[Mema J]

I have been through 5 iPods since they came out. They break so easily and are overall really unreliable. Plus, they're pretty pricey for me, a high school senior making minimum wage. I have been told that the Zen is better than the iPod, and I'm thinking of switching. I don't need anything flashy, it just needs to be straight forward and easy to use, and it needs to have a lot of space for all my music. But I know NOTHING about the Zen. So I have a few questions for experienced users. 1. I'm using a Mac. Is the Zen compatible with OS X/iTunes?2. How much is the 30GB Zen (I have tons of music so I need something that can hold a lot of songs)3. What accessories come with the Zen? How much would it be to add speakers, a connector for my car, etc.?4. Any additional information? Personal opinions? Thanks!

[Sarah G]

i have an ipod, and i have used a zen. the only thing i thought was annoying is how you select songs on the zen.i don't think the zen is able to use itunes.

[Ryan H]

The Zens are pretty sturdy pieces of equipment. They are also a lot cheaper than even a 4 GB iPod Nano. A 30 GB Zen costs on average, $249.99. My brother purchased an iPod Nano with 4 GB for this price. The Zen can also play movies and more. The Zen can play 14 hours of music straight with the battery life, or if you prefer, 4 hours of movies. The Zen also has a built-in FM tuner with 32 preset radio stations. It is a much better buy than the iPod.

[mconder]

Answer to 1) The Zen will not work with iTunes, or any of your iTunes music. It will however play any of your existing MP3s. I don't use a MAC, but I think it is compatible.Answer 2) The Zen Vision:M retails for $250, but can be had cheaper online.Answer 3) The Zen comes with a USB cable & charger. You can buy both OEM and third party accessories, though you will find there is a lot less options than with iPod. Answer 4) I think one of the biggest reasons for getting the Zen over the ipod is subscription music services like rhapsody, Urge, and Napster. For a monthly fee you can listen to virtually anything. The Zen has a far better display, FM radio, and voice recorder. The Zen also has better nattery life. iPod sucks.

[Ginger Y]

I came across this site that gives you a free iPod in exchange for you completing a few simple tasks for them. I'm gonna try it out right now! :)

www.ipodder.info