Creative Zen 16GB Digital Multimedia Device-VIDEO PLAYER CREDIT CARD SIZED PERPZEN16GBBK 16GB BLK USB2 2

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bearing in mind that your mileage may vary:

--- The marketing literature says the ZEN is compatible with Windows XP. The ZEN software absolutely requires Microsoft Media Player version 11. If you don't have that installed, the ZEN device won't even connect to the computer. Unfortunately, the Microsoft Media Player 11 in turn refuses to install on any older version of Windows XP Media Center Edition. Since my computer is a veteran XP Media Center, I am SOL here. There is no way to install the ZEN software on my computer. Fortunately, I have an even older Windows XP computer. MMP11 installed there without a hitch. I installed the ZEN there and went ahead.

--- The marketing literature says the ZEN plays wmv files, but the truth is that it plays a very specific type of wmv file. My 1500 wmv files were originally rendered for 15 frames per second (to reduce storage space on a Pocket PC). The ZEN won't import these files. Every last one of 1500 files had to be re-rendered at 30 fps before the ZEN found then acceptable. You would think that a device that can render 30 fps would be able to accommodate 15 fps, but no.

--- The re-rendering for import is handled by a ZEN software package that gathers all the video files in a directory tree, converts them to a respectable format, and then transfers them into the ZEN's memory. The rendering takes about a minute per megabyte. Most of the file transfers into the ZEN go quickly, but often the system just hangs and waits for ten minutes or so. Then it gives up on that file and transfers the next one. The transferred files often have multiple file extensions, too, such as filename.wmv.wmv.wmv. It has taken me four solid days of tending the computer to convert and upload my 1500 small video files.

--- If, during the re-rendering process, the software encounters an mpeg file, it will crash. It handles most video formats transparently, but not that one. One discovers this limitation by rendering a batch of files for hours and then having the software crash before the batch is done. You have to delete all the intermediate files, remove (or manually convert) the mpeg file, and then start again.

--- The rendering software has a memory leak that slowly fills up the computer's RAM until the machine is paralyzed in paging mode. This means you have to render in small batches... about 50 one-megabyte files in a batch... or watch the computer skid to a stop on its chin.

--- Once the files have been transferred to the ZEN, there is no way to reorganize the directory tree (or move files around). The software lets you look at the ZEN directory structure and delete or rename items, but you cannot move files from one directory to another. If you don't like the directory structure on the ZEN, your only option is to reorganize the directories on your PC and then re-import (and re-render) your files again.

So, bottom line, the ZEN player is very satisfactory but the associated software has stolen about a week of my life and I'm sick of it. Fortunately, the 1500 files are almost all converted and transferred at this point, and they play well on the ZEN. I am pleased with the viewer in actual use. However, in terms of convenience I really regret giving up my Pocket PC. The Pocket PC played all my files just fine, and uploading them was as simple as Copy and Paste from the File Manager. Not so with the ZEN. Perhaps someday it will catch up to the things that a Pocket PC could do five years ago.

I will be using this heavily and am glad to have it, but I will never give it to anyone as a present. I want to keep my friends.

Creative Zen 16GB Digital Multimedia Device-VIDEO PLAYER CREDIT CARD SIZED PERPZEN16GBBK 16GB BLK USB2 2

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mode right from the song menu (it's impossibly annoying on the iPod). The My Shortcut button is also immensely useful, I have it set to go to Date and Time. Navigating through long lists is so much easier than even the brilliant design of the iPod. I have 2010 songs on here and I can find them twice as quick as on the iPod. My last little feature is that you can zoom in on a portion of a picture and set that portion as your wallpaper. (very useful for moving the center of the picture so it isn't covered by the icons on the main menu)

I'm not going to mention the sound quality because even though it is great, it depends heavily on the headphones (I have some Sony's that work well).

The software is also good, fast, effective and very easy to use. One thing I did notice is that it cut off the end of some information, like my artists, songs or album information. It's a little weird but easily fixed. This only happened about five times and is such a minor bug I almost didn't mention it.

I will warn you, it's thicker than it looks in that isometric view they have on the page. Also the placement of the headphone jack is a bit annoying when trying to operate one handed. I will give the designers credit that it was the only place they could've put it without it being even more annoying.

Overall, an excellent mp3 player that I would (and have) highly reccommed to anyone who will listen. It has a very well thought out design and it works perfectly.

Creative Zen 16GB Digital Multimedia Device-VIDEO PLAYER CREDIT CARD SIZED PERPZEN16GBBK 16GB BLK USB2 2

...

mode right from the song menu (it's impossibly annoying on the iPod). The My Shortcut button is also immensely useful, I have it set to go to Date and Time. Navigating through long lists is so much easier than even the brilliant design of the iPod. I have 2010 songs on here and I can find them twice as quick as on the iPod. My last little feature is that you can zoom in on a portion of a picture and set that portion as your wallpaper. (very useful for moving the center of the picture so it isn't covered by the icons on the main menu)



I'm not going to mention the sound quality because even though it is great, it depends heavily on the headphones (I have some Sony's that work well).



The software is also good, fast, effective and very easy to use. One thing I did notice is that it cut off the end of some information, like my artists, songs or album information. It's a little weird but easily fixed. This only happened about five times and is such a minor bug I almost didn't mention it.



I will warn you, it's thicker than it looks in that isometric view they have on the page. Also the placement of the headphone jack is a bit annoying when trying to operate one handed. I will give the designers credit that it was the only place they could've put it without it being even more annoying.



Overall, an excellent mp3 player that I would (and have) highly reccommed to anyone who will listen. It has a very well thought out design and it works perfectly.