Versatile MP3 player
Written: Jul 29 '00 (Updated Jul 30 '00)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Sound: |
 |
|
| Ease of Use: |
|
|
| Durability: |
 |
|
| Portability: |
|
|
| Battery Life: |
|
|
|
Pros: plays MPS, Radio, Record Voice, excellent support from Manufacturer
Cons: Accessing Smart Media Card, Price of SmartMedia card still too high,
|
|
|
| wc201's Full Review: Creative Labs Nomad II (64MB) MP3 Player |
Before I say anything, I should let you know I am relatively new to this Digitally formatted music called MP3. I thought MP3 would be like one of those technology that just appear and disappear like DAP, but after discovering Napster(even though it's in trouble), U realized its true potential, so I have been looking for a player.
So, I looked several website reviewing products like this, and every website seem to have very opinions about this Creative Labs' Nomad II. And now I see why they felt the way they did.
This machine is truly versatile. Unlike some other MP3 player, you can listen to Radio if you get tired of listening to MP3 music in your smartmedia card. Or, If you are in need to record, you can record. So, it can work as a voice recorder. And, since it comes with 64MB Media Card, you can store about 12 songs which equal to one CD. It also has a tiny wired remote control. Even though it's tiny, it has all the features it needs such Play, Stop, Forward, Backward, Pause, Lock(locks all buttons), and volume control in a remote. You can also lock the main unit, so if you throw it in your book bag, it won't do anything unless you control from your remote or unlock the machine, so it saves the battery. Nomad also has a backlit LCD screen that shows the name of the file, and other relative information such as Battery life.
In the middle of the player, it has a round control button. Control is very intuitive. There is no on and off button though. When you push the play button five or six seconds, then it turns the machine on, and when you hold stop button, it shuts down the machine. Around the round button, there are three buttons, The first one is Menue In Menu, you have six choices, MP3, Radio, Voice, Info, Setting, and Time. The second button is A-B. You can use this button to select the boundary of song you want to hear.(You can choose where to start from your collection of MP3 and end where you like them to, so you won't have to listen to entire selection again and again) The third button is Repeat.
ON the right side of the Nomad, there are five buttons. Two are for Volume. (Up and Down) Next one is Record, One after that is Erase.(You must reconfirm to erase anything). The last button is DSP(Sound enhancement: Normal, Pop, Rock, Classic, Jaz,and User(Customize your own sound setting))
On the Left side, it has Lock button, and USB connection port covered with a rubber cap. Connection to your computer is snap. Just plug in to your USB port using provided cable, then you are instantly connected to your computer. It also automatically activates Nomad Manager.
Sound quality is wonderful. I haven't heard other MP3 player, so i can't really tell the quality difference, but compared to my CD sound, it's very good. I think the sound quality depends all on the recording quality. I connected my Nomad to Speaker, it still sounds great. (In the setting, you can change the sound output from Headphone to Others such as Speaker) It probably increase the volume going out, so When you connect your Nomad, you don't lose volume just because you connected your Nomad to Speaker.
In the back of the player, there is a belt clip fasted with a metal screw. And there is a battery storage part. It hold a single AA battery which is better since it's easier to buy anywhere. Right on top of the battery, there is a Smart Media Slot that is between the plastic skin or Nomad and Circuit board or whatever it's called.
When there are good sides, there are some bad sides as well.
The first thing I want to point out is accessing Media Card. After you put a media card in, it's very very hard to open the battery storage cover. So, even if you have extra media card, it's very hard to change them unlike some of the Sony MP3 player. I really wished they had that easy accessability of Sony. Other problem is... I don't know. I think it all depend on person. Creative Labs provide a headphone that goes around the back of your head. It's nice, but you look kind of funny since it's pretty big. I rather have a small ear plug type. The other thing is a bag that protects Nomad. It's more like a small nylon pouch. They could have done a better job. Since it's inside the pouch, you always have to take out the Nomad if you want to access the Round button or any other buttons on Nomad. The last thing that I didn't like is Media Card. Price is not really Creative Labs fault at all, but it's still too expensive to buy an additional card. They sell it as $200 per card of 64MB card.
(Late addition
Software that Creative Provides is also Nomad's problem. It's very straight forward and simple. In fact, too simple. I rather have Real Jukebox for Nomad. Nomad manager is the one you use mainly to upload music to your media card. It's very easy, but I don't think you can upload multiple songs at the same time. (not so sure) Nomad manager displays some info. of every MPS files, but you can't really increase the screen size, so you have to constantly scroll to the right and left to see them all. But, I think software that Creative provide is still decent enough to use. )
Other than that, it's a wonderful device. I really love it. I hope you do too.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 230
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
wc201
|
|
Location: Jersey City
Reviews written: 34
Trusted by: 1 member
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.