In the Muvo, Creative decided on three concepts: small, simple, and functional. Having owned one for over a year and used it almost daily, I feel I can testify to just how successful Creative have been. Below, the following sections are outlined:
Appearance
Functions
The Manual
Using ... Read review
(+) Av Output to plug to a TV, built-in speakers, easy to use. Come with very good earphones (-) Does not come with power supply (easy to charge from the PC though), av cable is sold separately
In the Muvo, Creative decided on three concepts: small, simple, and functional. Having owned one for over a year and used it almost daily, I feel I can testify to just how successful Creative have been. Below, the following sections are outlined:
Appearance
Functions
The Manual
Using the Muvo - Installing Software and Transferring Music
Using the Muvo - Playing Music / Using the Controls
Capacity ... ...- with the software that Creative provides. Handy if you have an essay you need to print off elsewhere. How to do this will be outlined in the Using the Muvo section.
The Muvo will only play MP3 and WMA files - therefore, if you put any other formats on (WAV files, for example) they won't be played - they'll just sit there taking up space on your player.
In the Muvo, Creative decided on three concepts: small, simple, and functional. Having owned one for over a year and used it almost daily, I feel I can testify to just how successful Creative have been. Below, the following sections are outlined:
Appearance Functions The Manual Using the Muvo - Installing Software and Transferring Music Using the Muvo - Playing Music / Using the Controls Capacity and Quality of Sound Wear and Tear Warranty and Customer Support Price and Value Summary
- Appearance -
The Muvo is - there's no other word for it - dinky. It's about a centimetre thick, and is dwarfed by the massive manual that comes with it. It is roughly three centimetres by six centimetres, and designed with a minimalist approach; a small screen, three buttons, a scrolling dial, a tiny microphone, the battery slot, a USB point, headphone point and line in point. At just 34g with a battery, it weighs less than a chocolate bar - but probably doesn't taste as good.
Currently it comes two colours (black or white) and 3 capacities - 256MB, 512MB and 1GB. Mine is a 512MB - more about that later. The buttons and dials are all silver or grey, giving it a funky, modern look.
It comes with a USB cable - used for uploading MP3s onto the Muvo - headphones, and a small belt clip. The Muvo uses one AAA battery, which (depending on the quality of the battery) lasts anywhere from 4 to 15 hours, making it very cheap to run.
- Functions -
Aside from being an MP3 player, the Muvo also acts as an FM radio and a recorder. I'm a student, so I mostly use the radio and MP3 player on my way down to lectures, but I have used the recorder on occasion. More on the quality of these later.
It also has one or two other tricks up its sleeve: you can 'lock' the Muvo so that only the scroll button works, which stops you pressing other buttons by mistake - if you have it in a bag or your pockets, for example.
You can also use it as a portable data device - not unlike a USB key - with the software that Creative provides. Handy if you have an essay you need to print off elsewhere. How to do this will be outlined in the Using the Muvo section.
The Muvo will only play MP3 and WMA files - therefore, if you put any other formats on (WAV files, for example) they won't be played - they'll just sit there taking up space on your player.
- The Manual -
Despite the ominous thickness of the user manual, there is in fact markedly little to read. This is because most of it consists of repeating the same instructions in a dozen other languages. Of the eleven pages of your chosen language, it covers 'Your Player at a Glance', 'Getting Started', 'Some basic Functions', 'FAQs' and 'Safety Information'. The instructions are easy to follow and very clear, so don't worry about having to wade through pages of dull jargon.
- Using the Muvo - Installing Software and Transferring Music -
The Muvo comes with a software disc from Creative. This will install the necessary software onto your computer; the Muvo N200 Media Explorer. When you connect the Muvo to your computer (you will need a USB port), via the USB cable, the computer will recognise its been plugged in, and show it as a 'Removable Disk'.
Putting music or data onto the Muvo is incredibly easy. You can either use Windows explorer - in which case, you just select the files you want, drag and drop them onto the Muvo - or Creative's own software, which installs several programs onto your computer: an organizer, a player, an audio converter and a user guide. All the minutiae of how to use these programs are contained in the user guide, but you can figure most of it out for yourself with experimentation and the help files.
Among its all-singing, all-dancing functions, Creative's organiser allows you to move files to and from the Muvo, organise playlists, format the Muvo, and also acts as an alternative to Winamp or Media Player. The separate Creative player also does this (and thus seems a bit redundant.)
The audio converter does exactly what it says on the tin - allows to change audio files from one format to another. It's easy to use, and fairly quick (though obviously this depends on the speed of your computer.)
All in all, the software provided with the Muvo is user friendly and uncomplicated. I found putting music and data onto the player very easy - literally something I can do in the fifteen minutes before I leave if I want to change my playlist.
- Using the Muvo - Playing Music / Using the Controls -
The Muvo keeps everything simple in terms of controls. And when all you're doing is playing music that's good. However, when you want to change one of the settings, it can take a little while.
The problem is the way the controls are organised. There are three buttons: the play / pause button. You use this to switch the Muvo on, and (surprise, surprise) pause and play the music.
The other two buttons are plus / minus controls, used for changing the volume, the balance, and other controls which are just a matter of choosing a number.
This leaves just about everything else to the scrolling dial. To access the main menu, you push this in. Up pops the main menu in a series of little pictures. As you select a picture (which you do by moving the scroller left or right), the submenu name flashes up underneath it.
The main menu has the options: Settings, Music, Recorded Tracks, Microphone, FM Radio, MP3 Encoding, Lock. Each of these then has another submenu below. I'll spare you details of these menus; suffice to say that through this, you can change the play mode, select a playlist, change the way you hear the music (there are settings such as Pop, Rock, Jazz, Classical), delete files, alter the language, how the screen looks...the list goes on.
In short, you can do an awful lot with that little scroll button. On the one hand, this is good - the Muvo is highly customisable. You can set it up exactly as you want. I can also see that it helps keeps the controls simple.
On the other hand, I wouldn't recommend you try this unless you've got a few minutes free, because it may take a while to get everything exactly as you want. One of the more irritating things about the way the player is set up is that fact that every time you've selected a sub-menu option, instead of going back to the main menu, the player returns to the music / radio it was playing, so you then start all over again changing the next setting.
As it happens, I don't need my player set up just so. The default settings are fine, so this really hasn't affected me. For those of you who are a little more selective, prepare to have a sore thumb by the end of your tweaking.
Once you have your player set up, it really is ridiculously easy to use. However, as there is no main menu of songs, if you want to hear a certain song, you either have to have a playlist set up, or face scrolling through all the rest of your music.
The radio is easy to use; you can scroll through to the frequency you want, or hold down the dial to let it automatically find channels.
Overall, I like the Muvo's simple interface and controls. It means I can leave it in my pocket or on my belt and flick through the music without needing to see what I'm doing. Its small size means it tales up hardly any space, and is light and mobile.
- Capacity and Quality -
As stated before, I have a 512MB player. This holds anywhere between 100 to 200 songs, depending on the size of the files. More than enough music to keep me entertained for a good few hours.
The quality of the music is great. It sounds fresh and clear, no matter how often its played. Part of this is, of course, due to the quality of my MP3 and my headphones, but I still would recommend an MP3 player over a CD player anytime.
Voice recordings are also of a high quality; no background static, and a clear sound.
- Wear and Tear -
I put my hands up. I am not the most careful owner in the world. The Muvo has been stuffed in a bag full of books, exposed to the UK's icy Northern winters, it has been dropped and banged with unfailing regularity, and yet it has survived intact. It may look small and delicate, but it is sturdy.
The Creative headphones are not quite so tough, but I must admit that my headphones are continuously snagged on doors, chairs and clothing, and when it's not being listened to, are wrapped around the player, so its unsurprising that after six months of abuse, the wiring gave up the ghost.
I suspect a particularly hard fall down some stairs was responsible for the problems the player itself began to have; the sound began to fade and have a peculiar tinny edge (like hearing someone singing in an echoing bathroom). However, after reformatting, the player was fine again, and the problem was fixed within a day.
- Warranty and Customer Support -
The Muvo comes with a one-year warranty (found on the CD supplied with the player.) I won't give the full details here, though I feel obliged to warn you that Creative scream in capital letters they will not be responsible for any indirect injury caused by the player - so if your off-key warbling makes that poor builder fall off his ladder, don't try and sue them.
As far as customer support goes, there is a 60-day complimentary telephone support service; after this, telephone support is still available for the duration of the warranty, as is email support. There are also unlimited web-based customer support services on their website, details of which come with the product.
- Price and Value -
My player was bought at a shop at £85. I use it daily, and am more than satisfied with the quality of sound, the amount of storage and the controls. My housemate bought hers for £79; a quick glance on Ebay shows them now retailing for £53.
I feel I paid a good price for a player which has lasted over a year, survived the perils of my possession, and continuous to play high quality music for the cost of an AAA battery.
- Summary -
The Muvo is small, light and highly mobile. It comes with easy-to-use software, making moving data and music quick and easy. The one problem I have with it (caused by dropping down the stairs) was solved by a quick reformatting, free of charge under the warranty. Although I have not extensively tested their customer service solutions, I'm satisfied with the warranty and the product.
It's set at a competitive price, and has a capacity that will hold from 100-200 songs (512MB).
Its one downfall is its simplicity, which makes the main button on the player do a lot of work. The Muvo is highly customisable - but it may take you a half hour or so to set it up just as you want. However, once this is done, the player is very versatile, and can also act as a data storage device, a recorder and a radio.
Overall, I recommend this for its compact, funky design, its myriad useful features, its simple software and interface, high quality sound and survivability.
Advantages: Small, Reasonably priced, Can record from multiple sources Disadvantages: May need regular Firmware/Driver updates
...my dad bought me the Creative Muvo Micro N200 with 512mb of memory.
This is a dinky little player about the size of a matchbox but a little thinner in a classy black colour. It came with a little rubbery case with a clip on the bag to protect it and make it easier to carry around (by attaching to your pocket, waistband, bag etc.).
Other accessories included were user guide,headphones, a USB cable to connect to your pc, a cd-rom to install the relevant ... ...better from this, especially as Creative is quite a well respected brand.
Oh one last little niggle, the headphones are plastic covered with the little foam bits, which aren't very secure and will get lost very easily.
THE TECHY BITS:
Dimensions - 3.4 cm width x 1.3cm depth x 6.6 cm height.
Weight 22g
sound Output mode - Stereo
PC Interface Supported - High Speed USB
Flash Memory - 512 mb
Radio - Digital radio FM tuner
I would say this is ...
karenes 20.12.2005 (06.02.2006)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Creative MuVo Micro N200
Advantages: small and stylish Disadvantages: battery life if not useing official ear phone's
MY EXSPERIANCE WITH THE MP3
------------------------------------------------
I've had this mp3 player now for over 13 month's the 1 GB MUVO has a sleek and stylish look but also pack's some very cool feacture's like radio & a voice recorder,i use the voice recorder a lot to send voice messages to my friend's in the states which are usualy very small in size.
this mp3 player is the USB type so itsreally easy to download music to as well as any ... ...mp3 file types and as it's USB you dont need all them silly wire's and cables that are usualy needed,you also get all the program's you will need included in the package to manage all your music,the sound quality is also very good and there are even a rock ,pop eg EQ styles the only thing i thought was poor quality was the ear phones but i replaced the tiny ear phones you got free with a chunker set that ar'nt the plug in type,
battery life is also ...
FUTURENOIR 17.02.2006 (26.02.2006)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Creative MuVo Micro N200
Advantages: Small, stylish case Disadvantages: needs a little more space
...features the brilliant inventors at creative have thought up(believe me they deserve a medal!). It is perfect for on the go and it can hold up to 60 wma/mp3 songs. i did want a mini ipod, but the price is ridiculous and it is not a patch on my gorgeous little mp3 player!
The muvo n200 has astorage space of 256MB! which is completely perfect for me and i wouldnt change it for the world. However, plaese be aware that this mp3 player may not suit all!
...
cheekychimp2209 24.04.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Creative MuVo Micro N200
Advantages: FM Tuner, Voice/FM recording and line in. Small and aestetically pleasing. Disadvantages: Only two formats are supported mp3 and wma
...shuffle and the nano, but Creative lab own the Muvo range. They are small stylish and beats the ipod shuffle hands down. But the Muvo range have some stiff competition with Irriver's range.
This small sleek player is easy to run as it only requires one AAA battery at once. The battery life although is short a mere 12 hours.One of the best aspects of this player is find is that it comes in various memory capacities of the following: 128MB, 256MB, ... ...GB capacity version of the Creative Muvo is supposedly unreliable due to the large size capacity within such a small space which causes songs to go missing and eventually the player just breaks down and is unable to cope.
It is very easy to operate for all you people who are not the best at operating modern technology....
It is even easier to tranfer your music onto with the center of the player coming away from its stylish shell to reveal a USB ...
benbojones2003 04.11.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Creative MuVo Micro N200
Advantages: Very Small god facilaties Disadvantages: battery compartment cover loose fitting
Very easy to use, software package is good allowing you to save in both mp3 and WMA format at variuos qualities to suit your preference. my 1 gb machine holds about 20 albums and peforms very well i get about 3 to 4 hours constant use from one regargable AAA battery all in all a great little machine ! software was easy to load and ripping of your music could not be easier and as previously mentioned you have the choice of file size so you can get ... ...storred. ordering of music is easy to follow and for such a small machine there are many play back options, the only thing this machine lacks is a facility to make your own play lists but it can be forgiven that considering the size and price of the Unit, Yes you can buy better but youll have to pay a fair bit more !! ...
mcann 01.03.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Creative MuVo Micro N200
Sound Quality
Ease of Use
Look & Design
Range of Features
Value for Money
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Advantages: Small, light, high on features Disadvantages: Limited to number of songs, scroll button might be tricky for some
CreativeMuVoMicroN200 I think is a great small MP3 player if you are not looking for anything to big and bulky. It has lot of features including lock, FM Radio, Recorder, EQ and more. The battery life is 15 hours on one triple A Battery. This player holds about 5 album depending on what size compression you have. The player has four simple button which do everything, two volume buttons, a scroll and an on/off/play/pause button. The scroll is a little tricky to work out how it relates to all the features but once you understand how it all works then it is very simple. The player that is have came with a protective cover with clip and arm band, I find that extra very handy when I go running because I don't have to worry bout it falling out of my pocket. The small screen displays all the inforamtion you will need with the name ...
Advantages: Compact, Sturdy, Lightweight, Easy to use Disadvantages: CD Ripping quality terrible
Creatives rather nifty little n200 has, I found recieved quite mixed reviews by various people, and I have made it my mission to set the record as straight as humanly possible!!
My nth mp3 player here (mathmeticians take note!!), was originally intended to take with myself for anywhere really. I wanted something durable, light, and skip free which I could take both when I went out, and jogging or excercising. No disappointments here it would seem. Light, sturdy as..something very sturdy (i dropped it down a few flights of stairs and nothing but a scratch), and easy to change tracks while feeling in your pocket (i love that feature).
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Advantages: Jog proof (no moving parts), plays WMA's, can fit 5-10 albums worth of songs, tiny, near weightless, attractive, range of colours, FM tuner, voice recorder, line-in recording, 15hr battery life max. (AAA), fast transfer, use as storage device, ace sound. Disadvantages: Not GB's of storage like hard disk players, very slight buzz when LCD display is lit, slightly fiddly menu system.
It's official; the hottest Xmas product of '04 is going to be the iPod and the iPod Mini. Yawn.
You're intelligent, right? You know that Apple weren't the first to make a portable digital audio player (hell, the still going Rio name injected us with 'em in the late 90's), and you know too that despite the aggressive marketing and hype that they're not the definitive word on such devices?
...I hope so.
Atleast all the hubbub has finally dispelled the myth that these are just toys. These 'toys' have usurped the awkwardised MiniDisc technology.
I originally ordered the 512MB version of the CreativeMuVoMicroN200 but was sent the 256MB due to longtime problems in securing stocks of the former (the situation with many sites as I write); they could've ended the order but they thought they'd try and win me over with a slightly ...
creativemicro photo
DigitalPlayer /Radio -ProtectedWMA (DRM 9),WAV, WMA,MP3, AD ...
Product Information for "Creative MuVo Micro N200" »
Audio system
Features
Voice recording, FM radio recording capability
Capacity
1 GB
Digital Storage Media
Flash memory - integrated
Sound Output Mode
Stereo
Equaliser
Built-in
Headphones
Headphones Type
Headphones - binaural
Connectivity Technology
Wired
Sound Output Mode
Stereo
Impedance
32 Ohm
Digital player (recorder)
Response Bandwidth
20 - 20000 Hz
Signal-To-Noise Ratio
90 dB
Total Harmonic Distortion
0.1%
Supported Digital Audio Standards
WMA, MP3, protected WMA (DRM)
External Hard Drive Function
Built-in
Playback Modes
A-B repeat, repeat shuffle, repeat all, repeat folder, random play / shuffle, one track repeat
Radio
Type
Radio tuner - digital radio tuner - FM
Tuning Display
LCD display
Connections
Connector Type
1 x headphones ( mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm )
1 x audio line-in
1 x USB, 1 x USB
1 x headphones ( mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm )
1 x audio line-in
System requirements
OS Required
Microsoft Windows 98SE/2000/ME/XP
System Requirements Details
Windows 98SE/2000/ME/XP - Pentium II - 350 MHz
Equaliser
Equaliser Frequencies
250 Hz, 1000 Hz, 4000 Hz, 16000 Hz, 62 Hz
Equaliser Factory Presets
Normal, Custom, Rock, Jazz, Pop, Classic
Manufacturer's product description
The Creative MuVo Micro N200 is the sleekest new flash ultra-portable MP3/WMA player from Creative. Incredibly thin in design, it's packed with the latest features to meet all your needs. Enjoy the amazing, skip free, audio quality when you're listening to your MP3 and WMA music.The MuVo Micro N200 comes complete with an FM tuner, Voice/FM recording, and Line-In encoding for direct connection and recording from any audio source. Directly record your music from a CD player - no computers needed!Transfer audio and data files in seconds with the Drag-and-Drop feature and USB 2.0 support. In addition, Auto Synchronization makes it easy to transfer all your favorite songs and albums from CDs through the line-in connector.Experience uninterrupted listening pleasure with its long-life battery. Hold it in the palm of your hand or slip it into your pocket. Start feeling your music, not your player!