Creative Zen Touch 20 GB

Author's product rating:   

Sound Quality	Excellent
Ease of Use	Simple
Look & Design	Satisfactory
Range of Features	Diverse
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Great sound, good capacity, good battery life, easy to use
Disadvantages:	Larger and heavier then some MP3 players, not overly attractive

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

INTRODUCTION

With so many MP3 players out there now, it becomes quite a task to sit down and study all the specs to come to a decision doesn't it? Don't worry, I know only too well. I spent a good 20 minutes agonising over which model to fork out £200 on and when I accompanied my mate for the same process, he spent about double the time.
Fortunately for you, you needn't go to quite so much trouble since hopefully this review will lay everything out for you. This is mainly a review for the Creative Zen but I will include a basic specs list and description of each of the competitors to help you weigh things up.
Of course this review assumes that you are interested in a 20 gig MP3 player and that you are willing to spend £150 or more. If not, then this review will probably not be of much use to you.

WHAT IS AN MP3 PLAYER?

For the rest of this review, I will refer to technical terms to keep things a bit more brief, so if you would like a little background information to help you make sense, then please read this section first. Otherwise, feel free to skip to the next section and read on.
An MP3 player is a player that stores music files digitally on a hard disk and can access these files at your command to play any of the tracks you might store on there. The players are advanced enough to allow you to search by album, artist, genre or even artist. MP3 is actually a type of music file but it is not the only one. Other types of music file include WAV and WMA. Different files will actually take up different amounts of disk space.
The disk space you have determines the number of tracks you will be able to fit on. However, there is not only file type to consider when you are wondering how space - hungry your "Scissor Sisters" album collection is going to be. In order to transfer music files onto your player, they need to be pre-stored on a computer. When you download music onto your computer, you can select the quality you would like. The better the quality, the bigger the size each track file will be. Therefore, if you download your tracks on high quality, they will also be high quality when transferred to your player and therefore take up a lot more disk space on the player, making your total playlist potential more limited.
Unfortunately, the sneaky MP3 player companies always state the number of tracks you will fit on by assuming you use the smallest file type and the lowest quality (boo, hiss). Therefore, it is advisable to knock about 30% off the stated "track total" that they lure you with.
Ok, that just about explains an MP3 player so now I will move onto the review proper.

CREATIVE ZEN: YOU'VE GOT THE LOOK

The Zen is probably not the most attractive MP3 player there is. At least, not in my opinion. I do think that the ipod for example is a fair amount more attractive.
That said, the Zen doesn't look too bad either. Basically it is white in colour (you can see the shape in the picture above) with silver slim buttons that run down each side and a smaller circular button in the middle, just below the screen.
The central extended oval is the "touch" feature and so by touching this strip with your thumb or finger, you can scroll through the menus of the player.

CREATIVE ZEN: SPEC-ULATION

So how does the Creative Zen Touch match up as an MP3 player? Well firstly, the creative Zen doesn't just store MP3 files. It can also store WMA. This may not sound too impressive but WMA files take a lot less room then MP3 files do, meaning that the Zen can potentially store a lot more then a competitor that may only be able to store MP3 files (coughappleipodcough).
The Zen can apparently hold up to 10,000 songs (allowing 4 minutes per track - a standard measure used for all players). In reality, allowing for above average quality, you'd be looking at around 8,000 - still a good hefty number.
How about battery life? Well the Zen uses a rechargable battery which holds out for an impressive 24 hours. Wow! Considering it only takes a maximum of 4 hours to charge up, this is pretty damn good going and is certainly better then a fair few competitors (they will feature later, don't worry).
Of course the Zen is fully PC and Mac compatible (apparently), although I have only used it on PC so Mac users will have to let me know how easy they find it and correct me on my mistakes.

CREATIVELY SIMPLE

So how easy is this player to use? Easy! Assuming that you have downloaded your music onto your computer (you do this by putting in each CD and selecting "Rip" or "Copy"), you can either use Media Player to fill up your Zen OR you can use their very own provided software. Media Player is easier for most people because they will already have it, whereas you need to install their provided software using the disk they enclose. I have actually used both for the purpose of this review.
For Media Player, you simply select "Sync" and then in the "Sync list", select Zen in the drop-down menu. After that, you simply click on "Edit List" and seek out all the tracks you want to transfer. If you are doing the whole lot, I have found no "Select All" option, so you need to click each track individually. With your list complete, click "Start Sync" and let Media Player take over. It does it in an impressive amount of time, fuss free and better yet, you're free to play solitaire or browse the internet while you wait for it.
To dock your player, you use the USB cable provided. It is worth noting that when the player is having music loaded onto it, this uses a considerably higher amount of battery power then simply using the player to play tracks. This is because any operation (including selecting a specific track to play on the player) where the player has to access the hard disk, it will use more battery. This is also a good reason not to fill your player to full capacity.
The Creative software CD is a bit less user friendly then Media Player but it still gets the job done so don't worry! With the Creative software, you will have to select "PC" as the source and "Zen" as the destination. The only problem with the software compared to Media player is that rather then building a list by clicking each track then letting it go, you have to wait for each set of tracks in turn to download (disabling the option of playing that addictive game of solitaire!). In theory, you can build a full list and let it get on with it, but it makes it a lot slower and the "enclosed window" in which the list appears makes it a lot harder to see what you have selected, making the bitesize option more appropriate.

OK thats the hard bit out of the way. Now how easy is the actual player to use in itself? Well it couldn't be simpler! You will have a "next track" and "previous track" button (self explanatory really). You will also have a "random" button. Pressing this makes the player play ALL tracks in a random order. Keeping these three company is a "back" button (go back to the last screen you were on) and a "Menu" button. The menu button contains all the options you could want. To scroll through each menu, you simply roll your thumb or finger over the touch strip running vertically down the player.
Within the menu, you can access "settings" (such as the backlight timeout etc), "information" (how many tracks you have in total, how much disk space you have used and have free etc). You can also access the music library where you can browse ALL tracks or you can browse by album, artist or genre etc.
On the side of the player, you have the "up" and "down" volume buttons which allow you to select the volume you'd like. Be warned - the loudest volume is deafening! (Yes, I have tried it and no, I won't do so again).
The backlight stays on while you are interacting with the player to ensure darkness has no power over you and your little tuneful companion. Simply press the central (and previously unmentioned) "OK" button on anything highlighted to select it. When you do this with a track, a small sub-menu appears, allowing you to just view information about the track or actually play it. This is a fantastic idea because it means you can check out the artist or album a track is from without having to interupt whatever track you might be currently appreciating. Overall, the Zen player is very easy to use, fear not!

THE MANUAL

The manual looks frightening, as it measures at about half an inch thick! That is until you realise that most of that is foreign languages and the English section takes up a considerably small number of pages. This was ideal for me because I get scared by a lot of pages, since it puts me in a mindset where I think I will never get there!
The instructions are simple, easy and fuss free. You simply do as it says and get on with it. It doesn't assume you are a technician or advanced scientist who understands what highly technical terms mean and it doesn't patronise you either. It will help you in showing you how to set up their software and dock your player. It's worth reading the manual through once first, like you would a novel and then reading it again while doing as it says. Don't worry - it's not a long haul, so you'll be fine.

CREATIVE ZEN: YOU CAN DO BETTER!

So where does the Creative Zen not meet standards? Well firstly, this player is one of the largest out there. That is to say that for a portable player, compared to others out there, it is somewhat bulky and heavy. This does bother me slightly but in the general scheme of things, I am happy to live with it since what mainly matters to me is disk space, battery life and user friendliness.
Another nuance with the Zen is that it can occasionally freeze. This is not a crisis - it will sort itself out within half a minute but it can be irritating! It won't do it while you are listening to music - it generally happens when you come to turn the player off. Also, this is a very occasional problem - not a frequent occurence.
Anything else? Well no not really. Apart from that, the good old Zen hoardes top marks so hurrah! Other users may have found other things to criticise. I haven't yet, so I am perfectly happy.

CREATIVE ZEN: ARE YOU TOUGH ENOUGH?

So how does the Zen rate against competitors? Well let's take a look at them shall we? Oh yes, the good old famous ipod and ipod mini are about to get their comeuppance here and the underrated Sony creation is about to be elevated to dizzy heights. Here we go!

ipod Mini: 2/5

VERY poor value! The good features of this model are its size (titchy!) and its attractive colour ranges. However, the ipod mini can ONLY hold MP3 files, meaning more disk space is used and Apple give it a "1,500 track" capacity. This may sound good but remember that this model costs a whopping £170. Only £30 cheaper then the Zen which holds 10,000 tracks! Did I mention this puny thing only has a 13 hour battery life? (Little more then half that of the Zen). Oh dear!

ipod (20 gig) 3/5

Again, only a 13 - 15 hour battery life for the ipod. However, the 20 gig is much better value then the mini. Only slightly bigger in size, it can hold 5,000 tracks (MP3 files ONLY) and is only £40 dearer at £210. Of course this means it has half the track capacity of the Zen, little over half the battery life and £10 dearer! On the plus side, it is smaller and lighter then the Zen and arguabley more attractive to look at. Not too bad but certainly not a top scorer.

Sony MP3 player: 5/5

FANTASTIC! This player outdoes them all. Where to begin? Well firstly, the price is £200, so we're talking the same money - range as the other players here. It can hold up to 13,000 tracks (that's 30% more then the Zen and 260% more then the ipod -whoa!) - MP3 and WMA compatible of course, like the Zen. Now wait for it........A 30 HOUR BATTERY LIFE!!! And the size? No bigger then an ipod!! infact, a competitor for the ipod mini in this department. It is also pretty attractive, looking like a mini camera. I'd say this is even better then the Zen. So why did I choose Zen? That I explain below.
Not mentioned here is the Philips model, but to put that in a nutshell it is a little oversized and not as good as the Zen so not really worth mentioning, although the price is probably competitive.

So overall, the ipods are not a good investment. You are talking high prices, low battery life and a much more limited track capacity and all of that because you are paying for a name and a brand.
By contrast, the Sony MP3 player is far better value and offers a huge capacity, massive battery life and can't even really be beaten on size.
The Zen slots nicely in the middle, but a lot nearer the Sony then the ipod.

WHY ZEN WAS FOR ME

The main reason I opted for the Zen was because I had a friend who already had one and they already had the software to download songs, so if worst came to worst and I couldn't figure out how to put tracks onto my player - he would be able to help.
Also, the Sony model didn't seem to have a "touch" feature and the screen was a bit smaller but above all - I wasn't sure how easy it would be to put tracks onto. I'm sure it's really quite simple, using Media Player but I felt safer going with something that I knew I couldn't really lose with.

CREATIVE FEATURES AND SOUNDS

So what are the main features of the Zen? Well for one thing, you have a backlit screen. You can select the timeout you would like for this, so you can have it glowing blue for as long as you like.
Also, if you hold down the next/previous track buttons, it allows you to skip through a track at an ever increasing speed, so if you only like the end of a track, you can skip there in no time. This does use more battery then simply playing the track, however.
The Zen also comes with a USB cable, to link it to the computer, a case to clip onto your belt/trousers so you can carry it without pockets on the move and an AC adapter to charge it. Earphones are obviously also included.
When you first get your Zen, you are advised to charge it to maximum battery and then literally "drain" it through usage. If you follow this procedure for the first four charges or so, you will exercise and break in the battery, allowing you to obtain more battery use long term.
This is another point to pick on the ipod with too. The ipods DON'T come with an adapter, so you have to make a seperate purchase just to charge its battery! How much of a rip off is that? Of course AC adapters aren't too expensive - about £6 or so but still, it's worth noting.
So how does this player sound when playing tracks? Well I didn't download songs on the lowest or highest quality - just over half way, so this would make a difference, but from what I have heard the sound is fantastically clear! When you listen to a track on the Zen, the track just seems to sound a whole lot better and you tend to hear parts within the track that you wouldn't have picked up from simply playing it on a stereo, for example.
The sound is clear, smooth and uninterupted which is really exactly all I need from an MP3 player for sound. The volume allows you to put the loudness from 1 - 24. I find 13 or 14 is a good volume if you are in the house, but if you are walking through busy streets and/or the city, I opt for level "16" volume.

On the "Media Touch" programme (the software they give you), you can make up your very own playlists for the Zen. Simply select new playlist and give it a title, before selecting each track you want, right - clicking it and selecting "add to playlist" - it then gives you the list of playlists.
So far, I have 2 playlists I have made up. One of these is made up entirely of remixes of various songs. The other is all my favourite tracks. Through the computer, it really is easy to customise and make your own lists for the Zen.
You can also use either the Zen or the software to delete unwanted tracks and dispose of them. By default, the Zen lists all tracks in alphabetical order for you when you scroll through on the player.

UPDATES

You can also "update" your Creative Zen Touch through the Creative website. Don't worry about leaving it a long time before you get round to it - the site will ensure that your player is brought bang up to date. Obviously the player needs to be docked prior to ensure it can receive all the necessary configurations.
When you first get the player (or even before), it's good to visit the website to get to know it a bit. Then when you have had your player a while and decide you might like to check out any new features, simply use your USB to dock it and logon. You will need Active X in order to do this (available to download FREE).

BRING IN THE MAINTENANCE TEAM

There are a few points to consider when purchasing a Creative Zen, in terms of maintaining your player.

> Running or jogging with it attached to you is not a brilliant idea. Walking of course is perfectly fine and you may get away with a run, but it is not designed to be jolted up and down vigorously.

> Try not to leave it charging beyond the time necessary, since this creates excess heat which could potentially damage the hard disk.

> Keeping it out of direct sunlight is always favourable - again, it is not accustomed to intense heat.

There we go, not a difficult list to keep to. These points are probably much the same for all MP3 players, so it's worth remembering, regardless of whether you are after a Zen or an ipod.

PRICES UPDATE

As with all electrical products, prices do go down. Currently, the Zen can be purchased offline at £150 as opposed to the £200 original price. Online, it will be cheaper. To get up to date prices, look online and see what you can find. Obviously the other MP3 players will go down in price also.

CONCLUSION

So to finish things off, would I recommend the Zen? Absolutely! It may be a little bulky compared with other players, but it has great features, great battery life and a good capacity. On top of that, this understated gem is nice and easy to use.
All prices mentioned above are from John Lewis (never knowingly undersold) and so represent the lowest prices on the high street. I do not recommend buying on the internet, as for a purchase like this, I think it is best to see the product face to face and have someone on hand to help you out.
MP3 players are the next step in portable music technology and really are a useful piece of equipment. To have your entire music collection to hand at any time and to be able to listen to any of the tracks is very handy indeed! Anyone who likes music but has not yet bought an MP3 player, I would whole heartedly recommend buying one. That is assuming you have a computer. Don't worry about it being complicated - you can always recruit someone to help you but it is definitely worth it.

That ends this review so thankyou for reading and I hope this proves useful. If anything I have put is incorrect, please leave a note in my gb so I can amend it asap.
Also, if anyone would like further advice, either on MP3 players or how to set up music on their computer, just leave me a message and I will try to help you as best I can.

Let the sounds live on!

Ciao.