CREATIVE LABS NOMAD JUKEBOX ZEN - A 20GB MP3 PLAYER!
Written: Nov 29 '03
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Pros: Big Hard Drive, Great Playback
Cons: Heavy, Price
The Bottom Line: Great MP3 Player And File Storage Device.
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| spongebob_man1's Full Review: Creative Labs Nomad Jukebox Zen (20 GB) MP3 Player |
It was probably the style that drew you to the Jukebox Zen. Creative Labs threw a sleek, shiny aluminum case over a very large capacity hard drive. The cool thing is, not only can it hold a lot of info...it is very easy to use!
Creative Labs
Creative Labs is a large electronics corporation. They make everything from speakers, web cams, and CD-R drives to MP3 players. Creative is one of the worldwide leaders in accessories for the personal computer. So you know when you get Creative Labs...you're getting a good product. You can visit their website and shop for products.
www.creativelabs.com
Jukebox Zen
The Zen is available with either 20GB or 60GB of storage. Other than capacity they are both the same. Though marketed more directly towards the music lover crowd, you can also carry other file types on your Jukebox Zen. You can carry movies, data files, and pictures. Creative Labs has really upgraded their search functions. If you organize your music into folders it's even easier to find what you want. One of the best features is that you can create your own playlists...so you don't have to search for the songs you want every time, just load the playlist! The Jukebox Zen is also smaller than previous models. The slick aluminum body is very stylish and futuristic looking. It's cool, you'll like it. I would be careful not to scratch it. Don't put the Zen in a pocket with change or keys. Quick file transfers are made possible with the USB 2.0 cable that comes with your Zen. It's also backwards compatible with USB 1.1. If you want you can use Firewire too. The Zen allows you to easily share all your files with multiple computers. I like that you can store more than just music. The built in battery charges fairly quickly (20-30 minutes) and lasts for an amazing 14 hours! And if you forget your charger, no sweat, just charge the Zen with the USB cable! (No Joke!)
So forget Kazaa and Napster (shut 'em down we don't care!), you have the ultra-portable Jukebox Zen! Yeah baby!
I don't really like the travel pouch that comes with the Zen, I usually just drop it in a pocket. It's small enough to fit in most pockets. I can't imagine many girls being able to put it in a pocket though, 'cause their pants are usually too tight. But cargo pockets were made for a reason! Backpacks and hoody pockets are good places too. The headphones aren't that great either. For a casual user they'll work fine. But I prefer my Sony MDR-V150s. The thing about the included headphones that kills me is the relatively short length of the cable. Other than those drawbacks...and the price, the Zen is a great MP3 player.
Everything In The Box: You get the Creative NOMAD Jukebox Zen Player (with built-in Li-ion battery), Stereo Headphones, USB Cable, Travel Pouch, Universal Power Adapter, Installation CD, and Quick Start Guide.
Features:
- 667 hours of WMA; 333 hours of MP3
- Carry over 8,000 songs
- Zen USB 2.0
- Creative PlayCenter 3 CD ripping software
- Edit, Organize, Create playlists
- Simple interface and search functions
Specs:
- 2.99" H x 4.43" W x 0.95" D
- 9.5 oz w/ Battery
- 16MB SDRAM
- 20GB hard drive
- Up to 14 hours of continuous playtime (battery)
- MPEG Audio Layer 3 (MP3), Windows Media Audio (WMA) and WAV
- LCD Display: 132 x 64 pixel resolution blue LED backlit display
- Zen USB 2.0: USB 2.0
- EAX, Smart Volume Management, Environmental Effects, 4-band Custom Equalizer, Advanced EQ presets
PC Requirements:
The PC requirements are fairly low so most people should be able to use the Zen. Setup and installation are very quick and simple. You don't have to be a tech geek. You need Windows 98/Me/2000/XP, a Pentium II 233MHz or AMD K6®-2 266Mhz (Pentium III 450MHz or higher recommended), 64MB RAM (128MB recommended), a USB port, and 30MB Free Hard Drive Space.
Final Thoughts:
I really like the Jukebox Zen (and other Jukebox models). I'm not a big fan of Apple products (the iPod for example). So, compare the features and specs and decide which will work better for you. I recommend the Jukebox Zen, obviously. If you can afford it...get the 60GB hard drive model.
Hope This Helps Ya!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 319.99
Recommended for: Music Lovers - High Capacity Storage for an Entire Album Collection
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spongebob_man1
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Location: Vancouver, WA
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