Entered CNET Catalog: 06/13/2006
SKU: CNETCREATIVEZENVPLUS1GBW
Manufacturer: Creative Labs
Manufacturer description
The Creative Zen V is the MP3 player for people who set the pace. Stylish in design, it has a glossy finish, with subtle color highlights and a neat rounded shape that fits comfortably in the hand. A bright color screen and Creative's famous interface make it easy to use and it supports multiple audio formats including MP3, WMA and Audible Audio. The Zen V can record straight to WMA without a PC, and it has a built-in microphone for voice notes. Playtimes up to 15 hours are supported by its rechargeable battery.User opinions
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User Rating: 
8/10
What I Love about My Zen
Pros: I use my Zen and OverDrive media for downloading audiobooks from the public library. It holds 10-12 and supports 10 different bookmarks. When I turn it off, it saves my place. I keep a paperclip for resets, and my gym key in the clip-on holder.
Cons: It needs rebooting from time to time, but that's very easy to do. I bought the$30 charger one from the website, and it works fine. And don't drop it in water. It can't be recusitated, but is very inexpenive to replace when that happens.
User Rating: 
1/10
Do not buy this thing!!!!
Pros: It worked great, until the battery died.
Cons: After about 14 months, the battery died. They don't tell you that once the battery dies, the whole unit is dead because you can not replace it! All your data is gone forever!
User Rating: 
2/10
it sucks because it doesn't work on a mac
Pros: great price but sucks because i spend 1000 dollars on a mac and can't use my mp3 player
Cons: Won't work on a mac if it did it would be the greatest
User Rating: 
10/10
Great for audio books!
Pros: It has bookmark capabilities, most units don't.
Cons: Stock ear phones weren't great.
I took the first unit back, did more research and found the Zen V Plus with 2 GB (plenty of space for audio books and a some music). I also bought the 2 year service warranty because of some reviews having problems with the joy stick. I've had my Zen for just over a year and have had no problems. It locked up once, I reset it and it rebooted with all data still stored.
I also went toE-bay and bought a package that include home and car chargers and a skin and armband. All have worked well.
I strongly recommend this unit for anyone that wants to listen to audio books.
User Rating: 
9/10
A Great Buy!
Pros: It does way more than they advertise.
Cons: Now the bad news. It is a little slow to start up.
By D. Webb "Century 22" (Columbus OH) - See all my reviews
http://www.amazon.com/review/product/B000IBROQE/ref=cm_cr_dp_all_helpful?%5Fencoding=UTF8&coliid=&showViewpoints=1&colid=&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending
I love my Zen. I've had it over a month now. The software is included, but you can use windows explorer to load it.
Music, Videos, storage, Date Book, calander, Alarm Clock, Voice Recorder, and an FM Radio!
It does way more than they advertise.
It works with Windows, Yahoo Music, Audible Books and more.
Right now I'm downloading videos from YouTube!
I have never had to use the reset button.
Right now there are hundreds of songs stored on mine, I lost count at 250!
All high quality audio.
Now the bad news. It is a little slow to start up.
Go ahead and buy the (expensive) charger from the manufacturer.
I have found nothing else that works.
The screen it VERY bright in the dark, but still hard to see in sunlight.
Most files will have to be converted. I've found free software for that.
( www.Downloads.com ) YouTube Grabber, YouTube FLV to AVI Suite.
This has been a good product for me. A Great buy!
User Rating: 9/10
Love This Thing!!!!
Pros: Bookmarks for Podcasts!
Cons: Some minor software glitches and only usb for charging
User Rating: 9/10
GREATTT!! i am very happy i bought the zen v plus than ipod
Pros: dont have to use itunes,very small and cute, geart colours, user friendly, cheaper than ipod
Cons: navigation stick is small but manegable
User Rating: 
7/10
Tons of features, but not the important ones
Pros: great sound, good interface software, lots and lots of features, lots and lots of bells and whistles, amazing price
Cons: You can not navigate easily, no bookmarking, voice recorder is lacking
Unfortunately, the voice recorder is only good in quiet situations and useless outside/ in a crowd/ or with any other noise. The mic will overmodulate easily. With more and more noise the mic doesn't make adjustments-- it just increases volume input till it is just a crackly hiss.
If you listen to music, this mp3 player is perfect. If you listen to podcasts, you will be frustrated with the lack of bookmarking, and the poor descriptions of what is in your menu.
The navigation through the Zen V plus is muddy and a bit confusing at times.
Overall-- if you want to listen to your music and the radio and an occasional rock video-- then this is a perfect tool. However, it falls shorts in every other respect. It is horrible for podcast listening.
User Rating: 9/10
Excellent product, great user interface! Shame about the lack of charger though.
Pros: Small, lightweight design, attractive, attractive and easy to use interface, good battery life, quick and easy drag-and-drop method.
Cons: No charger included, black model prone to showing fingerprints,
User Rating: 
4/10
average at best
Pros: compact, ok graphics
Cons: cheap joystick, locks up all the time
User Rating: 10/10
Best £80 i ever spent! (4G version)
Pros: Easy drag and drop, extra features, video playback, intuitive use rinterface, personalisable
Cons: round coloured button can be difficult to use, but can use toggle stick instead.
I got the player yesterday and withing an hour of getting it home i had filled it with music, videos, pictures, contacts and diary dates. I'd customised the menus and display options and explained to my whole family why it was the best thing i've ever bought.
The drag and drop is really simple and you can edit the track details really easily - rather than having to do it through a media player before transferring.
I find the screen is fine if you want to watch an episode or two or your favourite show and it supports all the file formats I've thrown at it.
its got some really great features that they don't mention as well, such as converting your music to all fit and it's own address book/calendar - i read several reviews that said you need to use outlook at i was slightly disheartened but fortunately, they were wrong.
everything makes so much sense and you can personalise it a lot - for instance you can name it and set your pictures as a background .
User Rating: 7/10
awesome look and feel but not so easy to use at first
Pros: looks, feel, tons of features, bright screen
Cons: ear-bud quality, practically useless if you own Windows98 S.E.
User Rating: 9/10
Terrific little mp3 player!
Pros: Great sound, easy to navigate
Cons: wma default format, mp3 converter costs extra
My only beef, and it's minor, is that the zen software does not include an mp3 ripper. The player DOES play mp3's, the software does not create them. You have to use Media Player, or a 3rd party, or pay Creative $10 for an mp3 ripper download. Otherwise, my score would be a 10!
User Rating: 8/10
Great Sound and Great Price
Pros: FM Tuner, Voice Recorder, excellent sound, can hold 2,000 Songs, long battery life
Cons: None that me or my wife have found
User Rating: 8/10
Great product, poor controls
Pros: Large capacity, small, durable case, nice design (other than the joystick), great features.
Cons: Tiny cheap joystick...feels lose after just a few uses
User Rating: 10/10
OMG GREAT PRODUCT
Pros: EVERYTHING the price the features just great and every way better then the nano ipods are def. OVER RATED!!!! i kno cause i owned one.
Cons: there are none
User Rating: 4/10
great sound very poor battery life
Pros: great sound
Cons: very poor battery life, bad file management
User Rating: 9/10
An awsome upgrade for my personal listening
Pros: Small, lightweight, intuitive interface, gets lots of looks
Cons: hard to see in sunlight, firmware must be upgraded before it will stop locking up
User Rating: 
5/10
Cute but flawed, seriously flawed
Pros: small, nice color combos, bright screen etc...
Cons: Not dockable!!
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