What is the best portable media player?

[airplanez]

I am in the market for a portable player and am thinking the iPod route but can you guys give me some thoughts on what other alternatives there are? Is there something else that is awesome for the money?

Thanks.

[Jimbo]

Zune.

[Jeremy]

Was that a joke?

[Jimbo]

No, serious. Used my ZUNE more than I've used my iPod... ZUNE used twice, iPod... don't know where it went, but never.

[Jeremy]

Ha ha, never used a zune, but read a bunch o bad press, however they are MUCH less expensive on the second hand market...

[Jimbo]

I have the 80gig one... it is very user friendly; the unit and the software... but this thing is THICK.

[Jeremy]

Looks like they're coming out with a new version:

Originally Posted by Engadget

Microsoft confirms new Zunes UPDATE: Zune 3.0 coming September 16
by Nilay Patel, posted Sep 8th 2008 at 2:31PM



So much for that ta-da event tomorrow -- Microsoft just confirmed the fall Zune lineup a little earlier than planned, and it's almost exactly as leaked: capacity bumps to 120GB and 16GB, new WiFi music store, Zune 3.0 software with recommendations and pre-programmed theme channels, and two new games, Hexic and Texas Hold 'Em. Oh, and that snappy blue flash Zune we just spotted. Pricing is similarly unsurprising, seeing as we've had it for a week: the 120GB Zune is $250, while the 16GB flash model is $199 and the 8 gigger is $149. Oh well, at least we still have those new mice and webcams to look forward to tomorrow, right? Certainly nothing else is going on.

Update: The official PR is out, looks like Zune owners can look forward to the Zune 3.0 software update on September 16. Oh, and there's new Audible support as well. Rock on, rockers.

[D]

i like ipods because you can basically integrate them with anything. car, home, whatever you want. so my vote goes there if you think you will use it for anything other than a "walkman"

[Jeremy]

If I'm not mistaken, most of the ipod integration is just line-in so it would work with any device that had a line-out...

[D]

Originally Posted by Jeremy

If I'm not mistaken, most of the ipod integration is just line-in so it would work with any device that had a line-out...

i was referring to the actual "control" your ipod integration which charges, controls, displays etc. your ipod functions.

[Th4R4t]

ipod.. the way to go

[Jeremy]

Now ipod updates:

Originally Posted by Engadget

iPod nanos set to double capacity, iPod touch likely unchanged in preparation for price cuts? (updated)
by Thomas Ricker, posted Sep 9th 2008 at 10:03AM

MacRumors has some last minute leaks en-route to Tuesday's Lets Rock event. Arn's sources claim that the entire iPod lineup will be refreshed and the heavily rumored iPod nanos will make the move from 4GB/8GB capacities and 6 color choices to 8GB/16GB configurations in 9 color variations -- purple, orange, and yellow will be the new choices. Interestingly, the iPod touch will continue to be offered in 8GB/16GB/32GB choices which sets them up for the rumored price cuts we've been expecting ever since Apple kicked out the iPhone 3G for $199.

By the way, the Apple store will almost certainly be going down in the next few minutes. Consider us and yourselves, notified.

Update: Now AppleInsider has chimed in with leaks from its "longstanding sources." They cite 5 colors of iPod shuffles and an updated black and white iPod classic. Elongated iPod nanos are predicted in the same 9 colors with the inclusion of a new accelerometer to switch from portrait to landscape modes.