Entered CNET Catalog: 06/13/2006
SKU: 70PF192200081
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: 
3/10
Zen V Plus awful for audiobooks
Pros: player does not skip while playing
Cons: MISERABLE to bookmark
User Rating: 
5/10
A good little player, but...
Pros: Small enough to carry around with you, long battery life, rechargable
Cons: The screen blacks out after about a years use
User Rating: 
4/10
Nice and small, but I didn't like it.
Pros: the size was good, volume control was nice
Cons: joystick, screen,
User Rating: 
8/10
Great big features in tiny little package
Pros: crisp display, clear sound, easy to manipulate for its small size
Cons: no included AC charger; directory structure
You can make playlists on the fly, but I haven't figured out how to add specific tracks to an existing playlist without going thru the computer--could use hints if you have 'em. The software is a good package, but contrary to the warning in the booklet, you DO NOT have to install it to use the ZenV--it's plug-&-play with XP using Explorer or MediaPlayer 10+ to drag-&-drop existing music files from computer to ZenV.
The directory structure on the ZenV doesn't do precisely what I want, and it?s different from how it?s displayed on the computer--the structure I set up on the computer isn?t mirrored on the ZenV, which leaves me a bit confused. But I wanted a flash player, not a HDD one, and the ZenV is certainly a workable compromise. However, it makes its own decisions about which "genre" to assign to an album, and it automatically separates artist's tracks into their respective albums, rather than lump all songs under one artist (my preference). Perhaps a playlist to include ALL songs of that artist?--but that seems redundant somehow.
Oh yes, the sound quality is terrific! Lots of programmed EQ settings, but you can customize it--a BIG plus, IMO. You can also customize what items are displayed on the Main Menu screen--a nice feature. Line-in recording another BIG plus.
Would have liked an AC charger included; it?s an optional accessory. The ZenV only charges from the comp?s USB port.
All in all, more than adequate bang for the buck! Highly recommended.
User Rating: 
9/10
Great player but some suggestions
Pros: Flash memory, great sound quality, equalizer controls
Cons: Battery can't be changed, no expandable memory
Creative could make some improvements that would make this the perfect player.
They could follow the lead of SAN and make the battery changeable by the end user. They could also add the abiltiy to expand mememory with mini SD cards.
This is still my first choice.
Creative really missed the boat this Christmas season. They have an 8gb model that will not be available in the U.S. until after Christmas.
User Rating: 
7/10
where can you get this?
Pros: none really..
Cons: none really...
anyone reading this please reply with site or adress of where to get dis player
User Rating: 8/10
Very functional and affordable, design not on par with competitors
Pros: Versatile (PlaysforSure music compatible, multiple video format playbacks, photo view)
Cons: Design looks cheap in comparison with iRiver Clix and Samsung Z5
Interesting enough, I was additionally surprised to see that the 2GB model topped out at $170. That's impressive. Even though the design quality is somewhat subpar on the exterior, it uses some of Creative's best software & comes with ZenCAST, a really nice program. That's $30 cheaper than the Nano AND you get video. That's a really good deal. Even though Apple is probably already developing a video-supporting iPod Nano which will most likely come out late this year, this device provides bang-for-the-buck which will come in handy later this year when Apple releases $230 and $260 Nanos (or something like that)
User Rating: 8/10
not perfect but good enough
Pros: small, flashj memory, bright screen, photos, videos, tactile buttons
Cons: it has a very small navigational stick in the middle, small screen for videos
User Rating: 9/10
Pretty Nifty Little Player... Hands On Impressions...
Pros: Great sound quality, Easy to use, Nice looking display and Great size. Overall, great value for the price.
Cons: Display is a tad bit small for video and Battery isn't user-replaceable
One of the first things you notice when using this player is how solid it feels in your hand, it does not come off as fragile like the iPod Nano (which I bought for my dad recently) - in my case this is a big plus, given the fact I tend to be a bit rough with my gadgets, throwing them in my bag and all that.
At the store, these were hooked up to the Creative T20 speakers - which I happened to have recently bought - I can't really judge how the player sounded compared to the Nano, but it definitely isn't any worse.
As for the screen, the Nano has nothing on it. It gets plenty bright and the colours are quite deep and vivid. However, it would have been nice if the resolution had been upped a bit - but given the players size - it's forgiveable.
Now the thing I really wanted to test out was the video, and while I came away mighty impressed, but the size and resolution really limit this for casual viewing - it's still a fun feature to have none the less.
Given this test was very much limited to a short hands on at the Creative store, I can't say much about the software and battery life, but I think around 15 hours is pretty decent.
The Zen V Plus is about $20 (Singapore dollars) more than the video and FM radio-less Zen V. So, if you don't see yourself using the video or radio, you could save a little bit of cash there, but would lack (feature-wise) bragging rights over the Nano.
User Rating: 8/10
so many choices
Pros: size, features, battery
Cons: not super sophisticated looking
User Rating: 
10/10
Nano is beaten, consumers unaware
Pros: Size, price, video
Cons: You parents will be confused because they thought all MP3 players were ipods
User Rating: 
6/10
Good looks, a lot of features
Pros: Flash-based, small, light, and plenty of features.
Cons: No AAC/MP4 support.
User Rating: 8/10
How do you know?
Pros: All the review above this are sight unseen.
Cons: Some of the reviews below this are sight unseen.
User Rating: 8/10
Very nice, but could have been better
Pros: small form factor and THIN!, scratch resistant, user rotating X/Y screen viewing, lot of features
Cons: limited colors, screen resolution equal to micro photos, should've had 6GB max. capacity
Well, the zenV pretty much hits on most of my expectations: it's a nice little player - in the video here at CNet it looks much smaller than the pictures of it indicates, and has a sleekness & form factor similar to past Rio DAP's, like the Karma & Nitrus.
The additional feature of line-in recording - which the ZVM does not have - will be appreciated by many. I also like that it will have a much more durable, scratch-resistant plastic body than the plastic used for the ZVM - why Creative couldn't use this plastic for the ZVM is beyond me. I can see this DAP selling very well in the consumer demographic that the micro photo catered to. Many are saying that the Zv is "toy-like", and while I can't entirely disagree with them, I remember how the iPod mini was initially derided for it's pastel colors, and was criticized as being a toy: isn't it STILL the best-selling iPod, ever??
I did wish that Creative offered the Zv with 6GB capacity...Sandisk already has a flash DAP out with this capacity, and I imagine that the nano will be upgraded to (at least) 6GB soon, maybe more. The microphoto could've been a big battler with the iPod mini when it was introduced: by the time it actually came out for purchase, the nano was introduced, & the microphoto has been an also-ran ever since. I'd hate to see the Zv relegated to such status by both the sansa & nano...
I was also hoping that the same fantastic video resolution screen clarity of the ZVM would be carried over to the Zv, but it looks like the microphoto's screen will be used (260K colors? 65K? Usually Creative releases this spec., but not this time).
Still, overall a solid, if not spectacular offering from creative. If I didn't already have the Sansa e260, I would definitely give this DAP some serious thought.
User Rating: 10/10
Following the footsteps of the Zen Vision: M
Pros: A lot of colors, scratch-proof, dedicated volume controls, tactile navigation, low price, OLED screen, nice GUI, video, line-out, FM-radio, a lot of formats (DivX, anyone?), small, cute design
Cons: might look a bit too "plasticky" for some people, screen is a bit too small for good video-viewing, some funky color combinations, small navigation buttons, screen too small to watch long videos
Zen V by no means is a perfect player, but I rated it a 10 because so many people rated it low for no good reason.
First off, so what if the player does look a bit weird? I remembered Zen Vision: M showed the exact same thing. It look a bit toyish, but when you actually see it in person, it's actually a pretty nice looking device.
Also, this player by far, has the most features for a flash device. This player does nearly everything. It plays photos, videos, and music of course, and also has line-out and supports a wide array of formats such as DivX (which is pretty much the only flash player to support this format).
The design is not bad. While not as thin as the nano, it still looks pretty small and very pocketable. Also, one important thing is that this player is said to be scratch-resistant unlike the iPod or Zen Vision:M. Scatch resistance is huge for a player like this. Players are usually put in pockets, and that's where scratches occur the most and it's very annoying. Sure you could buy a case or skin, but it'll add bulk and you have to spend more money. It also has dedicated volume controls on the side (which is very convieniant), and tactile buttons (which a lot of people prefer over touch).
The screen looks vibrant and colorful, which is said to support video. While the screen is too small to watch movies, it's a nice touch to watch video clips or even episodes. Videos isn't the main part of the player, so if you're looking for a flash video player, look somewhere else.
The GUI (graphical user interface) also looks very similar to the ZVM which is a good thing. ZVM by far had one of the best GUI ever.
With all things considered, this is a great flash player. I can predict that it'll steal some of nano's thunder. It's following it's older brother, ZVM pretty well.
User Rating: 8/10
Another flash player to consider
Pros: PLenty of extra features, Creative's excellent screen quality, slightly better battery life than the Nano (according to the review)
Cons: Plastic/cheap look, lack of buttons due to attempted button integration
This new Creative product seems to be a decent player, but i would rate it around an 8, not an 8.3, as it just seems awkwardly designed.
Not that it matters - the new Samsung player is the flash player to get at this point. It loses the "fluff" unfortunately (which i personally long for in my iPod [i.e. the FM radio]) and gives you 35+ hours of battery life instead.
As far harddrive players, the Toshiba Gigabeat is by far a more superior product than Apple or Creative, but I think its pretty clear to anyone who follows mp3 player progression that Apple has such a strong grip over the market at this point, other companies can (and will) continue creating great products that will never take off.
In summary, this seems to be a very decent product, and if you are a microsoft fan and require a bit more space (like the 4gb version) and a premium OLED screen, go for it. If you requre less space and are willing to sacrifice the bang-for-buck factor in exchange for looks, check out the iRiver Clix. If you want to focus on small, sleek, and unscratchable music listening for extended periods of time with plenty of space, look into Samsung.
If you want to jump on the bandwagon, get a Nano.
I have not actually used the device. My review was based off of CNET's.
User Rating: 9/10
divx support natively in a flash player this small
Pros: divx suppoet,line in,radio,voice rec
Cons: less battery life
User Rating: 8/10
Much better than Ipod Nano
Pros: size, compact, fm radio
Cons: the buttons
Forget about apple!
User Rating: 5/10
Creative sells features, not usability, design
Pros: Lots of features which is expected from Creative
Cons: Ugly. Fisher Price Color, A Rocker, why?
User Rating: 6/10
Decent player that is late to the Flash party
Pros: Small form factor, WMA support
Cons: BATTERY NOT USER REPLACEABLE; screen/memory too small for movies
User Rating: 5/10
Looks like a baby toy!
Pros: You'll always be able to find Creative players at a discount
Cons: Poor control interface; hit with an ugly stick
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