Advantages: Stylish, easy to use and very cute
Disadvantages: Charging is by computer

...but it was all very easy even for me! The instructions do state that you should avoid using a USB hub so we plug the cable direct into the computer, you then use the drag and drop to transfer you music from your files to the little MP3. You also charge the player up using the cable and this gives it enough charge for up to 10 hours, this to me is a bit of a drawback and I can see problems arising when we go on holiday as we will not have a computer with us but like always I will worry about that when it happens. You can buy Zen USB power adapter, which I am sure the other half will look into! The other thing I did like about this is there is a volume control that can be set using the software, as this is for my son we have used this to set the volume so it doesn't damage his delicate little ears and he can't blame the MP3 player when he gets... Read review

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Advantages: Size, Quality of the Sound, different colours
Disadvantages: no lock slide, time it loads up the system

...which is the next room beside it. One of the aspect i found quite useful is the fact that if i put my music files into certain folder, i can make that certain folder to repeat over and over again without creating a playlist. Also, i can delete the file without the needs to link it to the computer. There is another weird thing about this mp3 player. When you turn the system on it automatically plays the music and because i listen to maximum volume that i always jump when i turn it on even though i'm expecting that it's going to be loud. So, before you turn it off, it is best to either lower the volume down or pause the music and then turn it off. The capacity is not that bad either. You can get a 2GB or 4GB which is the standard size of the capacity. The earphone you get with the Zen Stone Plus is also very comfortable as well... Read review

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

...So, It’s my first review in a while. My GCSE’s are on at the moment, and I’m right in the middle of them, but I thought I’d better right a quick review just to let you know I haven’t given up with Ciao! As soon as the GCSE’s are up I will be writing reviews as often as possible. And today, my review is on the fairly new Zen Stone MP3 player. I recently decided that I needed a new MP3 player. I had the original Creative Zen MP3 player. That was a fairly big and bulky player, that had 20GB of space for music, and it was a pretty good player. But I recently made the mistake of charging up the battery when it was nearly full already. This caused a problem with the battery, so now it would only play for about an hour on a medium volume, and even less if any louder. So I decided it was about time for a new player. My Dad had recently... Read review

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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 player was a gadget I really didn't need, why did I buy the Creative Zen Micro? I'll answer that later, just in case you are interested, did my gadget heart beat my mind into submission for a £140 gadget? In this review I have two parts, general info about music players and then a review of the Creative Zen. I have tried to cover all of the questions someone might have about a portable music player. If you are new to media players you should spend some time learning about the major differences in players. It will help you make a better informed decision before you buy. If you already are up to speed with music players and just want to know what's different about the Creative Zen... Read review

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Advantages: Fits in your pocket, Display Screen
Disadvantages: Sensitive Touch Pad

...My search for MP3's began on Ciao and I read around a variety of reviews and asked the reviewers some questions which I needed answering. The most important question for me was 'How can I play this in my car?' but more about that later. I visited Curry's and had a look at a few but was really impressed with the chunky little Zen Micro thingy that fitted comfortably into the palm of your hand. This was the one! After searching the internet for decent prices I went onto the Creative website and actually ended up purchasing the little beast through one of their approved stores, and at the cheapest price I had seen as well, thumbs up from me. The player cost me £135 delivered which I though was a fair price. For those of you who don't know an MP3 player allows you, with a range of software (depending on the type of player) to take... Read review

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Advantages: cheaper than Ipod, simple, attractive, no sharp edges, light weight, does not use itunes
Disadvantages: can only be charged from a computer, gets scratched easily, difficult to organise music effectively

...Overal, the Zen Stone is a decent MP3 player however there are several design flaws which a company like creative which has been i the industry for years should have been able to overcome. The MP3 player is clearly aimed for use by people who use the gym, go running or jogging or listen to music while on the go. It is incredibly light which is one of the reasons I like it. You can hardly tell it is in your pocket which means it causes no discomfort whilst working out or playing sports. I recently bought a Zen stone as an alternative to an Ipod, this is for a few reasons: ADVANTAGES It doesn't use itunes (this makes it easier to drag and drop music). music doesnt have to be converted before it can be played Cheap but still made by a reputable company Aesthetically appealing: the smooth facia is very attractive Ergonomic... Read review

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Advantages: high in functionalty
Disadvantages: uncomfortable and pointless

...CIAO REVIEW 25/10/07 - Creative ZEN V Series Armband Pack MP3 Player - ** MP3 Accessories - Armband and belt clip** A specialised belt/armband catered for the V series and V plus MP3 Player >ZEN a creative introduction< Welcome to planet ZEN, no it's not a hairdressing salon, but a revolutionary name for PMP - Portable Media Players designed by Creative. - Creative was founded in Singapore - in 1981, if you view or have seen their corporate branding it is oriental looking. These guys had a vision in the 1980's originally with sound, and speakers and cards for the PC market. Most will remember that Creative is more known for it's incredibly successful Sound Blaster components for the PC. In recent years Creative have modelled themselves on a few house-hold brands from the West, so that sales in the Western world would increase... Read review

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Advantages: Walking Radio
Disadvantages: volume: see below

...The Zen Micro MP3 Player in my opinion is great. With its vertical touch pad it makes navigation very easy and it is perfectly designed to fit comfortably into your hand with its auper cool curves. It has got 32 FM radio stations you can listen to and record..great! The built in microphone is another really cool feature that this MP3 Player has as you can use this to voice record for up to 10 hours long. wow! You can use the 2.0 USB lead that comes with this MP3 Player to attatch it to your computer and download all your favorite songs. The rechargable Lithium-ion battery that also comes with it is very handy as this will give you continious listening / playtime of 12 hours. This 6 MB MP3 Player will hold 1500 about 99 hours worth of your most favorite songs of 128kbps and a massive 3000 about 198 hours worth of your favorite songs... Read review

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Advantages: Simple, SMall, stylish with excellent sound quality
Disadvantages: only 1GB

...Almost unbeatable for the price tag (between £25 and £40) the Zen stone is an excellent mp3 player that comes highly reccomended. The Zen is easy to use, both in terms of connectivity to computers/laptops for the transfer of music, or whilst out and about on the go. The sound quality is as good as any other mp3 player on the market, and thankfully the zen has a universal headphone socket, meaning broken headphones don't mean disaster! The display is clear, concise and well illuminated, and is even easy to read in bright sunlight, something I've noticed is often difficult on other players. The zen also features a stopwatch (though i've yet to use this feature) and a FM radio (which is as good as any competitors models) The battery is long lasting, and charges through the usb connection to any computer or laptop so further... Read review

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Advantages: Much cheaper than an iPod. Intuitive menu system. Charges Quickly. Plays different audio formats.
Disadvantages: A bit clunkier than the iPod. Menu system isn't quite as pretty as the iPod's

...I think that in this day and age, everyone has been taken in by iPod's high budget advertising scheme and come to believe that iPods are the ONLY mp3 players available, whereas this is far from the truth. Through my own experience with the Zen NX (30Gb) I've never found an mp3 player which is better value for money. I've had mine for almost 3 years now, and it's still performing great. However, think about this, I bought it almost THREE years ago, for just over £200, and it's a 30Gb mp3 player. Go have a look at Apple's prices and see if they can even compete with that nowadays! I'll be honest - it is noticeably clunkier than the iPod, and it's hard drive based, so it's not one to go out jogging with or you'll wreck the drive. But it sounds great (The EAX is an awesome feature) The battery drains slightly quicker with EAX on... Read review

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