What is up, people! First off, Happy Mother’s Day to all you mothers out there. You aren’t MY MOM (Or let me latch on like that panther cub with that dog. Awwww) so I am honestly not concerned with your life and/or kids but hey: just like it doesn’t take skill to make a baby it takes infinite skill to be a parent. If you do it and do it right then big ups. If not…thank you for raising the next lil’ whore or mass murderer. BURN!
I kid, I kid. Happy Mother’s Day and whatnot. Someone has to have the duty of giving us more kids to not get social security. Man, I am just TOO MUCH! Whoooo!
It has been a VERY SHORT weekend with half of it being spent at work and the other half spent at a rave. Which….was filled with fricking minors. I mean, I haven’t been to a rave in about…five years (I think?) but I never remembered so many teenagers being at a rave. I guess the drugs wear off and you have to get real jobs. Naaaah. So aside from Mother’s Day and Speed Racer (More on that later) I got my Zune on Thursday night and I must say that it is a rather mixed bag.
As you ALL KNOW I have had a read hatred of Apple for a long time. Well, not really Apple as much as its smug, hybrid car driving, goatee sporting, tree hugging hipster/bro fuck fanbase. Your system is based off the fact you have to be a fucktard to use it. One button? Wow, you must be fucking retarded to think that makes life on a computer easier for you. Fuckwit. Anyway, I digress. The fact is that I got a Zune for the pure fact or replacing my iPod and in the end it eventually will. Not yet, I tell you what. So now, it is time for the first ever…
Chachi’s Consumer Report!
Today’s Match-Up: The Zune vs the iPod!
Matchup #1: Music
First off, let me tell you about what I hated about the Zune. You all know how many times I threatened to kill everyone and their fucking children whenever iTunes crashed my computer or tried to make itself the default for EVERYTHING but there was one thing I never gave it credit for: in-software audio conversion. You see, for those of you that don’t get what I mean an iPod only plays AAC music files. But all of your files are in MP3 format, right (Some of you may have FLAC’s or APE files but you are just wasting your hard drive space IMHO)? No problem, iTunes converts it for you on the fly (Or just accepts it automatically depending on the version you have). That means you can have your files anywhere (Back-up hard drive, separate folders, connected storage, desktop, etc) and just drag and drop because it also SYNCS your files on the fly. Although the software fights with Microsoft like Jews and Arabs over the last piece of fish, it made it very easy to update your iPod and roll out.
The Zune however….doesn’t do ANY OF THAT. It will sync your files, but you have to attach the Zune software to the ACTUAL DRIVE that it is in. Now cast aside my paranoia about Microsoft trying to check on what music I have (It doesn’t read kanji so I am good so far) I don’t want to have to sync my 190GB of music (Yes, you read that right. I have had this music collection since dial-up in 1998) to my Zune software because they are either worried about copyright problems or haven’t figured out how to do a fucking playlist feature correctly because I have heard the original software wasn’t a fan favorite, either. The iTunes software, as much as it didn’t work, crashed or just flat out wouldn’t sync with my iPod (I was pushing a 40GB iPod Photo that clashed like a champ with the new iTunes and prompted me to look at a Zune anyway) it was highly intuitive and actually accidently made itself a great piece of software by being unable to sync with MP3’s effectively and converting on the fly. One for the iPod.
The Winnah: iPod!
Matchup #2: Video
Well, after using an iPod video for a while and tinkering with my Zune for the last two days I must say that the Zune wins this argument hands down. First off, the Zune supports WMV and H.264 (Which is what you will see the majority of anime and videos saved in now) which is awesome because the software to convert DivX to H.264 or WMV is free, baby! It also plays MP4/MPEG-4 just like the iPod video so that puts a HUGE feather in the hat of the Zune. The iPod video only plays MPEG-4 format and you can convert AVI & MPEG’s but it takes FOR-FUCKING-EVER and even then the quality is downgraded. Combine that with the Zune’s larger screen (Unless you get the iPod Touch and then you are fucked because at only 8Gb you get three movies on there and you are wasting your time) and easier software to add on to the player and you have an easy win for the Zune. Which is weird because the rules that apply for music are alot more annoying than the ones for the video. Oh, and the iPod Video screen LICKS ASS.
The Winnah: Zune!
Matchup #3: Sound
Now the Zune got rid of the EQ feature as a battery saver for more emphasis on the Wi-Fi aspect of the player. Which I haven’t used yet but I don’t know anyone aside Joe with a Zune so my options are limited. By dropping the EQ it forced the player to perform sound-wise, on the 80GB at least, at its maximum. I am talking 5.1 surround sound on an MP3 PLAYER! It is bad ass! Also, the ear-buds are digital quality ear phones! Compare that to the iPod which even Apple has stated that they sacrifice the sound for other aspects like….looking pretty? Seriously, even at half volume on high end headphones the iPod hisses like a cat being used to cheese. The Zune, even maxed out, was hiss free and even found a way to direct different sounds in different channels as I watched Final Fantasy Advent Children on my Zune. BTW….FUCK YES. IN FUCKING WIDESCREEN, BITCHES! Sephiroth OWNS YOU.
The Winnah: Zune!
Matchup #4: Interface
Now the iTunes interface is basic as all hell which I actually like because I have no need for bells and whistles. The Zune interface on the other hand….hell’s no. If you are trying to add on music it is cumbersome and FUCKING IMPOSSIBLE because it is constantly syncing to your drive rather than what is on the player. That makes it run slow as shit if like me you have a lot of music. Now imputing CD’s is a hell of a lot easier than the iPod which just wouldn’t do it at all. Seriously, I got ONE CD to load on my iPod in the four or so years I have had it. Just annoying to no end. Now what the iPod rules in with the iTunes interface it takes a step back with the player interface. On the older versions it is as bland as all hell and the new interface is pretty much like the iPhone which means TEH SUCK! The touch interface SOUNDS like a good idea until you use it. I still believe that Apple is trying to make up for the Newton every time they implement a touch interface.
Seriously, just stop. The Zune’s interface is stylish and aside from the minor problem of fast-forwarding video (I hope a patch will come for using the Zune Wheel to scan forward and backward) it actually is easier to navigate than the iPod Video and the iPod Touch. Shocker to me, too.
The Winnah: Zune!
Matchup #5: Software
Ugh…where do I even start? The Zune software doesn’t TOTALLY suck ass. But it does give one HELL of a rim job. The navigation of music is utter and complete shit. After about three hours I was literally ready to send it back due to it being damn near unusable. Now iTunes, despite the fact of it only working 60% of the time was very easy to use and every easy to navigate. Putting music on your iPod was simple, but putting video on it was a bitch and a half. The Zune software should be there for putting on VIDEO ONLY and Windows Media Player should be used for the playlists. That would rule but what do I know; I am only a consumer. For what it is worth, when iTunes was WORKING, it was excellent and one of the few programs Apple made that I feel was worth the use.
The Winnah: iPod!
So by a 3-2 margin (Could have been a 4-1 margin if not for that SHITTY ASS SOFTWARE)…
The Overall Winnah: THE ZUNE!
Now the Zune is not perfect and the Zune is NOT for everyone. It has major problems, mostly that of the software. The iPod had major problems, mostly being the fact that the iPod rarely works. So at the end of the day if you are looking for a switch the Zune is a great product but only if you have a lot of video or are ready to tackle the sheer amount of music you have. If you are comfortable and happy with the iPod, I see no reason for anyone to switch. Aside from the fact its EVIL:
I kid, I am still going to use mine for the time being. But once I get my Zune set up the way I want it, it is bye-bye to the iPod.
So it is time for the second week of Chachi’s Summer of Cinema as I bring you this week’s installment of…
MASTER CHIEF CAPTAIN CHACHI GOES HOLLYWOOD!!
This Week’s Movie: Speed Racer!
So Zach and I also saw “Speed Racer” on Friday and all I can say is that….it was really long. About 30 minutes too long. After seeing the multiple orgasm that was “Iron Man” this movie was a huge letdown. Now it wasn’t BAD but it just didn’t stand out. It would have been an awesome movie in March or at the end of this summer (late August or September) but as a movie following “Iron Man” and before “Prince Caspian?” Not a good move as the movie was just above average to start off with. It is worth the watch for the races but the kid needed to DIE (You know, comic relief is just that: relief from the action or drama? The kid and the monkey were annoying and took away from the movie) and the plot was the best they could do with a movie about a racing spy (Was he a spy? I don’t even remember…) so if you want a mid-day movie check it out. I give it what I expected…
6.5 Out of 10 Stars!
(It had its faults but most movies do. It was WAY too long for what it needed to be and the comedy was not placed very well. However, the action was great and Bi was FUCKING AWESOME! He needs to work on his English, but so does Nicholas Cage so there. Check it out for a fun time but not worth $8.50)
Well, that is all for now. Short weekend and all. However, the government gives me my cash (FINALLY after about three delays) and it is Denver this Saturday so if anyone is down to ride, I am letting you know in advance. I will try to be back up on Tuesday or Wednesday with a long awaited rant about something that is a LONG TIME COMING. Until then, stay up peeps.
Chachi Out.
