Creative Zen 4 GB MP3 Player (Black)

Manufacturer: Creative Labs Availability: Usually ships in 2 to 5 weeks List Price:$129.99 Our Price:$89.98 Features: Enjoy all your media on a device that's about the width of a credit card Watch 16 hours of videos, enjoy up to 1,000 of your favorite songs or share hundreds of photos with your friends 2.5-inch TFT color display with 320 x 240-pixel resolution and support for up to 16.7 million colors Clock and alarm function, volume restriction, eight equalizer settings, and a USB hard drive mode Weighs 2.1 ounces and measures 3.26 x 2.16 x .44 inches (W x H x D) Description: caption {police force-family: Verdana, neue helvetica, Arial, footing; police force-size: 10px; police force-weight: "bold"; police force-model: italic; } ul.indent {list-model: interior disc; text-notch: 20px; } bring your media with you everywhere where you wander with the creative player of Zen 4GB. Observe 16 hours of videos, appreciate up to 1.000 of your preferred songs or hundreds of share of photographs with your friends. And do to it all on a device which is about the width of a chart of credit rating. A posting pointed 2.5-inch of razor makes your photographs and videos to come to the life. See Zen in detail. Small size. Large devices. All in the palm of your hand. Larger sight. Add much more capacity storage by the intermediary of the card slot of standard deviation. Look at larger. Conceive the sports of Zen a color screen of 2.5-inch TFT with 320 resolutions of X 240-pixel and support them for up to 16.7 million colors. This pointed posting of razor is packed up in a device which weighs just 2.1 ounces and measurements 3.26 X 2.16 inches of 44 of X (W X. X D). The powers of battery intern Zen for up to 25 hours of continuous audio playback and up to five hours of continuous visual playback. Employ the slit of the standard deviation of Zen to increase your portable library of media with the music, the photographs and the videos stored on your chart of standard deviation. There is also a handy microphone integrated for the notes of tightening on the outward journey. The devices charge to the top top your preferred songs, like your art of album, and obtain active with Zen. ITunes of supports of device more of the ways of the store of iTunes and the ways of MP3 and WMA. The subscription and pay-by-download services of music are supported, as well. Discover, to save, and million set of songs while subscribing to the services such as the unlimited music of Yahoo and Napster to go. You can even grant in your stations preferred with the radio operator of the FM of Zen. The radio enables you to save up to 34 presettings. Zen covered you when it comes to the video, too. The device supports MJPEG, WMV9 and -- with transcribing -- MPEG1 and 2, MPEG4-SP, DivX 4 and 5, and XviD. Appreciate bought films and the exposures of TV of the services on line, such as the Amazon Unbox and Walmart.com. Observe the videos at the house. Charge even your Tivo to go from films and the TV shows on your Zen. The auxiliary attachments include a function of clock and alarm, the restriction of volume, eight arrangements of equalizer, and a mode of hard drive of USB, which enables you to trail and drop from the files directly to and from your Zen. Zen can also function as handy organizer, enabling you to synchronize with Microsoft Outlook and to show your contacts, calendar, and charges. What is in the player of Zen of box, the ear-phones, the cable of USB 2.0, CD of installation, and the fast guide of beginning. A user interface smoothes makes him a rupture to appreciate your media.

Reviews:

Great player for the $$
We bought this during our 8 old years and he likes it (had we it for approximately 3 wks now)! ! It is easy to employ and proved to be the level of quality that others wrote approximately. We gave him of the four had with the need to convert the videos. We have already many films torn to the bottom to 320 X with 240 for our PDA in the format of WMV. However, the player needs always which they pass by their utility of conversion which comes with him. That takes approximately 30 minutes per film to do this.


Great hardware, useless software
Worked very well, until the automatic update successfully updated the software packages which now gave me a brick. It will not ignite and will not be seen any more by the computer via the USB. Did not make him two weeks. It is the second and last creative MP3 which I bought unless the service with the customers improved since last year where they did not do anything. I remember when creative had large products and the best support. Now I just do not feel a this way. Clinton disappointed.


Love This Zen!
This is the 3rd Creative Zen type MP3 player in my family. I love the product and the extra memory card is a great feature. My pictures look great on it and my music is very easy to find. This is one of the more versatile products of the Zen line since it has the swapable memory card and it works with iTunes files. I love the Creative products and even talked a friend into getting one.


Don't even try it.
After Zen spend 2 hours downloading constantly increasingly software on my top of office, it not even let me transfer a simple song from itunes to him. Sure, it indicates that it is possible, but after days and days of the test to convert this and to download that, I just gave upwards. A GREAT money wasting.


it doesn't auto advance folders!
the ok thus me had this during one day up to now, and more or less I like it except a very important fact for me!!!... the unit not automatic anticipated albums of music? what gives? I have also well really a vision W and that one functions the fine right, the car advances albums of music aucuns problems and advance them manually as well well to you on the little Zen apparently débarassé itself of this device maintaining then as it can not be an enormous exit for some that it is an ENORMOUS exit for me word you have only some songs of a given artist, well the player stops after it played these songs. it would owe right automatic feed with the next album available but with him doesn' different T then that the fact very annoying it functions the juice like the vision W made in nautical terms of the player the OH and for me when I installed the software on my system that that took for always installing against the software I installed for the vision W Zen little also, seemed to have installed the useless software like good just put the manual mode by installing the software to recapitulate, if you are like me and need the automatic device anticipated for albums of music then do not obtain this for me I think that I will go


Perfect!
This product was EXACTLY what i was looking for and wanting in a MP3 player!


Got What I Wanted
I like Zen. It is my first player mp3 and I probably took the too long search for manner and to review of my options. I have owe only given it once, I believe who was the first night when I obtained it and I think that it was my defect. I do not have really any complaint, I like this fact that it has a card slot of standard deviation. 4gb is abundance of space for me. It is small and sexy. The chicks dig its size of chart of credit rating. Some of my roomates bought after they saw and played with mine. It is very easy to employ and stripped of I even charged the software has on my computer. I just employ media of Windows and click and trail. Sometimes I feel that the buttons are cheap but to obtain the surplus which I listen to just the music and thinks of the price that I payed for it and it was a flight... $89.


Love it - Great value
I had this Zen 4GB approximately during 3 weeks and AM very satisfied with him. It is approximately 2/3 of the prices of the same Ipod capacity and has the auxiliary attachments: - a larger screen - FM radio - card slot of standard deviation I charged 2 integral films on a chart of standard deviation 2GB as well as several videos of music of YouTube by using the format of AVI. Did not need to employ the creative software and they play the very nice line of the chart and always have 1GB on the left on a chart of standard deviation 2GB. I observed films on miniature LCDs before (a palm Treo, Nano of Ipod...) and this screen slightly larger on Zen makes a substantial difference in viewing. While you observe always only films on a screen of 2.5", it is larger


Another satisfied Creative Labs customer
I've had my Zen for about a month and love it! It's even motivated me to run the stairs every day at lunch. First off I've had two other Creative Labs MP3 players (MUVOs) so I'm familiar with the product name. Before I even received my Zen I bought a screen protector, skin, armband, AC and car charger package from a third party vendor for a great price. I also got a cassette adaptor for playing music in the car (the FM transmitter sucks). When I got my Zen I put on a pair of latex gloves, wiped the screen and put the "protection" on. It looks great. The software is very easy to use but I used it AND Windows Media Player to download music. First I had to clean up my music and video files on my computer. After that- piece of cake. I found a free program online where I can download YouTube videos and put them on my Zen in two simple steps. This probably is no big secret to you cognizanti, but it's great to know I can watch those stupid farting videos over and over wherever I am with my Zen. The earbuds are marginal so I got a better pair. Both audio and video qualities are EXCELLENT!!! Battery life is very good. I've had to reset my player once due to my own fault. Otherwise my Creative Zen has performed superbly. Even better value now that the price is cheaper than when I bought it. Oh well -


Love It!
I obtained this mp3 for my birthday and I like it absolutely. It shows the song which you listen to and the artist and exposures a peak of the cover of album. The large devices and me let us like that I can add more music by using a chart of standard deviation, although I cannot imagine to need more gig of 4 unless I become suddenly a DJ. I charged more than 1300 songs on this bad lot and always have above a gig space. Other owners of this player had the problem which the screen freezes upwards, statement it stops. I had in bottom of which the when I turned first time him on but me have advanced and let the battery function thus it would cross, charged him with help, and it was perfect since. I like it. Ah, and besides, if you need a large FM transmitter for your car go for play 300 of radio of monster. Incredible!


Zen! better than APple
Its a great product! Uses SD RAM that is realtively cheap! Battery life is very good! only complaint is that I downloaded lots of MP4 video and it has to be converted to the ZEn MP4 format! other than that! great little device


Choose Wisely
After much research, here's how I categorized the features of a mp3 player to find a potential match. Just check which of these are important to you and compare against specs and ratings for the players at the top of the list

*AUDIO*
-- Sound quality: max. bitrate, EQ functions, sound effects (surround, studio, movie etc) earphone quality
-- Navigation: Access by title, artist, genre, year, highest rated or playlist
-- Formats: Support for multiple formats like mp3, WMA, AAC, DRM support
-- Ability to Rate songs
-- Playlist support incl. On-The-Go playlists
-- Shuffle: Random, intelligent (same year, same genre etc)
-- Software: Drag & Drop ability, reliance on custom software (e.g. iTunes), ease of use, DRM restrictions, ease of buying or downloading, ease of conversion from other formats
-- Audiobooks: Ability to return to bookmark and support for popular formats like Audible.com


*PHOTOS & VIDEO*
-- Has/Has Not: In other words - do you need support for photos or not?
-- Screen: size, colors, display
-- Software: Drag & Drop or custom conversion software & ease of conversion
-- Orientation switch: support for landscape and portrait layout switching

*FUNCTIONS*
-- Clock + Alarm: Has or has not.
-- Organizer: Outlook support?
-- Contacts: Syncing with Outlook etc
-- Voice Recorder: Ability to record sound. Quality and max. bitrate supported.
-- FM Radio: Digital tuner & ability to record from FM
-- Line-In recording: Support for recording from any source (cassette player, turn-table) as long as you can plug into line-in.

*FINALLY*
-- Storage: Capacity in GB. Flash or HDD based
-- Battery life: How long on one charge? USB charging or DC adaptor? Standard USB port or custom port?
-- Colors & Aesthetics: Does it look good to you?
-- Form factor: Size, proportions, thinness (fitness for purpose - like gym, office, car etc)
-- Accessories: Availability & cost
-- Build Quality: I highly recommend walking into a store to hold one in your hands
-- Tactile feel: Are the buttons right for you?
-- Reviews & ratings

The Creative Zen met my considerations on this list. But I also own a Sony Walkman NWZ-A816 which excels at some other considerations like sound quality, form factor etc. Happy hunting!


hopefully this comment will help you
I was always in between buying ipod nano or this product. I also made an extensive research about mp3 players. finally my decision narrowed by observations on finding something that can help me to play video files. Creative plays the most extensive video files.In addition here is a radio. moreover here is the voice recorder whic is completely useful for me and good quality.The control panel for me functionns very well.I read some reviews that people thought that this control panel made it seem cheap. For me it is vise versa. I did not like even ipod touch. because inorder to operate or change the songs you need to see the screen. whit creATIVE i can memorize and change or operate the player whle it is in my pocket withour seeing its screen. it is cheaper than ipod nano and moreover it has more specifications than that. Ok here is the sound quality, it is just great. if you are so sensitive to sound quality my advice buy a good head phone. its original heasd phones are good. i tried sony headphones which costs $9.99 quality dropped but it is because of the headphones. Just relax and enjoy. here is a negative part I WISH IT COULD RUN BY BATTERIES SO THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE A COMPUTER WITH A USB.



the ZEN
With obtained this for my husband. Really fresh... about the size of a chart of credit rating, slips thus easily into a pocket. It really likes it! Very easy to employ, add the music, the PEAKS, the videos, etc... Very (very) clear resolution! ! Large product!


Very satisfied.
I bought this player with far from a retailer of third on the Amazon. I recieved hanging it 3 days after the order, and paid approximately $90 it, which was very reasonable in my opinion. This player is very that it is split until is and more. For: Very clear and luminous screen. I have mine on the glare of 20% and it is right fine easy installation of the impeccable conversion of software of the not-constant visual formats. Extensible with a chart of standard deviations, which are cheap like dirtiness nowadays. The quality of music is excellent. The visual playback strikes, for a so small screen. Can employ the contents of the iTunes behind (it has even a button on its software of management which indicates that "obtain the music of the itunes") will not rayera easily because it is plastic hard. YOU CAN REMOVE THE SUBSTANCE OF THE PLAYER WITHOUT CONNECTING IT TO THE!!!!!! OF SOFTWARE I like this device, because the software employed to put the music on the player organizes the music by the name of author, thus I obtained some additional and nondesired songs starting from my computer by accident. I was exalté to discover that I could just remove them of the player, rather than must hang it to the top, find the song, and remove it. The radio is clear out of crystal and sweeps automatically for the stations which enter well, then the place as your presettings, with the push of a button. Price. Try to find another player who has 4 gigaoctets more the expansibility, the visual capacity, a large screen, and a good interface for the 100 dollars below new. Configuration of menu. You have the capacity to configure the principal menu, with a degree. Things which are normally submenus can be placed directly on the principal menu, and can choose you to hide things on the principal menu which you wish to employ much, like the recorder (these things neither are not added nor reduce the total experiment of user) the neutral system of menu could be better, and is somewhat comparable with the system of ipod, where there are the regulated fragments and then secondary menu, the menus secondary-secondaries, etc. principal. It is easy to obtain again with the principal menu with some pushes of the back button. The configuration is a nice contact. Moreover, it is easy to create playlists, and navigation is a breeze, as you can match by the album, artist, or go just to all the songs, tighten the right arrow once to go to the alphabetical mode of movement (to insert goes from the beginning of A at the beginning of B, etc.)So this is almost a pro, but not completely. The recorder does not have greatest quality, but you can easily say what you say I when you play it behind, and I did not buy this for the recorder in any event. It is basically right an additional allowance for me. Against: The placement of jack of ear-phone is terrible, for me at least. It is in the corner higher right, where I like to put my hand to hold it, and it is exact in the manner of the manner that I would prefer to hold it. The software of media is a little awkward because of the media of other sources is shown under the name of artists in a shirt, which can carry out to confusion when you open the shirt and see the name of album, and the name is the same album which is below seven different artists as well. It is only awkward if you have albums with A medly artists, however. Conclusion: The quantity of blow for your male that you leave this player is incomparable with very other I saw. I would say that if you make place your heart on a ipod, suit you to seek straws in this player, and the small things will worry you. However, as somebody who employed ipods and itunes found to be irritating sometimes, and to found ipods to be over-estimated strongly, it is the player for you. If you have your onn by heart regulated a ipod, drop the males from the additional expenses 50 on a nono, the third GEN. But you will be absent outside above much.


Great price good looks and high quality
I had to it my Zen for some had much month by now.I' ve players mp3 and also of players video/mp3. So that the resistance of scratch is large the rapid starts in rise the quality of screen is above the system considering average menu of the prices is easy to appear out against exceptional of audio/mp3 the extensible quality of memory of no work removeable of battery and of doesnt with the reason of itunes I like it more: I use it video of the Amazon Unbox with my Zen and that functions large with the unbox. Very easy for same a beginner to obtain new exposures or that which you like of the Amazon. I gave upwards on itunes a long ago, thus it matter of doesnt if Zen the slope is employed with itunes, however, a good number of people always think that the itunes is good and they will have to buy a iPod full revelation: You can check my reviews, I were accustomed to buying iPods but there is me carried out during some time two things. 1. They are over-estimated manner and limited the functionality and 2. which you must treat of the itunes. I now passed and very happy AM. I do not hate apple or the products of apple, just found better players to buy.


pretty good media player for the price
After having made shopping around a little, I finally balanced the account for this player and happy AM I... am pretty much for you not going to beat it for the price. For: clear posting crunching and, the durable battery, the memory of expandable/removable (thanks to the card slot of standard deviation), the noise, small crunching and thin but not * too much * small and thin, vigorous (already dropped him some times and supported to him well), attractive, the software package is logical and easy to direct it against: the recent updates caused this player with (obviously) are not more compatible with Linux, the visual converter is buggy (not too much an exit while I prefer to manually convert my videos in any event and converter changes all into wma - I prefer the xvid), the coating on the screen is rather soft and I have right lucky summer in the fact that I do not have any scratch on top


I love this player
I had the creator Zen during two weeks and I always like it. It is easy to transfer the music and the synchro to the top of the player. It is easy to direct the menus through. The life of battery is good as well. The only thing that I do not like is that you must be recorded in order to tear your own CDs.


Lots of features for the money!!!
I had my Zen 4Gb during approximately two weeks now and I was very impressed of him. I was skeptic initially because of various failures which I would read approximately. However, the only problem that I had up to now is that that takes sometimes a couple of thorough on the button "Marche/Arrêt" to obtain the unit to advance. Other that that, he is been a large player. I secured myself and installed the software on my computer of XP before attaching the player, is who what the instructions indicate to you to make. After lethaving let it invoice a couple of the hours, I started to charge my music and other files. Up to now, the software of Zen was large. By using the software, you can charge the music, images, it video and perspective of synchro your comes into contact, class and load in a simple stage. I was astounded with at which simple point it was. One of the principal reasons I bought this unit above Sony which I wanted to obtain stays because it synchro with prospects. Now, I can carry all my contacts and their telephone numbers, email address and addresses of medical examination on my player m3. How convenient! I continue to hope that this player will function well. As a long time as that continues, I strongly recommend this player. For the money, I do not think that there is something which will touch it. And besides, I bought mine with far from the creative site because it did not have 30 days a free policy of test and any forwarding costs.


Not much longevity!
After three months of an intermittent utility, start to the top the screen remained white when the device energized. All the basic suggestions of knowledge tested and new software packages installed in vain. SanDisk Sansa e280 much more reliable and is only approximately $25 more more receive you the double the memory (8 gigaoctets against. 4 GIGAOCTETS). The attention advised when considering Zen 4 gigaoctets like service with the customers practically nonexisting, difficult to obtain in contact with by the intermediary of the telephone (placed on the eternal catch by the responder) and the Web site asking for the authorization of RMA difficult to negotiate. Update February 6, 2007 after having thereafter obtained a number of RMA of creator and to have embarked the device for repair with a prolonged letter included by describing the problem of the white screen, the device was turned over to me in same condition except all my music had been removed and the music of demonstration installed. I took it out of the box, lit it and conjectures it what: a white screen. I called the service with the customers and chose to await a person of phase (29 minutes) and explained the problem. By instruction of the technology of service, filmware reloaded, lit with far and, connected and dismounted starting from the computer all in vain -- still white screen. Thereafter the support of technology indicated that I could embark it behind and they would write a note in the file with the new RMA -- will wait to see whether creative simply again sends it to me. Picosecond: New number of service to the customers: 405-742-6655. I quote: "if you always encounter any difficulty or problem, the pleae come into contact with our technical support to 405.742.6655." This sentence was in the letter included with the defective unit when they returned it me.


Absolutely love my Zen!
I selected the Creative Zen for its versatility, and I have not been disappointed. With a bit of a struggle when I first received this product (instructions are very basic and not comprehensive), I quickly learned how to load music, videos and my calendar and list of contacts. The sound on it is amazing for such a small device, and the options make it easily personalized. The best part is that it has the SD slot to expand memory, so unlike many MP3 players, when your player is full and can't hold any more, you have the SD card option. Videos and pictures have excellent clarity, and this device is about the size of a credit card, only a little bit thicker. I would highly recommend a Creative Zen to anyone.


Creative Zen 4GB
I bought this player mp3 for me during the holidays. I had had a creative product in the past (of the 30 gigaoctets Zen Xtra) and was satisfied with him. He had an order lasts in him which left thereafter after several years a heavy utility. Since then I had the practice a beating of Ipod to fill space (not a very good replacement). Creative Zen adapts my needs perfectly. The player of 30 gigaoctets which I employed with the proven use to be surpuissant. I filled it of tons of files which I would never listen just because I had space. This meant the alot jumping while trying to scramble all the songs and fact him difficult to direct by menus to choose something interesting to listen. To have the beating of Ipod incited me to hope on my portable computer for the storage of music and I started to employ the player right to carry songs which I wanted to listen to (a much better system for me). Creative Zen 4GB is an excellent size for this type of application. I currently have 813 songs on top - more than asse' with the end enters the sessions of mooring. The additional advantage of a card slot of standard deviation means that the memory is extensible if I never need it. I am also incredibly impressed devices in this product at this price. To seem of viewer of video/picture excellent and the menus (software packages and the manager) intuitive and are thought outside. I am in the software and a little a snob of menu. Creator did an excellent work here. In a general way, it is excellent produced. My only dissappointment is that I could find accessories in no retail store to the detail in my sector. A store (the best purchase) ceased carrying the creative players mp3 and now offers players only of Ipod and Zune (and one some refuse, disposable players). if you want to buy accessories like skins, etc... You will have to reach them here the Amazon.


Great product for the price but with several shortcomings
I bought Zen 4gb almost two weeks ago and I had pleasure to be used it for the video music, it and the images. For the price, it is a flight, particularly with an add-on card of standard deviation. Unfortunately, a few days ago, the switch "Marche/Arrêt" broke. It obtained way or of other thorough towards the internal part of the player and I cannot "jump it" supports. Fact Zen of seeming kind of good market. I made ronchonner some other. * It is not easy to direct the library of media using only one hand (worse still if you are left-handed). * It is also a challenge to direct the library of media in the darkness (for example in the bed before going to sleep) * which the software is terrible compared to the iTunes. You must employ various programs to convert and to add podcasts * I did not find any manner easy to add a playlist (m3u) to Zen I noted that Winamp could do this after installation of the portable support of media plugin. * only some divx, files visual of wmv functions and there is not an enormous choice on the Internet, in opposition to the iPod.


It Froze!
It was a really nice player. I used for about 3 weeks and it worked fine. But then one day I tried turning it off and it froze. I reset it and whenever I tried to turn it off again it froze. And it froze when I tried to use it. I ended up returning it.

I don't think I did anything wrong that would cause it to freeze. I was sure to follow all the directions.


returned
I opened up the package, saw how cheap it was, and packed it back up and returned it.


Great MP3, Just Needs Better Volume
I've always been a fan of the Zen and Creative Labs products. I'm glad that this mp3 is small enough to fit in my wallet and can play movies downloaded from Amazon and Walmart (well not Walmart anymore - which was disappointing). I'm anxious to see if I can purchase movies from ITune and play them on my zen. The 4GB was a good first MP3 for my 13 year old son. He was excited because he knows he can use a SD card for additional storage. As for me, I was excited to see the 32GB was finally in stock at Creative Labs. I have so much music and I'm not one to be transporting several SD Cards - one will be enough). My only complaint is that the volume does not get that loud. It's not as loud as the buckier Zen I have and I compared it to the volume of a friend's IPOD and it wasn't that great. There was a problem that the firmware corrected where the Zen 4, 8 and 16 GB players would only play the first song of an album and with 4 seconds left it would stop playing. You would then need to manually make the player go to the next song. I spoke to customer service at Creative Lab and they told me to download the latest firmware. It corrected this issue and I was very happy. I'm looking forward to Creative Lab coming out with a portable docking station with speakers for the Zen like they have for IPOD.


ZEN MP3 Review
Creative Zen 4 GB (Black)

I believe this is the first edition and that later versions may have been perfected. (I find out know.) It's good to use for the gym. I like the fact that I can delete a song directly from the player. (My son's iPod cannot do this.) However, it has stopped working several times and had to be reset. This is an inconvenience to say the least. The clock doesn't keep correct time. I don't plan my day by it so I can live with that. Over all it's a great deal for the price. Beats a bulky CD player and more versatile than an armband radio.


Creative outdoes themselves
I got this for my wife and I have to say that I was tempted to keep it for myself...or at least get my own. Don't get me wrong, my Zune is great, but Creative have really outdone themselves this time around. So much to the point that I'm thinking of switching over.

In the past I owned a Zen Microphoto and loved it. I ended up passing it down to my brother and it's really taken some hard use and abuse and still works perfectly. I never thought they would top that player and to tell you the truth, I've always kinda regretted letting it go.

When I got wind of this player, late last Summer, I just couldn't wait to see what they had done this time out. I was really intrigued by the size and the very fact that it would be replacing the Zen Vision M. That was another amazing player so my expectations just grew and grew. Like I was saying, this model is replacing the hard-drive Zen Vision M altogether with several different models (4,8, and 16 gig) of the new flash based Zen. As soon as you get it out of the box, the first thing you will notice is how solid it feels in your hand and how it's just the right size. Once you get the software up and going (seemless) and get some tracks on it, you will be amazed at the sound quality that comes through the included earbuds. (as with all other Creative players, you really don't even have to install the software if you don't want too.) It also seems like they've packed this player with every feature imaginable. There's an equalizer, a voice recorder, am/fm tuner, and most importantly, there's a SD slot for memory expansion which should be a big selling-point for many. Awesome. The video playback on the 2.5 inch screen is gorgeous and the ability to store album art is a big plus. Oh, and I love the interface. Needless to say, this was a gift that was kinda tough to give.

Seriously, I can't think one single complaint with this player. I know I'll soon be getting one for myself. You're really getting a lot for your money here. If the nano just doesn't do it for you, then you may want to consider the Zen. It's a way better value, and anyway you cut it, it really beats having to mess with itunes.


Great Mini Gizmo
Got it for my grandaughter because I am so happy with my 60 Gig Zen M and my son is so tickled with his 30 Gig Zen M. Obviously, there is less "storage" space on it, but heck, it holds plenty of songs, takes an SD (sandisk) for photos or extra storage, and connects to FM Radio. It's super thin, too. My son loaded for her, just as easy as I loaded mine. She is happier than a pig in doo doo (which means that we are ALL happy too--because an unhappy 15 year old teenage girl is not a good thing. I mean, you just don't wanna go there).


Very easy to use.
I read other reviews and based my buying information on these reviews. Very happy AM with my purchase. Easy to employ and include/understand the instructions.


great while it lasted
Very easy to use, the videos look great. Screen went black after 2 weeks. I should have bought Ipod nano.


Put a little ZEN in your life



Creative Zen for Podcasts
I mainly use my Zen for Podcasts. Overall, it does an excellent job and I thoroughly enjoy it for this purpose. I previously had a Samsung touch screen MP3 player. The controls on this device were extremely frustrating because of the lack of tactile feedback and the poor design of the navigation scheme. The navigation scheme on the Zen, in contrast, is very intuitive. However, I do have some concerns with the Zen for Podcasting:

(1) I am having trouble getting the book marking feature to work. I would like to be able to pause a Podcast, listen to music (or perhaps a "lighter" Podcast) for a while, and then jump back to where I left off in the Podcast. I can't figure out how to do this.

(2) When I pause the Zen for even a relatively brief time it will shut down, thus requiring a re-boot. This is inconvenient as I find that it is often necessary to pause listening to a Podcast, and I enjoy many Podcasts so much that I don't want to miss even a single word. (When the Zen shuts off by itself during a pause, it is not easy to get it to re-start in the Podcast where it left off at the time of shutdown, so you don't want to make the mistake of having this happen.)

(3) The text description of the Podcast is shown more completely than was the situation with my Samsung MP3 player, which is a huge advantage. If the text description is long, the Zen will scroll the text across the screen (right to left). However, the scroll speed is too slow. If I need to jump through the descriptions of the various Podcasts on my player to find one of interest, it is irritating to have to wait for the scrolling to finish showing the entire description. In fact, the screen dims after a short period of time to save battery life. (The time to dim can be set in the configuration system.) Often, the screen will dim before the scrolling is finished. I can't read the text on the dimmed screen, adding to the frustration level. This problem could be solved if there was a way to set the Zen to display all of the MP3 metadata on a single screen during the process of clicking through all of the Podcasts. This would allow the user to quickly identify the details of a particular Podcast. I'm sure that Creative could update the firmware to serve this function. In fact, I would love for MP3 manufacturers to provide an option for a full metadata display. At the moment, there isn't a universal scheme for populating the metadata fields for Podcasts. Therefore, what any individual MP3 player displays from the metadata is variable (and sometimes inadequate.

(4) As noted by many reviewers, boot time on this device is a bit too slow. Also, shut-down is not instantaneous. Since I need to shut down the unit every time I want to pause (e.g., if my wife wants to ask a question), I find the delay for boot-up and shut-down to be irritating. You should realize that the player will start-up in your Podcast exactly where the shut-down occurred, which obviously is a necessity if you are going to use shut-down to pause. As noted, if you let the Zen shut itself down during a pause, you may have difficulty getting back to the exact spot where you paused when the you re-boot.

So, in sum, this is a superb MP3 player for Podcasts. However, it isn't perfect. Bookmarking may work, but I haven't figured out how to use this feature yet. And, having to shut-down and re-boot constantly is an irritation.

Finally, battery life is pretty darn good: I routinly take my Zen on transcontinental air flights and I find the battery lasts all of the way in one direction. But don't forget to re-charge at your destination! You may not make it back on the same charge.


Creative Labs Customer support 1-405-742-6622
I'd love to rave about this gorgeous little gadget and tell you it met every expectation I was seduced into by their website. But I can't. Not only can I not get my brand spanking new Zen off of "Recovery Mode" screen, I just wasted a HUGE chunk of my life trying to locate the phone number of the much touted "Complimentary phone support." Hint: It's nowhere on any printed matter or website by Creative. So, just between me and you and Google and every other review site I can post this on: The customer support phone number for Creative Labs, Creative Zen, is 1-405-742-6622. creative, zen, support, phone number, 14057426622, 1 405 742 6622, 1-405-742-6622


4 1/2 stars! Near perfect compact multi-media device.
I had 10 well known devices. Far and new Zen is best the best. Nonperfect, but so narrow. For - the noise is excellent (quality of sound especially. Zen marks 5/5.) - excellent visual quality (quality of image astounding 5/5.) - Size/Weight counters devices (small power station 5/5 of A.) - devices (equalizer, clock, sleeptimer, etc... 5/5) - Extensible (the charts of standard deviation up to 16 gigaoctets supported 5/5.) - design (thus well presented. Almost functional with closed eyes! 5/5) - Not-of patent rights (plays each kind of file or of converted with one that it.) (moreover, the software included is good but nonnecessary! Dredge


Love it!
Small size, excellent performance, and great extra features. The only thing I might change would be to improve the interface software. But you don't have to use the Creative software if you don't wish to.


Very Neat Little Device
I very much like this player.
To help other people decide if they want to buy one, I present my 4 problems with it.

1) The screen smudges really easily

2) Some of the software that is on the CD is crap, and comes with advertisements. Gay. If you are installing the drivers for XP with the CD, just check "Creative Zen", don't choose "Audible" or whatever the other checkbox is, and make sure to check Add/Remove programs to make sure it hasn't installed anything you aren't aware of.

3) It does freeze up if you are syncing with Windows Media Player occasionally. This can be fixed with finding something to poke the tucked-away reset button, which just restarts the mp3 player and doesn't erase settings or music.

4) The control pad is nowhere near as comfortable feeling as an iPod's touch wheel.

Other than those complaints, you get everything that you paid for served on a silver platter. Very cool little device.

On a side note, the Linux kernel and most modern distributions don't seem to have a package that supports transferring media to the ZEN, although a team is working on something to do that, (libmtp - library for media transfer protocol), many mp3 players use the MTP protocol, including the ZEN, and the ZEN isn't supported AT THE MOMENT.
So pretty much, if you are a linux user, you're stuck with using Windows XP or Vista to put media on the ZEN.


Works Great for me
It was a gift for my gf for Christmas and it was very placed on having Ipod. I made research and spoke with some friends as well and it proved that Ipod was not very that it was split until is. This player serves it is goal and is very smooth in him is design. I reccomend this above any player mp3 because it is very smooth, easy to employ and multipurpose. I would also suggest advancing with Zen the clear case the clear covers of screen. A small price to maintain this thing nice and ordinate for years to come. Oh and the greatest part. My girl friend was made quiver gift and loves it much. She was happy sooooo I obtained it for her and not a ipod.


Sleek
Crunching and clear music. Same with videos. Like the device of chart of standard deviation. Easy to direct. Only the disadvantage are the buttons of VOR. Little too small. Very easy to tighten two of them immediately. But after having obtained used with him I control very well. Wouldnt upwards give it for this only reason.


Good player Very Bad Customer Service
This Zen is a player very good when that functioned which was more than 3 months. The screen is simply white now where you light it. Creator seems not to have any telephone number of service to the customers to call, you must the E-mail return the product. By beginning this process that I found outside ZEN has only one guarantee and that of work at day 90 to obtain it checked to find the problem it cost $25. Knowing this now I will probably buy products of APPLE though I like how Zens functions, this type of guarantee is unacceptable for me.


Great player with Great display
I Loved the Zen at first sight. I was surprised by how clear and crisp the imaging was. Whats also great was that my last MP3's volume didn't get so high, i don't have the same problem with the Zen. I love the fact that i can take pics on my camera or video and then put the memory card right into my zen and view what i just took... Im very happy with my Zen... I would buy it again and i actually bought one for my girlfriend.


Love it!
This is great! Works perfect, easy to use, and I would highly recommend it! I love it!


Jen's Zen
I bought creative Zen (4 gigaoctets) for my daughter for Christmas. She says that he is simply large and she likes it.


This could benefit from a video out... but that's probably too much already.
I had mine during almost a month now and up to now that always functions as made him the day when I opened the box. I have some words to say: HAPPY WITH: 1. The life of battery is very good! The longest that I employed it acoustic straight is approximately 16 hours perhaps more. It was lit while I slept, I kept it on all the way to work and while working, before I would have returned house, it always played. Another day, I observed a couple of films during a length turn before it died out. 2. The whole thing seems more vigorous than the Nano one of iPod. But I still pay attention not to drop it on hard surfaces. 3. Syncs fast; the easiest WMP crossing. I like the fact that it uses the standard USB. 4. The FM tuner is large when I am sick among that which I downloaded and I left starting from my computer. MOST OF THE TIME MEDDLESOME: 1. The video and the images seem good, but the colors like "are not coloured" in opposition to observing them on a monitor. I do not know if there is a problem with my device, or it is right the manner that it is, or there is something badly with my eyes. But the color is the only problem concerning the screen... for me, the screen is rather large and the image is rather pointed that I can read subtitles included. 2. As it is especially matched with the packed up earbuds, surround those and connect ditches a decent pair (the earbuds of the sansa of my mom had a better noise...) 3. I had the occasion to examine the microphone a few weeks ago and I think that I bring this one when the second quarter starts so that I could record the conferences. 4. I had had some problems with films of DivX/XviD coded in 24bit colours... the audio beginnings to trail behind after approximately 20 minutes. 5. Packed up fixed problem of the aforementioned coder. Although it codes with a step of tortoise, it does the work... I put just in 2 or 3 films with converted before I sleep and when I awake, they am made! I hope just that they would release an update which will enable him to play of the videos above 320x240 so that conversion is not most of the time necessary. 6. I knew that I should have the 16G one... I always miss space, deciding what to remove to make place for next film. The good thing there is a site of chart of standard deviation which will be put at the test once that my order arrives. 7. PUBLISH (01/16/08): Work very well with a SDHC new-bought of does not exceed... any latency time on audio/video... BUT it does not save where you ceased when you play of the chart. Once that you push this back button, counters them given to 0:00:00. I also tried to employ a regular chart of standard deviation but that failed unhappy... 8. Before is not either resistant scratch, mine of IMHO... obtains striped the day when I started to employ it. You obtain a guard of screen and slap to it the moment when you take your device out of the packing. Mine is now wrapped in a invisibleSHIELD... débarasse itself of these small scratches, too. 9. Freeze sometimes, but it is not only good thorough with the hole of handing-over does not fix. On the whole, I am not disappointed by my purchase... I had front iPods, none them compares with this one in the face, quality, and the price.


Does everything, does it well. Better than iPod
This player is awesome! Had it for about a month now. I am so glad I got this instead of an ipod nano. File transferring is easy using Windows Media Player or the software that comes with the player. All my albums show the correct album artwork and handle the id3 tags excellent. Loaded a 45 minute documentary on it to watch at work (slacker) and was very suprized with the quality. (456mb video reduced to 145mb by the media converter). Big screen, slick design, and the sound quality, excellent. Buying a leather case for this or something that protects your screen is highly reccomended, silicone case wouldn't do it justice.


Love the Zen
I bought this for my daughter, who wanted IPod, because it is exponentially less expensive. And now I am jealous that I have IPod instead of this marvellous creation. My next levelling MP3 will be for a creative product. Zen can employ the charts of memory, that IPod cannot, and quality is perfect. I would recommend it to whoever.


BEST PLAYER AROUND
This MP# player is by far the best around, I had the iPod, and all my friends had Zen v plus but i want a better one. i looked forever and this is THE BEST


Junk stay far away from this product
I was on the market during a few weeks for Juste right player MP3 after having looked in line of the reviews that I decided on this one and leave me say to you what of S _ _ _ this was a piece! worked during approximately 5 minutes cut the screen then but the power is remained me above drained the battery in the hopes which would function and nothing Creative called Labs and they came to the conclusion that it this nine while taking to him out of the box this one initialized with a white screen obtained was to be replaced and has then cold Creative called again and still replaced to it this time I again went to the store to exchange and the third I charged the night finished like the box known as and the battery had still died I is turned over after creator again known as to replaces and obtained my money back SATISFY PLEASE the!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


don't buy
I placed order Zen 4gb of the Amazon 12/4. it would not charge upwards on my computer.creative not tested that tecnical with the assistance A however considered defective and says to return me the Amazon sent another unit.it to me played well during a week and then went white I had to turn over and I order a nano 4gb. now ipod that I had previously ordered and 2 turned over creative Zen v and they were defective ox the open space of creative.they are a small company and the rumour A when you buy with a promotion, they send to you has refourbi the units which break after the use of a few weeks thank a god


Nice Hardware, Poor Implementation
I bought this product and updated it to the latest firmware 1.20.02. I give it 4 out of 5 mainly for its excellent sound quality and nice TFT screen. But the implementation is really poor:

1) You have to take something like a needle with you. Because you never know when it will hang up. OMG, it hangs up again while I'm writing this review ... It's the fifth time in less than ten days :(

2) The resume sometimes takes a relative long time and I can hear pulse noise before the music come out.

3) The TFT screen is always on with music playing unless you turn on the hold. However, you cannot do any operations then. So I have to switch the hold on and off frequently to save power. But ...

4) The buttons look cheap and I doubt its durability. (It is my own opinion though.)

5) The function of the SD slot is heavily restricted by Creative. Don't imagine that you get an 8GB ZEN with a 4GB ZEN plus a 4GB SD card. You can only browser the files and play it on SD and transfer pictures from SD. But the choice is everything or nothing. You cannot select arbitrary files. And it actually imports all the files but you can only see the picture files in ZEN. Therefore, if the free space left is small, you will get trouble. Apparently, Creative encourages people to buy ZEN with large internal storage by doing so.

I wish Creative, or Rockbox, will release firmware to improve the stability and functionality of ZEN. Think again before purchase.


Quality product, but not perfect.
After much on hours of the reviews of reading I decided to buy this article for my girl friend like Christmas present. The Amazon had the best price, thus they obtained my business. The player, itself, are a product of quality, but it raye very easily. You must pay attention with your nails of finger. The orders and navigation are very intuitive, but the handbook is ambiguous and difficult to include/understand on some questions. The handbook is very vague on the process to convert videos for the player. It is referred to the on line help, which is almost a wasting of your time and effort. Another exit is that if you uninstall the software there are remainders on the left everywhere. I had to seek several times to find all and then had to remove what I found manually. That really irritates me! Synthesis: Very good player, volume


Most bang for the buck.
The orders are small a akward but the catches of articles more value than any other player MP3 in this scale of price ($100 - $120). I would recommend it above the iPod.


Very easy for beginning
I love this it is very simple the software was easy to work with. I will stick with this brand. This was my first MP3 player but it won't be my last, Love It!!


I love Zen! Better than my 30 iPod!
I bought this article for my daughter for Christmas. He took very that I had not to take it for me and not to give him my old man 30g iPod.;) I could not believe in which easy point it was to transfer the music starting from my personal file from music to Zen and not to download another program such as iTunes to add the music. I like the fact that you can play the radio without adding another adaptor to him. Its A also a light model looking at and adorable stringer and compact. A its smart purchase for the price and me will obtain for me for sure as soon as I débarasserai myself of my iPod.


Out of box failure
Pretty upset that I have to pay to ship a product back to them for an out of box failure. They should at least pay for the shipping


I found my Zen! Beauty and power in a small package.
I had my new Zen for one month now and very that I can say is that I am in the love. I in the beginning projected to obtain with a greater creative Zen capacity V (which I also strongly rate), but this new Zen drew my attention. Capacity 4GB, the larger sharp screen of liquid crystal display, capacity to play of the videos, and a site of standard deviation - and always a small thin player - it is very that I sought. Now that I employed it for one month, I can say that this player is indeed a marvellous device with the characteristic. He seems large, it seems large, and all functions the manner that he would have. This thin player packs a punch indeed. What I appreciate about Zen: 1. What a spectator! It is splendid, thin, black beauty of balance. The weather is also nice with the contact. 2. Sharp sharp screen of color of 2.5 Po. The photographs and the videos go up shining. Posting is placed at the glare of 50% per defect and seems perfect. I lowered the glare to 20% without losing quality and really always see all very well. 3. Resounds large! I keep my whole of EQ on acoustics - it is my perfect Zen placing it of the marks my happy ears, but I can choose several other arrangements as well. The noise really shines when I put above the whole of quality of ear-phones of with-top-the-head. 4. To have a slit of standard deviation is less concern about missing space. I currently have a standard deviation of 2GB Sansdisk in my Zen and did not have to still employ it. 5. I really appreciate that I can employ several various programs to control my files of media or to however charge my Zen, I found the software creative which comes with large work of Zen and is my preferred director of media by choice. The software can easily tear, convert, burn, and control files of media (music and video). The only thing that I never have too insane about their software is their art of album and end of management... I of label usually going up to the monkey of media to take care of that. 6. It is thin, small and light weight making it easy with remplier far. My preceding Zen V damaged me with him is small size, but the credit rating Zen classified by chart is right as easy to keep (I tried "to improve" with a 30GB Zune but the fine size of it made impracticable for me in my daily activities. My hubby guard that one and it likes it.) What I am not also insane about this Zen: 1. Navigation - I feel as this could be better done. The large square button functions both like directional entry and volume at various hours. Although it is not difficult to employ this, your inch particularly does much displacement because of the "back" button which is on the top on the left sector of navigation. Not to improve, but not an enormous depreciation for this player. 2. It gathers the manner of fingerprints too easy and they do not like to erase nice, like usually makes him with Zen V. I constantly clean it with a soft fabric of objective. While slightly inconvenient, it is also not an enormous depreciation for this player. (UPDATE: Now that somebody showed me how to cut the screen while playing the music by employing the device of lock, I can complain more about the screen remaining all the hour. I removed number 3 of article.) None the complaints above changes my favorable sight of Zen I really found my Zen with creative splendid Zen. I will buy it fortunately still if I had.


Makes People Jealous
This replaced my cheap Sansa 1gb. I looked at many solutions of replacement but balanced the account on this jem. Shown to a person who obtained nano of Ipod for chistmas and they were jealous, really they were a little insane. Shown him with a colleague and they decided that they were going to obtain for their wife! The size of screen rocks but invests in a guard of screen and a certain kind of slip on the case immediately! ! ! I obtained with little the 3 packages which functions perfect for me. Really like the capacity to adapt the basic image and to be able with the customer requirements to load and play at the same time (perfect for into the car, you it need right to make sure that you employ the right cable - a mini charger of usb for a telephone of Motorola should work well. Zen you will not let play while connected to a computer). Some complained that something on the chart of standard deviation will integrate automatically with the library (you must direct the files on the chart of standard deviation in a separate menu) but with thats no biggie for me; Ive already considering some updates of software packages which always seem to be rather regular at time running (some of these updates are already - slightly tackling this question). Videos are nice and clear, the process of conversion can be blocked if you do not make install the correct codecs but it can be made. A little the wish there was support of MSC but I can occupy myself. At least the dredger and the fall are constant on this is really which what I wanted in any event. For a good examination of this control of product out of review of video of CNETs. All in all - really happy I obtained this, not looking at behind.


Nice Until it locks up
This was my first mp3 player,but before I purchased it I did some research on it an many others when I first got this player,I installed software like instructed,,,(first mistake),, the player locked up and never came on again,, called CS and they told me to bring in back,,, did that, an because I thought I was a really nice player, sound was nice(not great) screen was beautiful many function, so I purchased another,,,, after about 2 weeks it lock-up while I did my excercise,, reset it an it was fine,,, but then it lock-up again an not even the reset button did't help had to return it and decided to go with the Cowon,4gb this is a really nice player while it works but, batttery life sucks, wouldn't tell u to go out an get this one,, really not worth the problems, don't beleive the hype


mp3
I T achieved my sons each ecpectation. It is small and handy. It is easy to transfer the music to this mp3


Wow, this ZEN is unbelievable
I am so impressed with this new Zen. It is the size of a credit card (but thicker) and it seems they thought of everything. The screen is crystal clear, the audio is awesome, and it has every feature I wanted. The more I learned about it, the more I am impressed. It charges using a USB port, so you have to have a computer or at least access to a USB port to charge it. That is the only con I've found, but they do offer a 110 ac usb charger for additional cost. The thing I like about it the most is it allows you to store videos that are hidden unless you input a password. So, if you have private family videos you don't want your coworkers to see when showing it off, they are secretly hidden. The screen is relatively big for a small device, so it shows all the music info when playing music. The latex skin that I bought fits perfectly and allows it to clip on belt. All around, I would definately recommend this thing...I love it. I never write reviews, but this thing deserves one. The designers did a GREAT job putting this thing together.


great product
I have had my Zen for about a month now. Its great. I have had iPods and other mp3 players, but none even come close to this product. The screen is large and very good quality. I have seen people question the sound quality of this player, but the only problem there is the headphone quality. buy some better headphones and the sound quality will be perfect.

Other than that: Battery life out performs iPod by far (20 hours on one charge). File transfer is simple and works great on Windows VISTA. On top of everything else, it has an fm receiver, organizer, and expandable memory which apple should do with their products. I would recommend this product to anyone looking for a small, high quality mp3/video player.


FOR AUDIOBOOK LISTENERS!
if you listen primarily to music with lots of playlists (or watch a lot of videos) then this review will have little relevance for you. i spend a lot of time listening to audiobooks, often in WMA format which rules out the only really good mp3 player, the ipods. i've gone through (tried and given away or returned) several mp3 players. bottom line in my opinion: for audiobooks (where the book is 1 or 2 or 3 very big files), all mp3 players pretty much suck.

why? first, often then don't hold their place well. secondly, the fast forward or rewind -- when you need to get BACK to your place, which often requires lots of interpolation -- is often clumsy and, worse, slow (i've had to literally hold down a "FF" control for 5-8 min to get near the end of a novel where i'd left off). third, the most egregious misdesign for audibookphiles is that (unlike the great ipods) the same control used to FF or RW also takes you back to the beginning or the end of a file. in many mp3 players it's woefully easy to be trying to FF and RW to get back to where you were (because the player lost your place or froze up or whatever) when, oops! suddenly you're back at the beginning -- 8 hours or whatever from where you wanted to be. blood pressure rising....

enter the zen. it's certainly one of the least evil of mp3 players for audiobookphiles (which i will heretofore simply acronimify as ABPs).and why is that? one word (no, not plastics): bookmarks.

very few mp3 players allow bookmarking (yeah, that's one area where even the well-designed ipods fall short). quite simply, when you set a bookmark, the mp3 player remembers that place in that file (book) and allows you to go right back to it. it's a failsafe. and it works.

a few mp3 players (including a couple other creative products) do bookmark. the zen 4gb (and higher gbs) is one of the newest. it permits up to 10 bookmarks.

i've had my zen for a couple weeks or a bit more and feel fairly good about assessing it this way: overall,it's so-so. again give me an ipod any day (except apple won't allow it to play wma files). i've had plenty of issues including freezing up (keep a paper clip handy for the tiny reboot hole!), battery life shorter than promised and -- very often -- this player also failing to keep its place (that's unlike the creative muvo tx i've used which had no bookmark but at least it always kept your last spot). i wouldn't necessarily recommend it for general use.

however, its reliable and easy bookmarking is great and for that reason i do recommend it for ABPs. (it does have other commendable features which are summed up in product summary and other reviews; it's certainly not bad.) also, it's better than most at permitting you, with some care, to FF or RW WITHOUT accidentally telling it to go to the beginning or end.

if you DO buy this to listen to long audiobooks, USE THE BOOKMARK FEATURE constantly. before i set the player down (on pause) or turn it off, i always, always bookmark my spot. doing so has saved my arse many times, now. you can set the handy shortcut key to "bookmark" so when you turn it on later, to find to your horror that your last spot at -- what was it? 4 and some hours into the novel? or was it 5? etc.-- is not what comes up but rather you're back at the beginning, you need only hit the shortcut then enter and bingo, there you are: 4 hours and 28 minutes, right where you'd left off.

bottom line: obviously i'm saying if you listen to long audiobooks (such as wma files or audible downloads),the zen 4gb is a good bet. i'm also saying it could be a lot better and maybe someday creative or someone else will make one that's a home run instead of just a base hit.


Luv this thing!
This is a really cool item, made by Creative, but I managed to get a brand new one a little bit cheaper on Amazon! I hate to admit, but it took me a few min. to get how to use the player, but once I did, I thought that it was the coolest thing! It has a nicely sized display screen (that's full of color), its got great sound, and pretty easy to manage, once connected to your computer! I'm a little sad, because I only got the 4GB, and I shouldv'e gotten the 8GB, because now, I want to put ALL my stuff on this cute little thing. It's pretty lightweight, but you can tell that its made of durable material and the battery life is really long. If you purchase this product, you're gonna like it! So, I recommend getting the 8GB one, get the little leather cover case to keep that shiny black pristine, and get the car charger for it, because you'll use it more often away from your home and pc. Great product!


2nd player a charm
I bought a 8g Zen v more on line above the day of Thanksgiving because of the price in dollars $100. When I went with the DC to take it they promoted me with the new Zen because the "account" was with far in the computer. I thought that... fresh until that I tried to charge it and all I obtained was a white screen. I was very disappointed! I brought it back the next day and the DC gave me nine and it was large. My suggestion with no matter whom who has some problems with the player is taken it of return and obtain nine. It seems that there is a problem with some players - perhaps a certain fate or him of manufacture was precipitated for launching on the market. There is much with like approximately this player. Just the fact that it is not a I-thimble is one of them. The new software even let you employ I-grants for songs. It is very easy to employ the player. The chart of standard deviation is not integrated as you would envisage but it gives you many options for films, TV, etc... Its is certainly better than anything. It is so easy to use the player whom the wife could learn how to employ it quickly and now she wants one. Device for the device you cannot find the best produced at a better price.


Excellent Product
Excel produces. Very good acoustics, visual quality. Good clearness. Recommend to each one. Much better iPOD surplus.


Bummer
I bought this and eagerly waited for it. it worked for about 36 hours then gave me a white screen of death. So Amazon sent me another one with no issue. The second one didn't work at all. Amazon let me return them without any hassle. Once I get my refund I'll buy a different but similar product.


Creative Zen
Creative Zen 4 GB (Black)
Good product fast delivery very happy will shop again
Merry Christmas


Great player, iPod killer
I had been looking for a mp3 player for a while. I never bought into the hype of the iPod. This guy came out, so I figured for $119 it was a good deal. It has a radio which is nice when wathcing the TVs at the gym. You can't record radio content, but who really does that anyway? It has all kinds of preferences and ways to make it your own. You can set your own wallpaper (from any of your uploaded pictures) that shows in the background, a nice touch. You can change the order of your menus, or get rid of some alltogether if they cramp your style. It can store pictures, video (converted with proprietary program), music, data, a mircophone, contacts and a planner. It shows time and battery life at all times, except for pictures and video. The screen is very nice, big and clear. It takes a little getting used to but the navigation is pretty good. Navigation is cool because you can search by now playing, playlist, album, artist, genre, all tracks, recording (microphone), bookmarks, or DJ (album of the day, random play all, popularity, rarely heard, highly rated, yet to be rated). Once you are in one of those screens everything is listed alphabetically and it had a index you can jump to so you had have to scroll from the beginning, just jump to the letter on the right and you are where you want to be pretty quickly. It can show album art, which I haven't messed with too much. Currently it doesn't always match the righrt art to the right track, but that might be the way I uploaded my stuff. It has a SD slot, which I haven't used, but I know that anything I would have on a SD card, I would have to manage separately through the Memory Card menu. This is a feature that some have problem with since it essentially, separates the content on the SD card from the content on the player and they are not seemlessly merged for a single experience. Not a big deal to me, I haven't reached the limit of memory where I would need to add a card, maybe later. Sound quality is very good.

The only gripes I have about it are that it takes about 13 seconds to "boot up" and the screen is easily scratched. Don't get the Zen armband, it is useless. Get a ebay skin with armband instead for workouts. It is much more usable and comfortable to wear, not to mention only about $8 as opposed to ~$20. It is a little more biased to righthanded people with the navigation on the right and you can't "flip" it. Not a big deal though. All in all I think it beats the competition by a landslide.


this is the one
the right size. the right shape. looks great. works fine.
creative needs to stick with and improve this one.
ie. improve drop-in memory integration.
add wireless.
spend a bit more on advertisement of this model.
this is the one to build on.

buy it. you'll love it.


Decent
Pros:
The installation is easy enough. And the player charges really fast even with just the USB (little over an hour from completely dead).

Cons:
The playthrough system will play all the songs from a given artist or album, and then stop. Its annoying if you only have one song from that artist. You'll have to manually queue songs if you want it to change artists or albums.

You can't turn off the screen unless you shut down the entire unit. The best you can do is make it dim in 5 seconds and set the brightness to 10%. I'm sure the battery would last a lot longer if the screen would just blank out after 5 seconds.

The password system for certain menu options is ridiculous. You set your password (4 digit #) and everytime you access that menu option, you get to reset you password. So if anyone ever gets your password the first time, they can lock you out of some of the options (or you can just leave it 0000 for a 'no password' option).

Its still a decent mp3 player and the battery life isn't completely gone, so 4 stars. The listed cons I don't think are enough to bring it down another star


Creative has another winner
I bought this for my daughter and she liked it. I must buy for me maintaining. With me it is a GREAT alternative to the over-estimated ipods of APPLE.


Don't buy Creative Zen product
I bought creative Zen PMC in November 2005. It ceases upwards functioning last month because of the swelling of battery. I must break the door of battery to obtain it outside. I am afraid which it will burst and contact the company. Answer of creator: Unfortunately, your Zen PMC is not any more in the guarantee. This product is fine that it is lifespan and was replaced with newer and more of the rich person products of device. We do not maintain any more of the actions of PMC or the actions of accessories in channels with the detail or of repair. The majority that I will be able to offer to you are a discount of 20% on the purchase of a new product.


Pretty good
This is a great music player (for those who do not need more convincing you don't need to read on).

But for those that do need more convincing, I am not a music fanatic, but here are some things I like and dislike as an average user:

PROS:
-It is small and very portable. The design is pretty sleek.
-The screen, I heard, is one of the best, it is large and it has great resolution comparatively.
-Interface is nice, visually attractive and, maybe not intuitive, but at least pragmatic
-Contrary to what some people say, it does have a pretty convenient volume control, though like people say it is not a dedicated control. So no biggy.
-Battery life is extremely long. I could charge it for one night and I probably got two-three week out of one charge (i.e. maybe 15-20 hours of music on one charge)
-Expandable memory is nice, but I haven't got a chance to use it.

CONS:
-Probably something that irritated me the most was the sticker they put on the screen. Instead of a see-through screen protector, there literally put a sticker. The sticker leaves residue that takes time to go away. But thankfully, it DOES NOT damage the screen (unless you do something funky)



Returned iPod Nano to buy Creative Zen
I listen to the music while running on the travelling carpet. I returned my nano of iPod to obtain this creative product for various reasons: 1) I needed the FM radio for my training sessions of escalator of which the nano one of iPod lack. Leave to beating by radio of DJs the last and greater songs for me! 2) during the training sessions, I prefer the vigorous construction of Zen above body of the handle-$$$-With-Care nano of iPod. 3) can listen to the music and observe my presentations of image at the same time. It is not possible with the nano one of iPod. 3) the user interface is large! Smooth police forces, nice graphs


Great, but with one issue
It is a large PMP. , updated up to now very frequent of software package. My only resulting is the white problems of screen of contast. If all is well this will be fixed soon as it obtains VERY annoying.


Good concept, mediocre execution
I tried the product because the price & form are fantastic. The only reason it got 2 stars is because the price is low. The software it comes with is AWFUL, really really awful. The unit itself also has many flaws. For example, I had to reset the unit several times each week. When I asked tech support, they said it was a normal unit and to keep resetting.

Some cd's were in the music list properly by title but then not listed properly by author. Others were exactly the opposite. I got a message the device was full but I barely had 1 gig of files. I deleted everything I could and it still gave me the error.

The earphone connector is weak and came apart 2 weeks after I got it. I have cheap earphones that have lasted 3 years, these didn't last 3 weeks.

The software is really unstable and unusable. If they could fix the reliability of the device and the software that comes with it, I like the functionality.


Garbage
I had three of the latter, and each one necessary to be turned over up to now for the same reason: The player would freeze simply upwards and would cease working with me. The player himself is to look at decent, if not a plain of little. The quality of sound is nice, but only you will not find anywhere elsewhere. However, the software it comes with Zen is difficult to employ that and the material is absolute refuse. And the update on the creative Web site did not do anything to fix the problem (how stupid it is that I must manually update the thing on their Web site?). I did not pay more than one hundred dollars a brick, of creator!


Does not have video out!
It is a large small player MP3 and FM radio. It makes very that it indicates that it. Unfortunately, it does not state that it misses video out of the possibilities. That means that you are completely videos of observation wedged on the 2.5 in the screen. I bought Zen because itunes and NBC were finished evaluation of squabbles and Itunes does not carry any more of the exposures like "heroes". I like to download these exposures to my IPOD and to play them by my TV. Very nice work - quality of DVD, broad screen, etc. Thus, I decided to buy ZEN 4 gigaoctets on the Amazon so that I could download of the heroes by the intermediary of Unbox. I left even and spent still $20 on a video out of cable before realizing that ZEN did not have it video out of the possibilities. . the google the pier owed with open-type screen out of him, before I discovered that. I passed a little hour trying to appear outside why that would not function initially. I always give it that 3 holds the first role because it is a large small player MP3 and FM functions very good too. I also like the fact that it synch with the prospects, but I did not test that still. But, if you want a player who will play of the videos outside to you TV, look at elsewhere.


AWESOME!
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.


Faulty Players
I bought my first, yes initially and when I connected my ear-phones which it cut and would not return above. I returned it, obtained one in the second place, it have cold thus I gave to zero, it would not ignite! I was thus frustrated with ZEN. It seemed large, PEAKS seemed impressive, it was a player soft mp3 but I had only the first during one week, and the second during one day! Do not buy this player until the creative difficulties the bugs, Im step the only ones which made occur this.


Screen died
I appreciated it during one moment (much), then one month after I bought it that the screen went completely: just the white reveals. Ok, of well cut of things sometimes. I RMA' D him and they sent nine to me the following week, yay. Only this one has the same half of problem of time. So much now half of time its Juste a beating of ipod 4GB. Still returning...


I'm loving this device more each day!
I had sought during months before deciding creative ZEN. My first player was Sandisk Sansa e140. For one 1st player it was correct, but my principal bad temper was that it did not have any device or bookmark of summary, inter alia defects. At all events, it was correct for a device of beginner. Approximately three months ago I decided that it was time for a change, since I knew Sandisk, I bought Sansa e260 4gig: the weather was nice, but, always no bookmark and the thing right was not not established well, seemed as would insert two weeks to him... that I returned it and after one month to look at reviews on devoted Web sites of instrument and visual reviews of Youtube and to look at and test the players mp3 stores, I finally decided and ordered creative ZEN. Half one year ago, I subscribed to the "Rhapsodie to go" subscription for my son(at 14.99 one months), and I sought a player mp3 who would be compatible, ZEN were not on the list "of the allowed players" of the Rhapsodies... I always decided creative ZEN that I receive my creative 4GB ZEN during 3 days after having ordered... The Amazon quickly! I looked at the packing, not too impressive. Charged him to the top and after a couple of the hours (with half of a load because I could not wait any more) I started to test. You can practically actuate all the functions without reading the handbook, it has a very intuitive interface. I was very happy with the glance and the feeling of the player.It has a nice weight with it, enough light for a pocket of shirt, however always has the weight of a product of quality. The screen obtains tacheré to the top of quickly, but it is not an exit. I like the interface and what the images and the videos resemble. Can't volume is rather strong, be the majority of higher noise of quality, but is this a player MP3 the size of a chart of credit rating... what would envisage you? I was very happy for the first two days using my new toy... which I charged, photographs, of the videos... I had a video of family and a video short in concert of Hendrix. No problem, excel playback. I have it even charged using my charger with telephone of cells of the V3 razor! Expenses! At all events, the last night I enter the site of Rhapsody and connect my ZEN and note that it shows on the hmmmmmmmmmmmm system...! I click authorize the bingo-test of device above...! The device is authorized! I charged this thing with tons of substance of the "Rhapsody with GO"... up to this point that I reconsidered the question about this player, but the fact that that functions with the Rhapsody TO DISAPPEAR was the greatest point of sale for me... The rhapsody must update their site and prove that this device is Rhapsodie with going compatible. FOR: 1) you can place quality of sound of the posting of beautiful menu of interface of 10 bookmarks 2) good 3) the 4) small one and (friendly pocket) 5) the thin device of summary 6) much of options including/understanding the choice "of a key of short cut personal" 7) easy to use and charge of the files 8) to a good number of devices to very reasonable work of the prices one 9) with the Rhapsody to go... also has free Zencasts and other sugar refineries of their Web site. 10) it employs a regular connection of USB (not propietary), thus you can connect with a load of the V3 razor (for example) and if you lose your connector of USB, you do not need to panic because you can buy one of the latter anywhere for Juste some dollars. 11) slit of standard deviation (entirely does not integrate, but works for me... that I put in my chart of my camera of Panasonic FZ7 and could see that the PEAKS I took, cooled enough for me. Moreover, 4GIG is enough for me, I do not need to carry my whole library of music with me (not yet) 12) of the discs in addition to air of the noises by radio operator large 14) Videos of reception very well 13) FM and ADN vibrating to seem picures very coloured 15) you can look at playlists by covers of album if you want 16) DIGITAL and similar clock 17) much more devices than I always even did not discover however AGAINST: 1) the quality of sound could be improved (a levelling of software package would do it) 2) no bearing pocket included 3) does not make the coffee 4) does not work because the opener of can of A 5) cannot be used as a telecopier which I will update later, after having given to this baby full a tryout. Up to now, I am lovin ' it! If you read the whole thing... I guess that you should consider to buy this instrument. The greatest blow for the male which I could find in any event!


Instructions suck
Creative Zen 4 gigaoctets (black) I spent to seek much time a player MP3 and finally chose this one. However, ve of I ' obtained at least three instructions of gripes:Poor, the poor ear-phones and the lack of a case. I had this during 5 days but I always try to appear out in the way of employing it correctly! Granted there is one in line (the manual rudimentary)help and the player came with a fast guide from beginning, but I do not think who am enough if you want to really draw the best party out of this player. Why the manufacturers continue do to provide thin instructions? They spend of the million on us to persuade to buy the substance but not how to employ them. All what will occur are that since I cannot employ this correctly, I will upwards finish employing only the very basic functions, feeling grained about the money which I spent and then dedicates me never not to buy a product of Zen still! As for the noise, I know others criticize had been delirious about quality but I feel that I was not likely to see what this baby can really do with the provided principal telephones. They do not adapt my ears correctly and what I can hear does not only seem with me well better than the disposable ear-phones snagged of a recent flight of long transport. So much now I will have to buy an ear-phone of seperate. My council with no matter whom who buys this or any other product is test and read the instructions before you purchase if you can and to ensure itself you go account of the quality of all the accessories included.


It's a Brick and a small Brick at that
Posting of Nice. Worked well until I tried to transfer some mp3 class to the player. Then in the course of transfer it closed with key to the top of and for the last hours the ' stop... "It had shown does not have and even the button of handing-over did not help. I will leave it until the battery is drained and test still. But I do not have much hope. This sound a loser. I love usually the creative players. Cannot recommend this one on my experiment. This its active back.


creative zen 4 GB
this player is very nice, that functions very well and the software included to help to convert it video and other things are very easy to employ the menu and the contents are impressive and it seems good too the only problem is the ear-phone, obtain just a better ear-phone and you will find this to astound of player.


Hidden problems.
This to me was delivered one Friday and Friday harms following my neighbor and professional "geek" obtained it functioning. On the opening it, I connected it to my computer, a portable computer with the xP and WMP 11, and immediately Windows explores the saw it like one of the orders and me employed Windows explore them to trail and drop some files from music. I listened and read the instructions to him which says to initially install their software. I installed the software. It is when all went from the south. More it does not seem orders on my computer. I could not employ explores it from now on and the creative explorer of media of ZEN did not have the capacity to move files or shirts around in the player as you would envisage with any device of mass memory of USB like an ordering of instantaneous of USB. I uninstalled their software. I could employ WMP 11. That would still not function with explore. I took it with work and another computer with the xP and the WMP 11 accepted, found the drivers, and functioned with explore. Another computer with the xP and the WMP 10 found the drivers. ZEN revealed as an order explore them inside but the files could not be operated. Another computer made another thing. A cord of E-mail with creator was useful of no solution. The service with the customers with creator was, howerever, very sensitive. If I wrote a request for front assistance reads, an answer waited the morning. The last council was going to oblige me to dirty with the recording of my computer. Introduce my neighbor. He enters the control panel and finds Zen under the portable devices. He rectify clicks and uninstalls he. He disconnects Zen and the replugs he. This time the computer indicates that it found the new material and then it went to find and install a driver. Success! That still functions with explore. I reinstalled the software and him Zen the computer said to connect the player to complete the installation. Now I am again at last Friday. The software dirtied upwards but it contains the visual converter. It seemed necessary. Thus I went again in the panel control and uninstalled the player and disconnected it and replugged it and explores it worked even with the software of Zen I tested with the software of Zen still and it encouraged the player to disappear as orders explore them inside. I repeated the uninstall/installe the process still and nothing broke during four days. This sucker could be much more flexible. It requires Windows.xp or Vista with WMP 10 or 11. The radio functions the pretty well. It is enough sensitive to obtain the majority of the stations in stereophony. Posting is 320 by 240. It is very pretty. Software of short Zen all the hour and thus if you good click an image (or other media), you have a choice to send it to Zen. It automatically brings back the image to 640 X to 480 with additional compression. Why not 320 X 240? But if I employ the Navigator of the buzz of the Guns to bring back the photograph to 320 X 240 resolutions, and then try to send it to the Zen of the Navigator of buzz, it cannot find Zen like order. I must send the photograph to a shirt and then to send it to the Zen of the shirt. It should seem an ordering of instantaneous of USB. The noise is good, but it could employ more order for the less effective ear-phones. It is probably typical. You cannot review the music in "mode of shirt". I.e., you can find the music by the playlists, the artist, the album, or the kind but not besides you organized the shirts inside the player. The battery is not replaceable user like a player of series of Sansa E200. If you are lucky, it will go completely inside the warrantee or from the end until you break the player in any event. The button of navigation in four manners does not function well on my player. If I tighten around the center of the button which should change the station of way or radio, it actuates ^ the button which changes volume. I must press on the button in the good lower corner to keep it to do this. Do not please charge it starting from a computer and to think the creative charger is with much $$>and should have come provided with Zen? You can find these chargers of USB of 5 volts everywhere. If you have a telephone of cells that the expenses by the mini port of USB then you can employ that. If you really do not need the posting of 2.5"et you do not occupy yourselves of the connector of patent rights, Sansa E200 with the replaceable battery of user and a metal behind is probably the best, friendlier bet. That that you buy, even a player $25, a good whole of ear-phones will improve any player.


Sweet Little MP3
I've had this product for about a month, and I love it.

Pros:

Its sleek, compact and beautiful. It does do everything it claims. The sound quality is great, the display screen is beautiful. The menus are easy to figure out, and the software easy to use. The firmware update is included in the setup, so you don't have to search online for it.

Cons: It did freeze up on me once when playing video. I only call this a con because of the mild heart attack it gave me when it happened. But a paper clip solved the problem and it hasn't happened since. The system reset itself and I lost no music, photos, or video. The player even started my video back where I was watching when it froze up.

I would recommend this player because it gives alot of bang for the buck.


Great Player
I had this player for above one month now, and up to now the experiment was good. However, after having just replaced my mini IPod with this player, my opinions can not be the surest one time not compared to other more enthusiastic consumers of electronics. For my goals, this player is perfect. The quality of sound is large, and I note that the orders of volume are much stronger than mini Ipod. The video has the beautiful resolution and up to now my videos played the fine right without any problem. Against: this player EAST really a magnet for fingerprints and I made it freeze upwards on me several times all into important the songs starting from my computer. However, it was rare and the handing-over fixed. It is extremely light, and it is easy to incorporate media directly of player of media of windows. During one moment, I was very disturbed who it battery did not seem with the very long end, but if you adjust the glare of the screen on bottom when it is not in service and/or put the player on the catch when you are to listen to right the music, I note that the life of battery is much longer. Great alternative to Ipod in my opinion!


Best player for the money available
This player rocks! Audio and Video you expect, the quality of both is outstanding. The voice recorder is a great feature not available on most units this inexpensive. It is one of my favorite secondary features. I can stop for a moment, record a fleeting thought, and go right back to my entertainment.
The interface is clear, concise and idiot proof. I didn't even have to read the quick start guide. I bought the 4 gig unit, and already prefer it to a friend's 80 gig Ipod. Which is what I thought I was going to buy before I started researching what was out there. Do your homework, and you will probably buy one of these yourself.
I did crash it the first day. Ordered a replacement before I saw the reset hole-push it with a pin, and it reinstalls it's op system, and comes right back up. (Amazon sent the replacement before I could cancel the shipment-What customer service!)


Zen vs Nano G3
I have an iPod Nano Gen 3 and I like it a lot, but needed to get another MP3 player because the wife wanted one too, so I decided to try the Zen. The iPod is great because it interfaces with so many accessories (I have a nice little desktop stereo that allows you to control the iPod through the stereo remote, and a I have a little FM transmitter so I can play my mp3s on the road via the car radio) I also found the iPod way more stylish then the Zen. However, the iPod was more expensive, and all the Apple accessories are way overpriced. Enter the Zen. It is slightly bigger, but I like the bigger display better. I also find it better for a runner because the volume control is not easily bumped (the touch wheel on the iPod is terrible when running). The stock Zen earbuds are way better than the iPods. Also, once you upgrade the firmware, it is much more windows friendly than the iPod/iTunes alternative (which still gives me multiple errors every time I sync, even after following all of Apple's tips). The Zen firmware still has issues, but it has gotten more stable, and I hope they will continue to improve it. One area that could use some work is album art. It's a shame with all that display area, the album cover is so tiny. They even have several views to show during music playback, but none of them do justice to the album art. The iPod coverflow is great in this regard. Another area that could use some work is the customization of the background. With all those great photos they include, it's a shame not to be able to set an image like that as your background. Note however, that you can not customize the background at all on the iPod, so Creative is already ahead in this area, I particularly like the purple background on the Zen display. There are also functional bugs that need fixing, but Creative will sell a lot more of these things if they tap the full potential of that beautiful display. Overall I like both the iPod and the Zen each for different reasons and I would give them each 4 stars. The iPod has the edge when it comes to interfacing with accessories, and in the style department. The Zen has the edge with it's nicer display and ear-buds, better controls, and lower price tag.


smooth
up to now, employed him for the music (on chart of standard deviation and unit itself) and the books audio on the unit and the function by Fm radio work spouts out good noises easy to make choices. stripped however used the PC s/w, but if it is like Zen the nano s/w, should not be any problem the articles of organization on charts of standard deviation should make create compilations for all the modes and easy events only on the tilted side is not any principal choice of menu for the audio books.


Great Little Player
Shorts and candy: I think that it is a fabulous product at a great price. I ran in no device not documented (bugs) still, although documentation is to miss little looking at Écran impressing and very good quality of sound. I am completely happy with this small type.


Couldn't Get Protected WMA files working
I couldn't get this product working with Protected WMA files. I interacted with online support for about 2 weeks via email (live support only 9AM-6PM central M-F, right when I'm working). Some of the steps: Upgraded FW, upgrade Windows Media Player 10 with updates, upgraded to Windows Media Player 11, reformatted, and reset to name a few. Protected files always get a playback error at the end of the song and eventually hang. I returned the unit to Creative and they sent me a new one, it had the same issue. I'm returning to Amazon for a refund and look for a more reliable player. By the way, the songs playback on the PC, my wife & son's MP3 players, so I don't think the files (or transfer mechanism) are the issue.

Too bad, nice form factor and screen seemed to have decent resolution.


creative zen 4Gb
It IS GOOD EQUIPMENT, WITH SUFFICIENT MEMORY, IS PRACTICAL As regards I And COMODO, ADEMAS YOU CAN HAVE RECORDED YOUR AGENDA OF WORK.


Top Quality MP3 Player - Great Value
Finally improved of my microphoto of Zen to this, and what a difference! ! I have successfully put each 1700 song directly through employing the easy creative software of music. The art of album can now be shown on the screen of fab TFT - excellent resolution and clearness for that, and all graphs which you want to show. My chart of standard deviation 2GB grooved directly inside and this enables me to look at films, the PEAKS and any other music of that too. Very durable, light and able - but a player case/protector/skin is a good investment. The quality of sound is excellent, and it plays MP3, AAC, WMA and DivX. The FM radio is very good, and it stores your stations of favourite now. On the whole, a very able player, and the price of the Amazon is VERY competing. Strongly recommended.


Not bad for the price
I had this player for about a month and had to return it because; when i resumed playing certain video files, the audio and video would not be synched. also it tended to lock up a lot, randomly and had to search around for a paper clip or something small enough to insert into the reset button. (not good on a 40 minute subway ride to work with no paper clip). other than that this is a pretty good mp3 player for the price. just be aware that it's no zune or ipod touch.


Very quality product for the money spent
Creative Zen (4GB) is very a personal player of media of quality. I make confidence in the creative products having had a micro creative Zen for more than 2 years and me let us like. Creator did a great work making Zen, it is rather small and light, and exactly the size of a chart of credit rating. I have fears that the buttons or the real player are too small for my large hands but it was not an exit. It seems nice on outside, and seems attractive. Initially him felt cheap and breakable, but after having been held it for him judged during some time that better and me feel in safety to put it in my pocket. The screen is astonishing, the colors/sharpness return to seem to it images incredible and marked. It is like a mini screen of HD, seriously. The UI is very nice and much of options and options of personalization are present. The buttons insert with a click and I never must more than one once press on any button to do the work to him. The button of short cut is interesting. The software included is very simple and it obtains well made work well that it désinsectisé out of several times by not locating the data on the player. The quality of sound is good, cannot really however compare it with anything and the low push and the equalizer are the nice additions. The life of battery is good of what I saw up to now. Did not employ the slit of standard deviation still. Radio of Nice. The earbuds included suck. I think personally that no other player exists of this quality for this price and I am happy I did not decide to buy Nano over-estimated of Ipod.


SDHC compatible
Players MP3 transformed themselves into product. It is not terribly expensive, they resound fine, they are very small, they are easy to employ them. There is not really to say much, and APPLE equal the fastener inside to the navigators of sequence and the players of telephone of cells and visual, to make them the stand outside. The great advantage of this player against the Nano one (the obvious competitor) is that the charts of SD/SDHC allows a measurement of expansibility. I obtained the version of 4 gigaoctets of the player; it is the smallest version but it always lets to me put my albums of favourite 60 or thus on the player. If I want to listen to other albums, I put them on a chart available of standard deviation and change the chart in the player, it is easy. Naturally it will be more and more of an advantage - in this moment, the charts of cost standard deviations 8GB approximately half as much as this player, and me am sure during the following year 16 and the charts of standard deviation of 32 gigaoctets will obtain released, at the comparable prices. I have a very large collection of music, I like the idea to be able to stick a very large collection on a very small player. The interface for this device is, like the iPod, very good but nonlarge - sometimes you feel as you work against the system of menu. The worst defect is, music on the chart of standard deviation is put in a separate list that the music on the storage internal device - it is little a clunky, so nonterrible. To obstruct moreover is that the player takes approximately 10 seconds to initialize, while the iPod ignites immediately. The quality of screen is very, very good, to seem to it included of videos excel - in addition, it is a small screen to observe a film, and to convert a normal file of avi into format required needs hours of a couple. Thus except in special circumstances I do not hope to often do that. The battery lasts a very long time, and charges quickly in addition to USB. The quality of sound is very good, and I heard that it is better than the Nano one, but I did not make direct comparisons of them thus I cannot really say. Moreover, be sure to update the software packages in addition to creative site, it takes only a few seconds. The software packages as transported would break constantly when I reached the chart of standard deviation. After the update I did not have a problem once.


Good Player But Poor Performer
I bought this player after reading all the reviews of this page but I seriously think while returning the unit that I have. The glances and the size of this player are very attractive as well as the functions and the devices. The EC what this player lack is the quality of sound and the software package, my player already broke 4 times in the first 24 hours of the 1st time of use which I obtained a black screen of dead and had given lasts it all in transfering of the files and 3 additional times while playing it video which was converted into adjustment the requirements of players with the software provided. I think that there is a good number of things to establish with this player like the chart of standard deviation is not entirely integrated with the library of players which means only aucuns playlists or bookmarks work. The quality of its is a little of quality that the ipod, naturally you will not note with the provided ear-phones, use some ear-phones of best quality and this player will shine for the lack of quality of sound, the noise is hollow lack of the base and of high the sound very difficult to describe but it just does not seem exact. Volume is somewhat low compared as well to other players on the market. If you really must have this player then his ok to have it that I guess but I am sure that you can make much better. FOR small cools a good number of design of devices, FM video, images, recorder... The unstable player of AGAINST breaks by playing the low quality of the his visual screen that of low volume of standard deviation of magnet of fingerprint entirely is not integrated with the player the software is a chart not included is full with the scratches of screen of bloatware easily just like the nano one of the ipod Gen1


Who needs an iPod?
When it comes to players MP3, I relatively require an experiment without seam of user and the Juste enough of storage capacity whom I should not remove of the songs each time I adds the new ones, both at a reasonable price (IE: not a iPod). I am also not a first adoptor, preferring to wait at least a few months of the reviews of user, but suitably called Zen drew my attention when it was released and, with my pleasure, met each of the three of my criteria. The creative software of explorer of media and organizer of ZENcast make syncing and to control my contents -- music, images, videos, podcasts, contacts of prospects, calendar and load -- a rupture with the relatively intuitive interfaces. More, storage 4GB is more than enough for the average user, whereas versions 8GB and 16GB are perfect for users of power. As announced, it is incredibly compact and enough vigorous to carry your pocket inside; its screen is impressing pointed and luminous; its audio quality is large, even with the ear-phones included; and its navigation is simple to employ and customizable. My two preferred devices are syncing mentioned above contacts of prospects, classify and charge -- my telephone of cells is to make the phone calls, not listening to the music! -- and the button customizable of "my short cut", which can be placed to do one of a certain number of things, most important of what is "random play all". For the price and the functionality -- not to mention it of better players MP3 looking at outside is there one -- Zen cannot be beat. Who needs a iPod? NOTE: I have a relatively new PC to run Windows Vista and improved the software of Zen via the organizer of ZENcast without problems of the whole.


Not a Flash Drive that Plays Media
I was looking for a PMP that could interact like a simple flash drive. I wanted to drop my media (in any of the many listed formats) onto the player and go. Unfortunately with music (AAC encoded or not) you need to use WMP or Creative's sync software to transfer music to the player. Doing so will create the .alb files necessary for transfer that allow the player to recognize your music and categorize it; why ID3 tags weren't good enough, I have no idea.

The video converter that came with the player couldn't convert any of my Xvid movies to the correct resolution and the player couldn't play the videos when transferred over if not in the correct resolution.

The hardware is nice and sleek and the software is flashy, but don't fall for the glamor if you're looking for a simple PMP that you can just drop files onto like a flash drive. I have a Zen Micro (not a PMP) and love it; for now I'll be sticking with that player and living disappointed in Creative.

NOTE : If anyone uses Juice for podcasts then look elsewhere; I was not able to get Juice working with this player.


Faulty production?
I bought my first Zen 4GB last week. Within a few hours of ownership, I had the device attached to the PC via USB to charge it, when it suddenly went dead. No amount of pushing buttons or using the reset button would get this device to power back on. I contacted Amazon, and they overnighted a replacement to me and gave me a free USPS return slip. (excellent customer service!) I got my new device, was able to load some TV shows onto it... Awesome! MP3s sound great , the video was sharp, the radio sounds very clear...
then it died the exact same way again, about 24 hours after I received it. Contacted Amazon again- They told me "As it seems that the problem with this item is more widespread than we originally thought, we are not able to send another replacement. I hope you will understand our limitations in this regard." Apparently I am not the only one having this problem.
Maybe a bad production run?

I would be wary of purchasing the ZEN at his timeand would suggest to maybe give it a few months for these issues to be worked out.






Creative Zen Preferred to iPod Nano with Video
Length and hard discussed between creative Zen and the new Nano one of iPod with the video. The same price of each one. Had been very happy with with my 2nd Nano of generation and leaned towards the Nano one with the video. The availability of the chart of standard deviation, of the screen slightly larger (although same 320 X 240 resolutions), and -- very important for me -- FM tuner persuaded me to test Zen. With obtained the model of 8 gigaoctets. Were very impressed quality of the noise; the video is as acceptable as on a screen this size could be envisaged. While drawing in a local signal, acoustics of FM tuner is as clear as my expensive model of table; the sensitivity of signal can be slightly better than the cheap radios found in the typical room of hotel -- if you obtain the ear-phone cord/antenna direct the good manners. Me am disappointed that "one does not remember the majority of the recent positions" for the audio and visual contents on the chart of standard deviation. Can be a true pain with having to turn over and find the place you on the left with far in an audio book or film. But, then, to have simply the card reader is an important surplus of improvement that the Nano one I also considered. If used with the iTunes for syncing, learning how with the synchro with Windows the player of media will require for a certain hour -- more difficult, different just. After completely exploring the software which came with Zen, I did not find any use for it. A substance not negative and right which is not necessary. The player of media of Windows will make visual conversion as well as syncing. Zen provides the software (ZENcast) to the remote loading and podcasts of synchro but there are much better pieces of software to do that (took to me hours with the figure out way of obtaining ZENcast to download podcasts not described on their Web site; I just continue to employ the iTunes and the player of media of Windows of point to the shirt where the iTunes stores podcasts.) To put DVD on Zen, I employ a piece of third of software (bought separately) it of the crackings the principal characteristic to the bottom approximately to avi 1GB or the file mp4. Then player of media of Windows (or the visual part of conversion of the software which came with converted from Zen)to to the format of wmv required by Zen. The race 500mb of these files thus much of hours of films can be put on Zen Each stage of conversion 2-step can take to the top one hour on a fast PC. Must be a manner of going directly starting from the disc of DVD to the wmv but, if so, I do not have the software. All and all, a finished product -- carries out well, looks at large.


I am absolutely crazy about this thing.
After spending a happy two years with my Creative Zen Neeon, I decided to look into some of Creative's new products when my Neeon broke, since I'd been pretty happy with the quality of their players. I picked the Creative Zen because I wanted a music player that could store the movies I like to make with my friends, and I didn't need a whole lot of space, so I got the 4GB. Lemme tell you; it's the best quality mp3 player you can get for this kind of money.
I was completely amazed the first time I charged it and turned on the screen; the picture is crystal clear and altogether beautiful, and the screen is plenty big. The sound quality is good, I've found it quite easy to load my music and convert my videos, and I'm in love with the thing. I find the quality to be quite a bit better than my friend's iPod, which was more expensive.
The USB cord that comes with the player is ridiculously small; I'm not sure if they expect you to just let your player dangle from the computer while it's charging because it's only a few inches long, but I have the one I used for my Neeon so that's not a problem for me. The battery life is excellent; I charged it on Friday, it's Monday night now, I've used the player several hours every day, and the battery is still 3/4 charged.
The only strange thing I've noticed is that the screen kind of flickers when you shut the player off, but nothing has gone wrong so far so I'm not really worried about it.
A sidenote: I ordered the plastic case that goes with the Creative Zen, and I'm kind of disappointed in it. It feels like it's going to crack under the least bit of pressure, and some of the buttons are kind of hard to get to while the player is inside the case.
Aside from that, I totally reccomend this player to everyone.



One Huge Problem with SD but I still like it!
WARNING: Any content on your SD card will not show up in the Music Main Menu. You litterly have to browse to your SD Card, browse through whatever directory you have created to find your MP3s for playback. You can not shuffle the expanded memory with the onboard memory, nor can you shuffle the music from the SD card period. This is a huge flaw, and I have looked on Creatives website for a firmware upgrade to solve this, from what I have read there is no indication that they are going to integrate the SD card so that it can be used in this way.

I am litterly on the fence about taking this back as this was the main selling point for me.

However that said, it is a wonderful product, perfect in size, the music sounds fantastic, far better than my iPod. There are still gaps between Classical or New Age tracks, the interfeace is nice too. I love it, but the SD is a HUGE disapointment!



Jim B
I bought the Zen 4 GB this is an amazing unit , it is very easy to use and the sound is GREAT It is very easy to see the screan and it is very clear , The video is great also , I don't use the raido but my daughter does and she loves it ..

This Zen 4 is a great deal and I'm going to get one for my daughter , I would of paid $175.00 for it so for $ 129.00 it worth the money and you wont regreat buying this ,

The headphones has a lot to be desired that came with it , but I bought a pair of Philips over the ear hook from Cirict City for $9.99 and the sond is great and they stay in place ... I would recomend this Zen 4GB to anybody... Jim


EXCELLENT PLAYER!
A screen surprisingly appreciably more clearly of for (I had Zen the vision m front) seems more interesting than the promotional very light thinner of PEAKS than the small cable of usb thought by I (I like it, but some cannot) easily identified by computer and even easier with the card slot of standard deviation of synchro in thus it is sink is difficult accidentally to jump it out of the fast synchro with kind of covers of album of exposures of interface of player of media of window the new one of as new nanos of ipod if you have the external loudspeakers which you can use it like cables of usb to have an alarm reproduisante, thus you should not give it to zero each times) small slope turn the software of screen for visual conversion (very easy to employ) the contents that bevelled standard deviation of bookmark the playback on the force of contents of standard deviation must employ an external card reader there the card slot of standard deviation does not take again - an ordered device is that I can take the PEAKS with my numerical camera (standard deviation 750 of gun) leave the chart and looks it in the player - is not any latency time in the loading the audio ways - there is not no of loading (video 25 the second length was it) - there took place about a latency time 1sec in the PEAKS of loading (perhaps because the PEAKS were in the multiple shirts) - in order to employ the chart of standard deviation as a dismountable order you must be in mode "of dismountable disc" - if you are in dismountable mode of disc which your player will not be seen in the player of media of Windows, will and you of chart of memory can synchro as that if you wish - when I transferred from the files with the slit of standard deviation in my computer the player identified them no trouble to play them - when trailing WMV and of fall the player classifies would start to play it freezes then... if you employ the software to convert the WMV classifies it plays it perfectly - you CANNOT bookmark the audio contents on the chart of standard deviation (the bad one if you want to store audiobooks in it) does not take again the playback of the contents of standard deviation if he is turned to far then turned behind above still - when you "random play all" he does not include acoustics in the contents of standard deviation (good thing if you want to store audiobooks in him) that I had has Zen the vision thing of smaller when I intended to speak about this I sold the M and bought this one, up to now it is basically the same product with the card slot of standard deviation, refresed of the graphs on the user interface and a screen suprisingly more clearly. It was this, the new nano one, or samsung YP-T10... I am happy I chose this. In my opinion for this scale of price nothing can really compare (I downloaded certain PEAKS of the player) it ***************************** September of 20, 07 of UPDATE of ************************** - if no matter who made answer this player please... if the switch of catch is lit for at least 30 dryness and then released makes your turn of screen a white white but does the player always function? If I stop it then on still function-T-that very well, but I want to know if a its problem in the software packages already installed you the new software packages? please answer, I must know if I return it.



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--end of Creative Zen 4 GB MP3 Player (Black)