation. You have to try the navigation on the Zune side by side with the iPod to see how much better the nav on the Zune really is.
by ecolinv December 6, 2008 7:51 PM PST
Also, navigation with a huge library (this is why one would buy a large capacity hard drive player) is a deal making/breaking feature. The Zune wins this.
by markbn December 4, 2008 1:46 PM PST
@StuXU
So you are saying that it's better to have a "sexier" player instead of one that is more capable? What a nonsense really. I could understand if the Zune were totally horrible, but it's not, sorry. Sexiness should not had been qualified. In that case, Zune would have also kicked iPod's butt.
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by StuXU December 5, 2008 6:22 AM PST
I guess it all depends on how you look at it. If more capable means windows only and a limited catalog with less battary life so you can add gimicky features that doesn't have the support of other companies with accessories then go with the Zune then . I can get radio anywhere I would want to get radio. In the car, on my computer and home etc. iPod is the best pure MP3 player.
by markbn December 11, 2008 4:58 PM PST
@StuXU

Gimmick would be the utterly useless "sexiness" from the iPod. Accessories? There are plenty for Zune. I am not sure which one you miss so much. Yep, you can get radio anywhere, but it's a pain to carry multiple devices. Better is to have everything integrated. And what about sound quality? Shouldn't that be on the top of every other feature in a media player?? Guess what, Zune is better than iPod in that respect too.

So, there you have, iPod is gimmicky and inferior to Zune. Live with that.
by immortalxskill January 30, 2009 11:47 AM PST
If you have to get a Zune (underground favorite)then get the 8 or 16 gig because the interface looks better and the zune pad operates smoothly. The 120 zune looks like an imitation of the smaller ones. When youre just into music and youre & outtatha house the 8 and 16 gigs are perfectly portable. The 120 gig zune is not that great .. yeah it has a big screen but its not as well rounded as the ipod 120 for the same price(when it comes to battery life, an array of eq's that can match zune, and genius playlist for the coach potatoes and drivers out there!). The irony of the zune pad is perpetual lack of precision as your music and video library grows larger ( for the 120).
No one wants to flick the pad 40 times to get Spoon! From First hand XP I know the clickwheel is better under pressure.

Welter weight Champion is the Zune 16gig!

Heavy weight Champion is still the Ipod 120 gig classic!
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MP3 Insider is a blog and weekly podcast created by CNET's MP3 technology experts, Donald Bell and Jasmine France. Each week, Jasmine and Donald discuss the latest digital music (and video) news, hardware, software, and media services, and address reader calls and e-mail. Send us e-mail at mp3insider@cnet.com or call us at 1-800-720-CNET (2638) and be a part of the show.

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Donald Bell Donald Bell is an electronic musician, a veteran record store employee, and a fearless hardware hacker. He's also CNET's Senior Editor for MP3 and digital audio.
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