My first MP3 player!! (maybe my last one!?)
Written: Apr 30 '05 (Updated Jun 19 '05)
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Pros: Besides playing Mp3, it is good to have file transfer, voice recording, FM radio feature
Cons: Sensitive touch pad, short battery life. Unclear disk space allocation
The Bottom Line: It's nice to multiple function in a small package. However, you will have to get used to the Touch Pad and battery life.
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| stse's Full Review: Creative Labs Zen Micro (5 GB) Black MP3 Player |
First of all, when I saw it from the Internet. It was so attractive. It is a mp3 player. It is a organizer. It is a voice record and it is a FM radio and also, it is removable hard drive. What a great deal for 200 something dollars.
Did I regret? No, but not totally satisfied though. However, I still like this product due to the following reason.
Instead of separating the advantages and disadvantages of this product. This time I will summarize them as I go along.
Size
I have seen smaller mp3 player. The one my friend has is only 70 dollars. However, it only contains 256 mb. So, I decided to pay double and get this product. This Zen Mirco has a selection of 4, 5 or 6 gig. For a removable drive this small. It is worth it. I like it because I can do data transfer. Bring it to where I want. That is one of the major reasons I wanted to purchase this product. However, you can only allocate maximum of 2 gig disk space for removable storage.
Size II - Who should have this?
If you don't have a huge collection of mp3 songs and yet you want to transfer your CDs to mp3 and put them in your mp3 player. This is for you. I know there are many mp3 player which can hold more than 30 gigs as well. However, to me, I don't need that much. I have about 200 favorite songs which are more than enough. Zen can hold more than 1000 songs.
Sound Quality
To me, it is fine. It is the same as listening to CD. It all depends on your mp3 files. However it does have something called EQ, you can customize your EQ setting so that you can have heavy bass or heavy vocal.
Why MP3?
Instead of carrying so many CDs for listening, one little guy will fit all the music. However, there is some work that has to be done. You will have to convert all the CDA files to Mp3 first. Or simply download (or pay) from the Internet
Other Extra Stuff
Removable Drive n- as I have mentioned above. It is good when you have to carry big chunk of files. The Max. allocation of removable drive is 2 gig. It is using USB 2.0. Cable is come with the package. But it is very short!!! It also comes with software CD. However, it does not come with any detailed manual. You will have to download or view from their site. That is one thing I don't like about the package. Basically, you will have to fumble around all the function yourselves.
However, one thing you must notice. If you don't have the software installed from other pc, you can still use it removable disk. If you have a software installed, the other type of files will be stored in a "DATA LIBRARY" which cannot be viewed if you just use it as removable drive. This is the part I don't like. Basically, DATA LIBRARY is useless unless you have a software installed for other pc. It is simply for temp storage on your ZEN, not really for file transfer. I got confused earlier with this.
Organizer - It is only good if you are using Windows Address Book which can be run off from outlook address book or run WAB from command prompt or Run from start button.
The sync part is also not good. It does not really work the way it says. It does not delete any file from the player. Once you have it, you will it there for good. You can't delete from the player!!! You will have to clear it from the software, The software organizer/explorer doesn't even show you where. I had to call tech support to find out one of the button is actually a setting button which let me clear all the stuff from my organizer. When it clears, it clears all. I can't pick certain contact to clear. That means, it is a view only organizer.
Alarm Clock - Good if you have a speaker hooked up to it. It can beep to wake you up or play radio or your favorite music to wake you up. However, who would sleep with Mp3 with a speaker? Maybe it is good while traveling.
FM RADIO - FM only!! no AM, PRESET is horrible for me in the beginning. But at least I found out that you have to press the play/record button in order to go to preset mode, otherwise, you will go back scanning all the time.
Recording - You can record FM radio, voice too. Voice recording is not as good as I thought. Don't even think about loud volume when you record. You can't really use it as spy recorder. The sound will be so low if you don't speak right at the little mic. FM radio recording is okay if your station is clear. The voice recording length is 10 hours. However, I have no clue if it is separate from your disk space or included. Nor does it say 10 hours equals to certain amount of disk space.
Need More Improvement
Touch Pad
It is good, but I think it simply needs more improvement. Touch pad is so sensitive. I got frustrated when I first used it. However, I will have to get used to it. It is too sensitive. If you have a sticky finger, you will sometimes end up recording all the time or keep having volume set all the time. Basically, low left button is a return button, low right button is menu button. One tap will go to menu. Light touch will move up and down.
Battery life
Short, short and short. It only lasts about 5 to 6 hours. However you can charge it directly from the pc. Of course, they do sell charger for that. That means more money though.
-- short note ---
Here is how you recharge your mp3 with your pc.
You must install the driver. You can find the driver from the web site if you dont have the cd rom. Otherwise, if you plug it in other computer, it wont work if you have no battery in your mp3 player.
Design
Small, it is good in a way. However, there is no clipping case or bag. They give you a pouch to put it in. For me it is useless in a way. I came up a way to carry my Zen Micro. I used my Nokia cell phone leather case to hold it which has the clip on it, and I put the ear set onto the pouch and link to the ring of the Nokia leather case.
It does also come with lots of colors. Mine is blue. However, I don't think that is important. The battery lid or cover can easily come off while I take it off and put it back onto my nokia phone leather case.
When you play a song, you can easily switch to another song due to its touch pad sensitivity. To avoid that, all you have to do is move the on/off switch button to Lock. That will stop it from switching other songs.
Inner Design
Good in a way you can create your own short menu instead of going through so many items. It does let you play music such as random play, hardly heard, most popular, by artist, album, recordings, your own play list and so on....
It has INFORMATION item that tells you how many songs/album you have. However, if you use it as removable disk drive, you will have no idea how much space is in use or what is stored unless you plug that in your computer. As far as recording goes, when you do a voice record or FM radio record, it generates a file. You can play from it or download to the pc. However, it doesn't let you know your recording time against your disk space. In other words, it says 10 hours recording time, but it doesn't say how many disk space will consume 10 hours recording time.
Technical support is pretty good though. You call them or email them up, they answer you right away. However, I think it is 90 days deal. So if you have problem or question about the player, you'd better before your service warranty or 90 days period is over.
Summary
If you are the one who likes removable hard drive, voice recording. This is for you. However, You will just have to get used to sensitive touch pad. The other features are nice, but some aren't really necessary. For most, this player has more weak points than good points. However, if it serves what you are looking for you. This may be for you.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 220.20
Recommended for: Beginners - Easy Enough for Tech Newbies
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Epinions.com ID:
stse
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Location: New Jersey
Reviews written: 108
Trusted by: 27 members
About Me:
Life is full of opinions.... ! What's yours? And Don't forget to rate my reviews!!
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