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"Just What I Was Looking For!!!" on by hagarpun
Pros: Large memory, Battery operated, FM recorder, Easy to navigate, Plug and Play, Drag and Drop Music
Cons: Wish it came with a neck lanyard
Summary: This player is exactly what I was looking for. I hate players with rechargeable batteries because when the battery dies on you in the middle of a trip, you've got no music, whereas with this player, when you're AAA battery dies, you simply drop another one in. The cattery last somewhere around 16 hours at last check.
I also love the FM recording ability. At first, before I bought the item, I thought that the FM receiver would be horrible. It turns out that I can pick up all the same stations that I can in a car. It's that good. The recording option is awesome. I can record my favorite mourning talk show with it, and listen to it after i get out of work. You can record up to 16 hours of FM recording with it.
Navigation is a snap. Very easy to flip through the many available features that this palyer has to offer. Folders for music make arranging your music easier.
Plug and play was a snap. Windows XP notices it as a massive storage device and I use USB 1.1 to upload. I think it is USB 2.0 Compliant.
One of the other best features is that you can drop and drag the music onto the player. This eliminates havng to use any program to transfer the music and eliminates anti-piracy restrictions.
All in all, the Creative Zen Nano Plus is one of the best MP3 players available on the market. The price I think is very fair for what the player has to offer!
Rock On!!!!!!!!! -
"Side by Side Comparison..Ipod Shuffle, Creative Zen Nano, IRiver T 30" on by Jimro
Pros: Very Good Sound, Good Form Factor, Easy To Use
Cons: Treble is muddied with EQ
Summary: I couldn't find any posting of side by side comparisons of these three
units...so already owning a Ipod Shuffle, I purchased both a Creative
Zen Nano Plus and an IRiver T30. I loaded the same song files into all
three so that the comparison would be valid. I used only the earphones
that came with each unit.
The Ipod is simple as can be to use. Partly good design and partly
fewest features.
The Creative Zen Nano has a decent LCD and a menu system that has a
short learning curve. It is also the only one of the three to have a
built in radio.
The Iriver has the greater learning curve partly because it has more
customizable options.
Both the Creative and the IRiver have line in ability to copy directly
from CDs.
Of course only the Shuffle has a bulit in rechargable battery (not user
replacable) while the other two use AAAs. Of course you can purchase
rechargable AAAs (Rayovac makes ones that take 15 minutes to
recharge!).
Sound quality...My primary concern.
All three have pleasant sound with plenty of volume (too much!).
First of all the Ipod Shuffle has no controls at all to customize the
sound. It does sound very good, however.
The Creative Zen Nano has an equalizer.
The IRiver T30 has both an equalizer and an entire set of other sound
controls from the SRS WOW component.
A fair comparison requires us to set both the Creative and the IRiver
to what I and my son believe to give the best combination of bass and
treble response. Of course that is somewhat subjective. However we both
agreed on the settings.
I know that some 'tests' /reviews say they leave the settings at
'neutral' to be fair...I beg to strongly disagree...after all why
shouldn't the Creative Zen Nano and the IRiver benefit from a
capability that they have built in! Users would surely use those
controls..so they should be evaluated. Each unit producing the best it
can!
Again..all three sound very good.
Treble...The Apple Shuffle Ipod and the IRiver T30 had the best treble.
Clear. The Creative was somewhat muddied in response, but not bad.
Bass...Here the IRiver shone above the others... definitively. The
Creative was second with the Ipod Shuffle not far behind.
I found the following SRS settings to be the 'best' on the IRiver;
SRS...08
Focus..Low
Trubass...10
Boost...60
Overall..the IRiver's sound was definitely the best of the three. -
"terrific product" on by taez108
Pros: large memory, affordable, many different options
Cons: ear buds not the greatest
Summary: This is my first mp3 player and I accidentally chose a winner. It's small, with a plastic case to help protect it. The software is easy to manage. There aren't a lot of buttons to confuse while on the go and the different folders make it perfect to organize music. The different recording features are convenient. I did purchase a different set of earphones but the buds are okay, just not great. Volume doesn't distort the sound. Built in radio with record option is a great idea.
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"Best Full Featured Mp3 Player Out there - Long Review" on by eckre
Pros: Non-proprietary battery/software required
Cons: Weird proprietary 1/16" Line-in jack, weak mic
Summary: Okay, here we have the Creative Labs Zen Nano 1GB Version. I listen to mp3's for probably 20 hours a week. (Books/Music) so I use these things a LOT. They all play mp3s, so these are the features that set it apart from the rest. This is really is the best all around mp3 player, for the following reasons:
1. Flash based: Meaning no HDD spinning around thousands of times a minute, movable parts=easily breakable or they wear down. Meaning you can also jog with it and don’t fret if you drop it.
2. Size: This thing is small, about the size of a 17-stick pack of gum, but thinner. This is great for jogging, it's weightless.
3. Compatibility. You DO NOT have to use some weird 3rd party CRAP software like iTunes or Windows Media crap (like you do with Ipod's or IRivers) just drag, drop & GO! If you want some of your friends songs, you don’t have to load up itunes or your mp3 players proprietary software cluttering up your friends computer to get his songs.
4. Storage: You plug it in you not only drop any of your mp3s/WMAs on it, you can throw some pictures, some huge files, documents, anything, and use it just like a thumb drive. And still listen to your music.
5. It has LINE-IN: This is VERY rare indeed. Only the some of the flash based iRivers have line in.(and higher end sony mini-discs) The downside is they use some weird smaller than 1/8" standard stereo jack. (1/16"???) Looks proprietary to me. You'd just have to go to Radio Shack and get a little adaptor I suppose to use some high quality powered Mic's with it.
Now I've tested the Line-in recording @ 320Kbits MP3 Stereo and it's pretty, good BUT defiantly not perfect. Some of the bass get's a little muffled, this is partly due to it just being analog to analog. Digital Optical line in is asking too much for the price. I think you can vary the quality of recording a bit too.
6. It has an built in MIC. This is good for recording notes and crap, but I've noticed it only works when you're pretty close. You can't drop it in your shirt pocket and expect to get a clear recordin of a conversation you're having with someone.
7. Accessories: It comes with:
-Earbuds - Which all brands always just fall out of my ears I never even tried them, I have my own.
USB Cable - I like these mini USB cables, standard is good, I can use my digicams one if I loose it.
- Cd/manual Software, etc, never opened it, I just drag and drop.
- Line-in cable - A must.
- AAA Battery - (boring voice) wohoo.
- Case - It comes with a little 2/3 plastic case that you can slide it into, thus protecting it and making it a little bigger (harder to loose) and protecting it in case of a fall. This case has a CLIP on it so you can clip it to your belt, shirt OR the
- Armband - This is the cool thing, a custom little armband for jogging. I love it, you can just slide it right on. It’s velcro.
8. NON-proprietary battery: Good old AAA Normal battery, throw a few recharables in your bag, you’re good to go. I don’t have to “dock” it or some crap like that.
9. Radio is a plus, when you’re done listening to your mp3s or books, it’s nice to have an alternative.
So there ya go. Does it have a color tiny screen like the Ipod Nanos? No! Who wants to see 200X200 pixel pictures anyways. Who cares. This beats the ipod nano on every count.
This is my second one, I had the 512MB one, but it broke after 1 month. Still under warranty, but they stopped making them, I got a 1GB for the same price 2 months later. Gotta love computers... until 3 more months.
So the ONLY downfalls is the following.
1. Mine broke after 1 month, other people had the same problem, turned it on, Creative’s logo flashed and turned off. RMA’d it.
2. It has the weird 1/16" line-in jack
3. Built in mic is a little weak
So, I will give it a 9/10. But in reality, nothing else touches it. -
"The Best Flash Mp3 Player Available" on by calisurferdude
Pros: Line in (great for taping live concerts), Great Software, Voice Recording, Durable, Extremely small and light weight, great earphones, runs 20 hours on ONE!!!! AAA battery.
Cons: Battery Cover can snap mine is held with scotch tape, and plastic belt clip will tear
Summary: I have owned this product for 3 months and have used it every day. The sound quality is awesome. I wanted to get an ipod but was turned off because you need to buy expensive attachments to record live music and listen to the radio. The nano plus runs on one AAA battery so you don't have to worry about buying expensive lithium ion batteries. Most of the lithium batteries have to be special ordered and cost as much as the players themselves. The microphone on this is awesome. I went to a concert and recorded the whole show on this player. It sounded fantastic. Also the nano plus can take a beating. I have dropped it on cement, sat on it by accident, kept it in my pocket next to my car key, house keys, and loose change. Since this player is flash memory not hard drive memory there is no moving mechanical parts. You can also store upto 500 songs. The transfer rate is fast from cd player / computer to mp3 player so if you wanna change your song list around or add / delete tracks its really easy. I hardly ever give good reviews because I am plegued buying terrible items so buying this mp3 player was one of the best purchases I have ever made.