Advantages: Massive multi media capacity. Backs-up your digital camera without a PC
Disadvantages: Easy to scratch. It won't record radio. Getting DVD files ready for download is fiddly

...of 'other' files is done via Windows Explorer. ZEN AND ITS PART IN MEDIA STORAGE This is where the hunt for the 'best of the rest' comes in. The Creative Zen won't win so many 'pretty boy' awards as an iPod, and its finish is just as much of a scratch-magnet as its obvious competitor, it being easy to pick up marks to the front plate within days of buying one. However, it has received several magazine awards during its launch year of 2006. In hindsight, I'd seek out a leather case for it pronto, possibly from e-bay, font of all add-ons, before it all starts to look decidedly second-hand. It's a pity that the satin chrome of a previous generation of Zens wasn't retained, but zen, zat's progress for you. It's true to say that it comes with a suede-finished pouch in cream which wipes the finger marks off the screen nicely, but the bag... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: A fantastic, stylish little MP3 player!
Disadvantages: None really, no screen, but you don't expect one on this type of player!

...to be able to press this) in case the player malfunctions. And also on the top of the player there is a small sliding button. With this you can do set your player to play with a different play mode! You have a choice of three different play modes! You can go into the next folder of songs, (if your songs are separated into folders), you can set your player to shuffle songs, or repeat shuffle! The player has 1GB memory capcity, which means that it can hold hundreds of your favourite songs!! There are two small holes on the left hand side on the back of the player, and this is where you can attach accessories, (more later)! Sound Quality With the headphones that came in the box, I thought that the sound quality was very good! But then I tried it with the earphones that came with my Creative Zen, and the sound quality was a whole... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Cheaper than an iPod, and as good as one.
Disadvantages: Quite large and bulky.

...The debate still rages, the Zen or the iPod. Last summer, needing an mp3 player for my holiday, and not having a casual lump of money in my pocket for an iPod. I read countless reviews on Zen's & iPod's to see which the best was. In the end, I parted with £170 for a 30GB Creative Zen rather than a 20GB iPod for around £200+. It was great I thought, an mp3 player with 10GB more storage and £30 less. You're probably now expecting the 'but', however, there isn't one. The Zen is an excellent piece of technology. Let's break it down then. Firstly, the body. Yes it is large. Without the protective casing, it is actually quite a sleek and slim looking product. The silver buttons are very attractive and are quite flush with the edge and do not extrude out of the body of the mp3 player. The buttons are comfortable to touch and have... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Sleek Design, Amazing Sound, Easy Interface
Disadvantages: Dust under screen

...it is something that shouldn't happen with a respectable mp3 player. I advise people to get a Zen Case from ebay if they are to get this! Overall, this mp3 is fantastic. If you get yourself a case from ebay and this player, you will be a very delighted Zen user! I sure am!... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Not an Ipod, easy to use
Disadvantages: Lacks ipod's accessories, no charger in the box

...have the leather case at present, an extra at £9.99 but well worth it as it protects it well. I am looking for a Docking station to use with it, I have a pre-order on the portable Creative Dock, costing £56.17 plus delivery from Zen, looks cool and of course has the sex appeal. I was going to get the Belkin radio transmitter so I could listen to it on the car audio but was warned away from it by an iPod user, anyone out there who has used a good transmitter, please come back with a recommendation for me, please!!!!!! I am in the process of waiting for the AV cables to come so I can front plug it into a TV and watch the videos, available from Creative. £16.30 delivered from Creative UK. Watch for the update on how it works! . Specs There is just so much about the Zen regarding its specs, for a full spec list you can... Read review

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Advantages: Very easy to use, massive battery life, excellent value
Disadvantages: A bit heavy, hard to make playlists, casing

...which comes with it is compatible with all versions of Windows and I've always found it really user-friendly - I only have Windows ME, which sometimes finds new programs problematic - along with "NOMAD explorer" (included with the player) which enables you to upload entire CDs directly onto the player. But not ALL of it is easy to use. The Zen Touch comes with an attractive leather case - but when this is put on, it covers all the buttons except the power switch, so if you want to skip tracks or change any settings, you have to remove the case to do so, which can get painful at times! Also, creating playlists (although simple enough in MediaSource) is very hard to do on the player itself. You have to upload files to Selected Music and filter through various menus to upload just one track to a playlist - people my age who use the player... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Great battery life, easy to use and attractive design
Disadvantages: Heavy, bulky and the accompanying software isn't up to much.

.../off button above the volume up and volume down buttons. All buttons are silver, and the on/off button is backlit in blue when the player is on or charging. (It flashes while charging). The menus are easy to use and there are various settings you can modify - for example the length of time the blue backlight stays on for, the sensitivity of the touch strip and time&date. The battery life really is fantastic. Advertised as 24hours, I've had mine on almost constantly for three days and only needed to charge it once. The Zen Touch doesn't come in a box, rather in that awful clear plastic vacuum-packed stuff. This lets you see the product before you buy it, but you have to cut the stuff open with scissors, thus spoiling any chance of long term storage. Included in the package is the player, a pair of decent headphones, a carry case, charger, 2... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Battery life, sound quality, durability, compatibilty
Disadvantages: Size, menu system

...of sound is very pure. I've heard Ipods sound quality on my friends ipods, and i have to say that the zen is far superior. Navigation on the zen takes a lot to get used to. The touch pad is sensitive and can easily lead to selecting the wrong song, or inadvertently skipping steps, however, with practice, this is reduced. It will never quite have the fluidity of the apple wheel system, but for basic functionality the touch pad suffices. The independent volume controls are very useful and don't require you to use the touchpad to turn your music up. Build quality is impeccable, or at least it has been for my zen. It's fairly chunky, but as a result it feels very durable, and does not scratch easily. The white/silver case is very tough and hasn't suffered any dents or marks so far. One fault i find however, is the on the go playlist making... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Small, great looks, compatible with most formats
Disadvantages: Touch screen a little to fiddly

...?' or 'Have you done your report on the new pricing model yet?' - When could I use a portable mp3 player? So with that resounding conclusion that a personal music