Few flaws many pros
IMPORTANT NOTES FIRST:
YES it is iTunes-compatible and YES it is compatible with Yahoo! Jukebox BUT ONLY THOSE TRACKS THAT YOU HAVE PURCHASED AS "BURNABLE". In other words you will not be able to transfer your Subscription or Stream tracks to this device which is only fair (for that you have to have Yahoo! Music Unlimited To-Go which is an invite-based service and thus uncommon). Needless to say you can import tracks from any CD quickly and painlessly and/or copy any wmv/mp3/mp4 or whatever that you already have on your hard drive: the device is browsable with Windows and all you need to do is copy/paste to the right folder.
Now for the review.
THE GOOD:
++ Compatible with an amazing variety of file formats without conversion unlike iPods. Whatever is not compatible the software will convert for you if at all possible. This is a HUGE plus for the computer-illiterate.
++ Great sound quality a bare minimum requirement for a music player.
++ Sleek looks IMO superior to the trite iPod-like spin-wheel design. It certainly got more looks and comments than the iPod I had previously. Also it's more pleasant to hold in your hand: small but not too tiny and very sturdy/solid (which if you'll handle it 8-10 hours a day like I do is a huge plus).
++ The included software is fantastic. It's fast reliable (never froze) and lets you manage files and create playlists quickly and painlessly. Basically anything you can do with the player's built-in software you can do with ZEN Media Explorer from your computer. So go for it.
++ Many complained about the interface but I actually like it very much. The built-in software is easy to understand and utilize. The buttons are a tad tricky but all you need to do is play around with them for ten minutes before you're able to find them blindly by just sticking your hand in your pocket (something you certainly cannot do with iPods whose interface is more visually-driven).
THE SO-SO:
++/-- The SD expansion slot is both a pain and a pleasure. Yes you can basically make this a 16Gb with an SDHC card for a few bucks--but it's true that only SOME content will run off of it and that while you are playing content from the SD card you cannot navigate the built-in flash memory. So caveat emptor... but if you know what you're getting there's no reason to complain. How many times do you really browse your music while you're already listening to something else anyway?
THE BAD:
-- Perplexed about battery life info: "25 hours of continuous listening"? I don't think so. More like 10-12 which is on par with similar devices.
-- The shortest USB cable ever bundled. Buy a cheapo extension from Monoprice right away unless you already own a USB hub. Otherwise your player will lie on the floor or worse hang by the cable while it's being charged and sync'ed neither of which is good.
-- The joystick buttons make a slightly annoying clicking sound not when pressed but when released. However this does not happen on my friend's ZEN so maybe I got a "bad" unit?
-- AWFUL packaging! What were they thinking? Not only is it one of those impossible-to-open blister packs but if you use scissors it's relatively easy to harm the contents... not the player thankfully which is in full sight but the manuals and CD and bundled cables. So be careful.
OTHER THOUGHTS:
** BUY A SCREEN PROTECTOR! Apply it immediately. The screen will collect dust (and thus scratches) within hours like any LCD.
** BUY A CASE OR SKIN! Piano-black finish is attracted to fingerprints like flies to s__t.
** 8Gb is perfect for the serious music listener with varied taste. Buffs and pros want to go for 16Gb. Occasional listeners will do well with 4Gb. Media moguls of course need not apply: that's what the Vision is for.
Overall one of the best entry-level portable music players on the market. The price tag may well be the deal-breaker here: it is cheaper than any other brand music player and it does the same things AND in my opinion more and better. Support by Creative is also famously good so I see no reason not to buy a ZEN.More detail ...
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