I've had both and hands down studded tires are better for winter. For those that disagree you are fooling yourselves and buying into marketing. I like to be able to stop, take off and corner better with studs. They are safer for myself and everyone else on the road. When it is icy studs can make the difference of driving a safe vehicle compared to one that is marginally under control, holding up traffic, and causing other drivers to experience road rage because the studless vehicle sits and spins at a light or slides through an intersection or off a corner. 

I recall 20 some years ago when Johnson tire was pushing light weight aluminum studs as being better for preserving roads, etc. They were absolute junk. Run them on pavement for a little bit during the winter and the studs rapidly wore out. They should have been ashamed for pushing those junk studded tires onto consumers.

My studs will be going back on as soon as the roads have a good layer of snow and ice and winter has arrived.