Creative Zen 4 GB Portable Media Player (Black)

I wanted to give this a 5/5 stars so bad, and I almost did. But a few things stopped me.

Pros:
Black finish is very slick, but, just like my old Zen, I've heard they scratch very easily. I ordered the silicone case with the wire management.
Great screen. Watching videos and looking at pictures is just as good as looking at them or watching them on your computer. I'm sure it scratches easily as well.
Small. Could be a bad thing for some. Much smaller compared to my old Zen Vision: M.
Syncs right up with Windows Media Player11. Works with Macs too I think...
SD card slot. I don't use it, but it's there.
8 EQ presets, or you can set it yourself.

Cons:
No "Hold" switch. 'Might seem worthless to some, but good if you like to work with it outside and it's annoying as heck to have buttons getting inadvertently pressed. Plus, the hold switch on the old Zen turned off the screen to preserve battery power.
No video out, if you want to watch on the big screen
USB cable is 4 inches long! Rediculous!

So far, it has worked as it should, but it's only been a few days. It did freeze up once while I was syncing. If anything happens, I'll update...

I've had my Creative Zen for about 3 months and have never had any issues with it except that when I plug in my SD card with tons of music on it, the titles appear really strangely. The music still plays alright, though.

It is the perfect size to fit in a pocket and pull out whenever you need.

Please note, though, that creative has recently come out with a new Mp3 model, and I've heard it's pretty sweet.

bought this for my cousin for christmas. feels sturdy in your hand. controls are easy. videos are sharp. has fm radio.4g at the price. buy it

I currently own both an iPod Classic (or iPod Video) and an iPod Shuffle. I was disappointed to find out that iPods do not support WMA-DRM (i.e. some Audiobook subscriptions) and purchased this for that purpose.

1. It supports audiobook subscriptions in all formats, and not just mp3 like the iPods do .. which means that I can download and listen to books from sites like netlibrary.com without any problems.

2. It includes a microphone to records notes, an FM Radio, an alarm clock, and all kinds of other features that are not found on Apple products. For example, the FM Radio remote will cost you an extra $50 and it ONLY works with the iPod Classic and Nano.

3. It's adorable, has a great screen, and has some quick and easy controls on it. It took a second to get familiar with it and to me, the pulldown is one of the best parts.

4. It Bookmarks up to ten locations .. so in two seconds I can mark my spot in an audionbook, even while it's actively playing. This was one of few mp3 players that included this option and was the reason I chose it over the other brands. It sure beats trying to remember where you were!

5. It has an SD card slot, so while you may buy the 2, 4, 8, 16, etc gig mp3 player it's expandable based on the size of an SD card that you add to it. That I love!!


The only things I am not crazy about are:

1. The software is a bit clunky, but after 2 seconds you figure it out and life is good. If I recall, iTunes took a minute to get used to as well.

2. The screen does not turn off after playing so long, it only dims, although it does dim quite a bit. I just like to listen to audiobooks while going to bed and so I have learned to turn it over.



All in all, after being an iPod fan for years I'll have to say that I may never go back. It's a great little device, both in design and usage, and instead of getting 'just the basics' the Apple gives you, this comes loaded to play or do so many things that they can't. By not paying for the Apple logo you save a lot money (especially because of the expandability of the player) and get three times the mp3 player!!

This is a good player, especially if you like FM radio. That's a nice touch, which Apple seems to have forgotten. :)

Sounds great, video is great. Plays mp3 files. What more do you want? The only thing I wish is something that worked with iTunes, which is why I have an iPod.