Creative Zen 4 GB Portable Media Player (Black) by Creative
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List Price: Category: Network Media Player See more digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of Creative Zen 4 GB Portable Media Player (Black)
Digital camera Review: A handy gadget
Summary: 4 Stars
This was my first mp3 player. I had purchased it mainly for audiobooks and talk show podcasts. This has become a tech gadget that I use daily.
I have very little patience for technology that isn't intuitive. The Creative Zen is very intuitive. The screen is easy to read. There can be up to 10 bookmarks. A handy feature for me since I often listen to multiple books and shows. It is easy to add and remove items. I've used both the software that is included and Windows Media player with no problems (I've used it with both XP and Vista platforms). The battery life is quite long. The size is perfect and easily fits in my pockets and tiny purses.
One quirky thing I've come across is that the player won't remember where you left off on a podcast if you pause the player and then turn it off (without bookmarking). However, if you simply turn the player off while it is playing, the player will pickup where you left off when you turn it back on.
The quality of video is great. I don't use the video feature much because if I want to watch a show I'd rather see it on a bigger screen. My kids love that feature though.
You can place some of your favorite photos on it as well. Again the photo quality is great.
The radio is a joke. Around here I can't pickup any stations. There must be away to tune it directly to a radio station, but that is one of the few things that I wasn't able to figure out. It has a scanner that automatically fills the presets, but it never detects anything. This could be partly because of where I live. I have a hard time getting radio stations with our regular radios. This isn't a huge deal since I download alot of stuff from the computer.
The only other thing I'd like to advise. Make sure you purchase a case. I thought the case simply a vanity thing. Then I dropped the player while it was playing. I had done this many times before. However, this last time it landed just right that a portion of the screen broke internally. It still plays, but it is difficult to read the titles. I found a deal on an 8GB one that came with a case as a bundle. You can still access all the controls with the case on and it makes the player less slippery.
Overall, this is a great player and very easy to use.
Digital camera Review: A solid video mp3 choice
Summary: 5 Stars
The Zen vision is an excellent alternative to the current generation ipod nano. It matches or surpasses the features of the nano and is a functional device. It does however have a few problems.
The video player supports more formats than the nano, including divx to watch your favorite tv shows and the like. The startling problem with the video playback is that it cannot downsize larger videos to fit the screen. If they are too big, it just refuses to play them. Luckily the conversion software works well, but it's still a big let down.
The SD card slot is something you will want to use specifically for videos and other media that you arn't relying on listening to back to back with the rest of your library. Since any songs you put on the card will not be integrated into your library for things like play all.
The FM radio is a bit weak, but it picks up the stronger stations in the area without a problem. And it's certainly better than the nano's lack of the option.
IMPORTANT: If you have itunes, you will still need to stick with your ipod and other apple products. Itunes is very specifically made to force you to buy their apple products and your protected itunes music will not play on the zen or other players.
Overall it's the best choice in it's class due to it's lower price and abundant features. It isn't the strongest video player out there due to the requirement of converting larger videos (higher resolution), but it's an excellent mp3 player.
Digital camera Review: A++ LOVE this little thing
Summary: 5 Stars
I love this mp3 player! Is very attractable and very funtional. I love the SD slot and just how you can change like everything on it. You name it... it has it...
PROS
everything...
color..
video...
interface...
etc....
CONS
you should have a case for it.. i do just so the screen doesn't get scratched...
short usb cable
Digital camera Review: AWESOME!
Summary: 5 Stars
i got the 4gb Zen cause it was so cheap, but i loved it so much, i just sold it to get either a 8 or 16 gb model! yes, i used to have the Zen Vision M, which was a great player, but Creative has come a long way and it really shows in this player. the sound quality is just as good or even better than the ZVM, but the size of the screen remains the same, while significantly slimming down the entire player to credit card size and giving you the addition of the SD/SDHC card function really gives you your moneys worth! i was able to fit 6 family guy episodes, 1 episode of House and around 240 songs onto a 2gb SD card and eventhough the card function is kept separate, it works great! you get two libraries here! amazing! a tiny, light and very sleek looking player that packs a mean punch, a lovely screen, great audio, lots of options, great battery life, bright, and very easy to use. and like other reviewers here, i agree that the buttons are a bit small and they should have made them light up like the ZVM, but those details are very minor and the pros definately outweigh the cons here.Digital camera Review: AWESOME!
Summary: 5 Stars
This product is awesome... Prior to this, I owned a microphoto-also by Creative-and was satisfied with it, but wanted something more. This player has a nice, sleek design. It plays music well, has an awesome screen display, and wonderful playback and display features. Videos are very clear. The device is simple and easy to use, and is definitely worth the price. It even has a MicroSD slot! This player rocks!