Creative Technology Zen V (1 GB) MP3 Player (70PF1921001C1)

First impression - this is the next gen. of Zen model by creative lab. Offered in numbers of colours and up to 4 gigs. This is a flash based memory player with voice recorder. This player doesn't feature a radio like other models of muvo or zen.

The good:
This is a light weight and had a great design. IMHO it's cuter then an ipod nano - its main rival. Great colour match (mine was the white with orange highlights -- very Sony sport like) The price or the unit also made it exceptionally affordable.

Its OLED screen is something to behold... exceptional clear and bright when showing pictures.

Batteries life is very good. I get a full 15 hours that they claim.

This mp3 player also can take outlook files, contact numbers and scheduler - all great extra toys.

The bad:
Complain 1. A bit flimsy - Okay, this is a flash based player so it means its very light... however, drawing from past experiences with Creative lab, their mp3 players are not known for their toughness.

Complain 2. This isn't a true drag-and-play player; It's more like a copy-and-play; you can not directly play the file with your winamp player just by clicking the files - you have to drag it to the desktop first. I also haven't check if it would casue problems with Macs.

Complain 3. Again, this is a pure mp3 player, so if you want to use store stuff like a flash card.. you have to set aside a partition. Since you can't write over those partitions, it isn't that great when your want both files and your tunes store in one unit.

Complain 4. Where the hell is the FM radio? Even the smaller zen nano had one.


The ugly:
The only reason that my ipod shuffle went shuffle back to the store is because of its batteries life -- or more specifically, the way to charging. The V use a standard micro USB wire to charge up its lithium battery - like the shuffle. In order to keep your player charge up, you have to bring along a separated charger.

Because of this lack of flexablity, I had to push this to a 4 rating.

I also believe the standard AAA batteries or NiMH is a better power solution in the light of the recent failures of Lith-ion batteries.

Also, you can forget about repairs if your player breaks - Creative lab had a pretty bad customer services.. I wrote about 4 emails for a problem with my Zen nano. 1 replied in a cut-&-paste email.


Conclusion:
Like CNET, I would like to give this player 8 out of 10...
Okay, that USB batteries charging thing is a mess; and yeah, no radio. Also,I have to handle this like a 5 weeks old kitten.

But for the good side, it's about 75% cost of an ipod nano, lighter and smaller, and had a bit more toys to play with. It is also cuter looking.. like a mutant Tomagochi.

This is a keeper if the battery issue and the not so good file transfer system isn't a bother to you.

Once the bugs were straightened out (anomalie with the screen locking up continually and disallowing the unit to be turned off etc)((solved by letting the lithium battery go completely dead then recharging....this apparently caused a re-set of <something>)) Since then its been flawless and working great! Recommended buy....but check prices. The eBay unit I bought was just slightly under market cost! (check first!)