Creative ZEN 8GB - Black - 70PF216000111 - Expandable memory, video, music, photos, & FM radio!

I have been using my 8GB ZEN since February 2008 and really like it. It plays every music format I listen to, pulls in video (right now I have 2 full length movies stored), gets good battery life and is easy to use. One thing I would improve has to do with managing the device and, in partucular, my playlists. Rearranging the order of songs in a playlist (or adding additional tracks) is a bit cumbersome. For example, if the playlist is long and I add a track that is already in the playlist, I would like the software to tell me so then I can decide if I want that song in the playlist more than once. I have not experienced any problems with operating the unit (no freeze-ups, blue screen of death etc.) Finally, the armband that Creative offers is too cumbersome, they really need to improve it.
 
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This is a great little unit from Creative. The controls are easy to master. The display is awesome. The Zen organizer/manager software is easy to use and the video converter has functioned well so far. You must read the manual carefully to make sure you understand how to activate and use the SDHC storage capability but I won't ding the rating because of this. For the price this unit can't be beat!
 
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I have had mine for a couple of weeks now and could not be happier with it. Easy to navigate while doing other things (mowing the lawn, running, bicycling). Quality sound. Small size makes it very convenient.
 
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I purchased this item in mid-April. By June 1 I had begun to experience intermittant "blue screen of death" issues. Resetting the unit didn't resolve it. Hard resets didn't work. Finally, contacting Creative labs, I was further disheartened to learn that the unit needed to be returned at my expense ($20 shipping and required insurance) and that they would then determine IF the unit was defective. Their return policy then includes the following: "Please note that if the product has exceeded its three month labor warranty period, a non-refundable US $25.00 diagnostics and handling fee will be required. The fee is applied toward the complete cost of repair/replacement. If the cost of the repair/replacement exceeds the initial diagnostic fee, the RMA department will contact you to obtain your authorization for finance of the remaining fee. If the product is still within the 1 year hardware warranty, as long as there is no physical damage, all hardware component replacement costs will be covered by the hardware warranty. If the product is not outside its three month labor warranty, no diagnostic fee is required." I would suggest that if you are considering this product, be aware of the poor return policy that Creative Labs has and that many of these products are defective as reported by other buyers.
 
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Hello, I bought it 2 weeks ago and it is not loading up new music at this time. It loaded the first time, with no issues. But now the computer wont recongnize it is connected via the USB. It seems it happens alot, as I found alot of info on it at the Creative site. I tried the recovery tool and resetting it, but no luck. The player seems nice, and works well and is easy to use. So dont let this stop you, as I think BUY.com is going to exchange it. Rick
 
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If you're thinking of buying a product from Apple, don't. Just don't. The Zen is much better. And if you're really into the design of the iPod, think about what you're really buying it for - listening to music, viewing photos, and/or watching videos, NOT for its aesthetic value. Plus, this device has a mic to record live audio and fm radio.
 
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This is what I want! Been thru 4 mp4 players, this is the best one I have tried so far. Never liked ipod(Itune is so diffical to use) The battery gives a long life. Take it with me on a 2 day trip without any recharge.
 
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worked well for about a month, synched, came back into work the next day, and its frozen. tried all the reset tricks. Nothing. its a great little player for the month that it worked - I was joking around with the guys about it being my "IPOD Killer". now, not so much...
 
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This is the second Creative Zen MP3 player I have bought.(Both were gifts) I have had several MP3 players from Ipod mini to nano and Sansa but this one I found to be the easiest to use. The software is intuitive. Its so easy to manage your media that for that reason alone I would recommend buying one. The screen is beautiful not only in color but size and the sound is as good as any other I've tried. Best of all it has the ability to play all types of files. AAC, Wave and more. This was the only player that I found able to play WAVE files recorded on my PALM T3 without the need for conversion. Also with the SD slot it becomes simple to quickly load files even without synchronizing.
 
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This is probably the most intuitive "media player" I have seen, operated, or purchased. I love the small size, the clear sound (although I use ordinary headphones most of the time, kinda can't stand ear "buds"), and the clear picture. The included software is pretty thorough and very easy to use if you're not very computer-savvy, but the video-conversion software seems on the slow side. Also, it seemed to take longer than really necessary to upload files to the little player, but that was using the Creative software, too. However, don't be deterred from buying this because of the Creative software. The first time you load ANY media player with a gazillion different files it's going to take a long time, and this is not much different. After I got accustomed to how it would work with my computer and Windows Explorer, it was easier and much faster to simply drag-and-drop files much like you would with a USB thumb drive. The only real caveat for my money is the ambiguity Creative displays when you try to find out just what the heck kind of video files it plays. I didn't really get the clear answer I was expecting like "plays xvid and divx 4/5/6 video with mp3 or ac3 or wma audio." Instead, when you're reading about this capability, what it says is pretty much this: "Oh, yeah, it plays anything--so long as you convert it to the format the Zen uses." Beyond this not-insignificant issue, from what I could see, the only BIG limit on what kind of video it will play is limited by the video size--if it's different than 320x240 (if I remember correctly), it'll have to be converted. Otherwise, xvid and divx are just fine, as are mp3 and wma audio. I will probably be buying a 16GB model in the near future for my older son. I may buy another 8GB model for myself, or maybe a 16GB, I haven't decided yet. (The original one, which this review is about, is for an 8GB model I bought for my wife, who loves the thing even though she hates nearly everything technical or electronic.)
 
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Its a good mp3 player. I bought some JVC earbuds to improve the sound, the earbuds that came with it weren't too great. Good viewing screen. I just didn't like the software to convert videos, too slow. Still, I like my player and it operates well.
 
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Have had my Zen 8GB for over 2 months and it has worked great. Nice menu setup and very easy to use. Earphones aren't the greatest, but you can always buy a set you enjoy, the ones included do a good job though. I use WMP11 to sync my player, and it does a great job of moving all content over. When I first got it, I did the following to run into almost no issues. Installed the software and then updated to latest version BEFORE ever connecting the player via the usb cable, downloaded the latest firmware, and after the software install and a reboot, I connected the player, charged it for 5 hours, unplugged, and did a reformat, then installed the new firmware. Charged for 30 minutes, then synced it with WMP11, and have NEVER run into issues with music, videos, or photos. Only flaw on this player is that it doesn't have a user replaceable battery, so when the battery goes, you'll have to either buy a new one, something else, or send it to creative to get a new battery installed. Beyond that, perfect device, recommend it!
 
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Nice screen. You need to remember to hold down the on button for a few seconds before it will turn on or else it will lock up and you will have to do a reset. Switched out ear plugs b/c the ones the player comes with were uncomfortable. Overall, am satisfied with the purchase.
 
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Excellent design, easy to use, unbeatable price. Who could want more.
 
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The Creative Zen 8gb overall is an excellent product. It has great functionality, sound, radio and video playback. I have yet to try the SD card slot yet, but I'm sure pictures will look great because the screen is that good. Most accessories need to be purchased on-line (the screen protector is a must) and I've never been a fan of earbuds, so I will need to get myselfe some headphones. With all of its functionality at its current price ($120), the Creative Zen is at the top of my list of favorites.
 
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I was waiting to buy the Ipod Nano before I got this and man I'm glad I waited. This player has everything. Style, performance, funcionality and good sound. I like that it plays movies if you get it in the right format. It has a vry nice interface that allows you to change colors and personalize it. My favorite part is that the battery last a very long time compared to my last MP3. The only cons that I found are 1.)The memory card will not load automatically on to the playlists. You have to browse the card to play it's music. 2.) The buttons are not backlit so you have to know where the buttons are to operate at night. 3.)You will need to buy higher quality head phones because the ones that come included really suck!. I recommend the Sennheiser Cx-300b Lightweight Noise Isolating Earbuds. Very high quality for around $40 bucks. I think this player blows the IPOD away!
 
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If you want a mid-priced MP3/Video Player look no further. The video quality is absolutely brilliant. It can beat the iPod hands down. It has a built-in radio which is a plus (I enjoy the radio as it is more 'unpredictable' since there are songs outside your library that are worth listening to). Its small size makes it perfect to carry around in your pocket (just be sure to get some screen protectors). The only thing this machine can't beat the iPod in is its storage. But on the bright side, it uses flash memory so it's not prone to any mechanical problems. I highly recommend the Zen if you don't want to spend money on an iPod.
 
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I recently purchased the Creative ZEN 8GB and am happy with the purchase. The color screen is crisp and sharp. The menu is easy to use.