Jasmine France, Senior Associate Editor September 20, 2007
Clearly, the Apple iPod is one very popular MP3 player: it offers a sleek design, is easy to use, and has loads of readily available content. But Apple's not the only company that knows how to produce a quality device--a handful of others are well-versed in that regard and have legacies of their own. Take Creative Labs and its Zen family, a line of MP3 players with sweet sound and slick interfaces. Indeed, the iPod's own user-friendly interface is based on Creative's invention, and I daresay the Zen's customizable UI makes it a bit more fun.
At the bottom of the pack, we have the ultrasimple, ultracheap Zen Stone, a 1GB pebble of a player with few features and a price tag to match: this one will set you back just $40. Just a small step up from there is the 2GB Zen Stone Plus, which adds a screen and an FM tuner for $40 more. Next we have the Zen V line, which includes the video-capable, FM-tuning Plus models. These compact, toylike flash players offer color screens and voice recording. At the top of the MP3 player line is the Creative Zen, a pocket-size replacement to the Zen Vision:M with up to 16GB of internal memory and an SD card slot for adding more. For those after a true PVP, Creative delivers with the Zen Vision W, which is the beast of the bunch and offers a hard drive with up to 60GB of space. And we can't forget the Zen Micro Photo, a now-retro microdrive player with a touch-sensitive control pad. This player is at the end of its life and can be found for great prices online.
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| Review date | May 09, 2007 | July 26, 2007 | June 20, 2006 | September 14, 2007 | September 13, 2006 | |
| The Bottom Line | The Creative Zen Stone is a fantastic choice as a secondary MP3 player or for first timers on a budget who want a simple, great-sounding device with limited features and a bargain basement price tag. | For those who want a supersmall and cute MP3 player that offers more than just simple music playback, the Creative Zen Stone Plus fits the bill nicely. | The Creative Zen V Plus is a superb choice for anyone looking for a compact and feature-filled flash MP3 player with great sound quality. If you're looking for a more sophisticated design (or have large thumbs), look elsewhere. | We're hard-pressed to find anything not to like about the Creative Zen. It's a great option for anyone looking for a great-sounding, pocketable MP3 player with an excellent, video-capable screen and plenty of extra features. | The bulky but easy-to-use Creative Zen Vision W and its nice screen will dazzle video lovers who don't require video recording. | |
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| Features | ||||||
| PC interface(s) supported | USB | USB | Hi-Speed USB | Hi-Speed USB | Info unavailable | |
| Flash memory installed | 1 GB | 2 GB | 8 GB | 16 GB | Info unavailable | |
| Flash memory form factor | Integrated | Integrated | Integrated | Integrated | Info unavailable | |
| Digital player signal-to-noise ratio | 90 dB | 90 dB | 92 dB | 97 dB | Info unavailable | |
| Dimensions (WxDxH) | 2.1 in x 0.5 in x 1.4 in | 2.2 in x 0.5 in x 1.4 in | 1.7 in x 0.6 in x 2.7 in | 3.3 in x 0.4 in x 2.2 in | Info unavailable | |
| Weight | 0.7 oz | 0.7 oz | 1.6 oz | 2.3 oz | 9.7 oz | |
| Battery technology | Lithium polymer | Lithium polymer | Lithium ion | Lithium ion | Info unavailable | |
| Software type | Drivers & Utilities | Drivers & Utilities | Creative ZENcast Organizer Creative MediaSource Creative Media Explorer | Creative ZENcast Organizer Creative Media Explorer Drivers & Utilities | Info unavailable | |
| Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | |
| Buying choices | Pricing not available | Pricing not available | Pricing not available | | Pricing not available | |
