Apple iPod Classic vs Microsoft Zune 80

• The Contenders
• Navigation
• Sexiness
• Compatibility
• Sound and science
• Wallet factor
• The winner is...

Round 4: Sound and science

The technical stuff

Microsoft Zune 80

Let's talk about sound quality, build quality, bonus features, battery life, and any other wonders of science. Is the Zune's Wi-Fi feature all it's cracked up to be? Will the iPod's battery life leave the Zune in the dust?

Player	Jasmine	Donald	Josh	Total
Microsoft Zune 80	4 Grr...why get rid of the EQ!? Still, the Zune offers excellent sound quality, and the Wi-Fi feature is neat, though I'm more taken with the FM radio (antiquated, I know) and its RDS support.	4 You have to hand it to the Zune 80 for treading where the iPod fears to go: FM radio; built-in video output; subscription music; wireless sync; and a big, glass-covered screen. Unfortunately the Zune's below-average battery life and lack of sound enhancement make it imperfect.	4 Zune impresses with a built-in FM tuner, wireless sync, and a really great-sounding player. Where it falls short is the usefulness of the Wi-Fi in other situations (such as trading songs), and the lack of bonus features such as timers, mass storage, and mediocre battery life compared to the competition.	12
Apple iPod Classic	3 The Classic sounds good and offers some basic EQ settings. Plus, it has excellent battery life, but I'd personally rather have an FM tuner and support for subscription music.	4 You can't go wrong with the Classic. Unfortunately, Apple's alliance with third-party accessory manufacturers means we'll never see an FM radio or a scratch-resistant screen. EQ settings and extras such as the calendar and alarm are handy to have, however, and the iPod Classic's battery life is astounding.	4 The new system software packs a punch with a handful of new features such as multiple timers and alarms, along with a more detailed breakdown of how storage is being used. The only bummer is the lag when going from menu to menu, as well as the lost compatibility with the much-hyped last generation of iPod games that won't play on the new hardware.	11

Winner: Microsoft Zune 80