Like most Creative offerings, the Creative Zen Sleek lets you sync with Outlook calendar, tasks, and contact information. The device ships with Creative MediaSource Player/Organizer and Zen Media Explorer, but its works best with Windows Media Player 10 for most tasks. You can also customize your menu by bringing oft-used options to the top menu.
The Zen Sleek has excellent data transfer speeds. Our test MP3s traveled to our Sleek via USB 2.0 at a charged 5.9MB per second. Overall, system performance is nice and smooth, though the touch pad might be a bit too sensitive for some folks, no matter how much time they've spent with it.We did notice the Creative Zen Sleek's proclivity to slip into shut-down mode of its own accord, then freezing up before completing the shutdown. We weren't curious about the inclusion of a reset pinhole next to the docking port on the bottom of the player for very long.
On a positive note, the Creative Zen Sleek supplies big and crystal-clean 97dB signal-to-noise sound, plenty of volume, a "smart" volume setting to compensate for uneven digital modulation, and a variety of music-specific EQs to personalize your sound. The FM radio provides good separation between stations, a must in Manhattan and other frequency-filled metro areas, and a bit of tinkering led us to the correct method of setting the copious 32 presets. Battery life is rated for 18 hours, which is decent but is nothing compared with that of the Cowon iAudio X5, the Cowon X5L, the Sony HD5, and a few other high-capacity competitors.
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