The Creative Zen V Plus is a great little flash based MP3 player. It's tiny, fits anywhere, and is lightweight, without feeling flimsy. It plays Mp3's, WAV's, WMA's (no propriety issues like with the Ipod, folks!), has an FM tuner, displays photos, plays video and is a voice recorder. Since flash based players have no internal moving parts, they are the choice for runners and those who use their players while working out.
It has an internal battery that is rated for 15 hours and charged via the USB port. I have had the player a few months now and the battery has most definitely lasted at least that long. In most cases, it has lasted longer even though I usually refresh the screen quite a bit. It does not come with an AC adapter and the battery is not replaceable, which is one of the few flaws of the Zen. It does have a battery indicator on the screen, which helps alleviate this issue somewhat.
The controls are intuitive, there is an Equalizer control, and there is a dedicated volume control on the side. The software that comes with the player is excellent and easy to use. However, the player also uses MTP to interface with windows, so no proprietary software is needed if you don't want to use it.
It comes with a set of decent headphones. If you are a true audiophile you may want to invest in a better pair, but most will be satisfied with the comfort and sound quality of the ones included. What it does not come with is any accessories, such as a skin, armband or belt clip. These are available separately for a fairly reasonable price, but it would be nice if at least one of these were included. One other very minor issue is the USB port, which is on the top of the player, is not protected by a cover. so it could conceivably get dirt inside it. It has not been a problem yet, however.
Creative offers mail in rebates from time to time, so be on the lookout for a great rebate that makes this player an even better value. This player is one of the best choices for a small flash based player and I have been extremely satisfied with it.
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