Creative ZEN Vision:M 30 GB MP3 and Video Player (Black)
by Creative
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List Price: Our Price: $150.00 You Save: $99.99 (40%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Network Media Player See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Creative ZEN Vision:M 30 GB MP3 and Video Player (Black)
Customer Review: Fresh out the box
Summary: 5 Stars
Just received by Creative Zen 30GB today (I'm very excited). I just unpacked the unit and it looks very sleek (I purchased the black one). It's a little bit taller than my palm. The first thing I had to do was upgrade my QuickTime as versions 7.01 and 7.02 interfere with the Zen. That upgrade on line was easy enough. Next, I plugged in the until to charge it up. It has to charge for 2 hours. During this process I had to power it up and down. During that I was able to see a very crisp and clean screen. I'm looking forward to watching videos. I purchased this product mainly to watch videos while working out, on the train, etc. Anyway, installation was a breeze--popped in the setup disk and it walked me through the entire install without a problem. The unit comes with a felt bag to store the unit--for the price, it would have been nicer to receive a more protective cover. I think if I drop it in this bag, the unit will suffer damage. So, the first thing I must do is go out and purchase a better cover for the unit. I should have ordered it when I ordered the unit. WARNING-I thought this was interesting (and scary) on the second page of the instructions it states "THE CORDS INCLUDED WITH THIS PRODUCT MAY CONTAIN CHEMICALS KNOWN TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO CAUSE CANCER AND BIRTH DEFECTS OR OTHER REPRODUCTIVE HARM. Wash hands after handling"--what the heck is that!!! California is wacky, but I decided I was going to wash my hands anyway--I don't know if this is common to all electronics, but I don't understand why they would use accessories that require this disclosure...Anyway, you now know before you buy that this is in there. Back to the install. The directions say that versions 7.01 and 7.02 of Quicktime will halt your Creative installation, but version 7.03 has fixed this problem. I could only download 7.04 at apple.com, and it appears that my creative installation halted. However, I x'd out of it and it asked me if I wanted to reboot in order for my computer to accept changes. I did that and it seems to be working. I have my unit plugged into the USB (docked) and I am attempting to copy a video from my external hardrive to the unit. The directions are a bit skimpy on how to do this. However, I dragged and dropped the file and hit the conversion button. It walked me through the conversion, which was pretty simple. I keep getting a busy message requiring me to hit the swich button. If you get it, just hit it and it will continue with the transfer. My first transfer of 1.12 gb was pretty quick (only a couple of minutes). My second download, about the same size, (in "good quality"--you have a choice--the better quality probably taking a bit longer) was done in around 2 minutes--not bad for a full movie.
OKAY--I undocked the unit and hit menu button, found videos and saw that my transferred movies were there--AWESOME AND EASY. My headphones are in and they are comfortable plug ins (with little cushions on the outside--unlike my ipod). I turned on my movie (Chronicles of Riddick--I know, not the best, but some good special effects to test the unit). The picture is crisp, clear and excellent...I'm loving it. The sound is awesome, a bit too loud, but I haven't found the volume button. So, in less than a 1/2 hour I'm up and running watching movies on my Creative Zen. I am totally digging it. I will continue to test the unit and learn how to fully utilize it, but for now--this is a five star for me (I am so excited about being able to copy my movies to this unit!!!!)
Customer Review: This MP3 player will delight and infuriate you
Summary: 3 Stars
It's been 2 years since I bought an MP3 player from Creative's 'Zen' line, and with the huge advancements made over the span of this time, I decided that it was time for a new upgrade. Naturally, after doing a bit of research, upgrading to the next series in line seemed the way to go (and so I did).
The Creative Vision: M, upon inspection when I recieved it, was a quantom leap ahead of its predecessor. Its smaller, sleeker, more beatiful and functional. The Vibrant 2.5' LCD dominate iPOD video's with its slightly-larger size and more vibrant/numerous color pallete. As of this time, I didnt have any vidoes I wanted to transfer, but I was amazed at the "commercials" that Creative packed in with this MP3 player (just why Creative would decide to put in commercials advertising a product you've arleady bought is a complete mystery altogether).
Setting this player up and Sync'ing it with Windows Media player was a snap. For those 'not-in-the-know', sync'ing your player to your computer basically means that your 'My Music' 'My Pictures' folders on your PC will be duplicated and put in your Zen Vision, and any future changes you make in your PC will be reflected in the Zen Vision whenever you sync up to it. Of course, my only gripe about the sync'ing process is the time it takes do to it. I would be more appreciative if Creative gave us a Firewire outlet because it would have made the transfer of data much quicker.
Now that I've got all the good stuff out of the way, you're probably wondering why I gave this MP3 3 stars instead of 5. Well... its not so simple, but if you want to wittle down my biggest complaint about the Zen Vision: M its the user Interface. It sucks. Horrendously. Creative tried to take what's good about the iPOD interface (the 'clicky' wheel) and simplify it even further. The result is instead of having to twirl your fingers around the wheel, you simply move it in an up-down fashion, and when you want to make a selection slide your thumb to the left-or-right in the middle of the touch-sensitive area.
Right idea... wrong execution. The Amazon review pointed out that this results in your accidently 'playing' songs when you want to simply navigate through menus, or vise-versa. It happens far more often then they mention. There's also a problem with the fireware where navigating 'down' didnt feel as smooth as navigating 'up'. All these issues combine to make a world of headache for those trying to navigate through hundreds of songs that they've uploaded into their player. I dont understand why Creative didnt just use a mouse-wheel scroller instead, because it would have been far less combersome (even though some would have considered it less 'elegent'). Screw that, give me functionability over 'elegeance' anyday of the week.
So really, if you can get over the aweful navigational touch-pad, then I whole-heartedly recommend this over an iPOD. Its music quality, LCD are much better. If you absolutely think you cannot (and you dont care that much about the stuff I mentioned above), and you can afford to wait a little longer, then buy the 80 gigabyte iPOD instead. Yes, we all hate Steve Job's as much as the next guy, and as much as we'd like to see iPODs stanglehold of the market released, we can all admit that in part its because they actually test their products out on people for more then a week before its released.
Customer Review: Zen Vision M Tips & Tricks...
Summary: 5 Stars
The Zen Vision M is waayyy more feature packed than the ipod! I've had mine since November and I love this thing.
1.) Want to see album art with your song titles?
a) Use Media Player 10 to sync your player. First, you go into the
Media Player options and enable image support for your Zen. Also
check the box in Media Player Privacy settings to enable it to
download information from the Internet - that's where Media Player
gets the album art.
2.) Want to still listen/view Podcasts from iTunes?
a) Set Media Player to use your "My Music" folder for music.
b) Download iTunes, install it and set it to use your "My Music"
folder, but don't check the box in iTunes that lets it
auto-organize your music folder.
c) Open iTunes and subscribe/download any podcasts you want.
d) After download is finished, use Media Player to sync your Zen.
e) If you subscribe to video podcasts, you will need to use the
"Media Explorer" application that came with your Zen to convert and
transfer the video files to your Zen... But make sure that you only
use "Media Explorer" to convert and transfer the video files. No
harm will be done, but you may end up with several duplicate
categories if you use both "Media Explorer" and "Media Player" to
sync your music with your Zen, like "Hip Hop" and "Hip-Hop", or
"R&B" and "R and B" and "General R&B".
3.) Want to customize with your own wallpaper?
a) You can, once you transfer images to your zen.
b) You can even use different effects, like "Sepia", "B&W", etc.
4.) Want to transfer your contacts and calendar to your Zen?
a) You will need to use the Explore application that came with your
Zen for this.
b) Simply bring up the application - select "Synchronize Media and
Outlook Data".
c) When the application finishes exploring your Zen - make sure ONLY
the boxes to sync your calendar & contacts are selected, meaning
"UNCHECK" the boxes to sync your music, videos and pictures if
you're using Microsoft Media Player to manage those folders.
d) Finally, click " Sync Now"
5.) This thing even has a programmable shortcut button.
a) You can use it as a start/stop record button for the built in
microphone, or as one of the many options available.
b) I set mine up to go directly to my "Contacts"
Bottom line... There are a lot of things that you can do with the Zen M that the skimpy manual adequately fails to mention. Just play around with it, refer to the .pdf documentation that comes on the cd, and just search on the Internet for different topics. Oh - I also found some good information by just reading reviews like this one before and after I bought my Zen.
Have Fun! I Hope this helps...
- Now those Internet Marketer guys say I should mention my website in the tag line of this review.... But I'm not, cause I just want help those of you who've found your way here ;-) ENJOY!
Customer Review: Very Customizable Excellent Player
Summary: 5 Stars
In order to use this Creative Zen Vision M (Any color) MP3 Player.
You Must have Windows XP (supports nothing eles), Windows media player 10 (doesn't support beta 11 & Wont work). Only a copy of windows XP Will reconize your Zen vision M player when you try to connect it by usb. It only has a Windows XP Driver (for reconizing zen vision m mp3 player hardware. As of today theres no way around this.
The arrival- (Package Items)
I receive this in a new smaller package which doesn't include the ac adaptor anymore like amazon.com and creative said.
Out of the Box (Picked a 'Black Vision M player)it has a 'Screen Protector' install on the high definition lcd screen. It came also with a 'USB Mini-B Cable Wire', a nice 'light brown white kinda looking Pouch', Very nice sounding 'Creative earbuds' (But if you have headphones thats a $10 vaule or more it sounds really excellent without using the equalizer settings). 'Sync Adaptor' that you connect from the bottom of the player that has 3 inputs: USB 2.0, DC IN 5V and AV out. A 'Installation CD' With a couple of Creative program that does everything you need (Recommend installing it in order to take 'Full advantage' of operating your player. And it comes with Windows Media Player 10.
Operating First Time - (To Do First!)
So out of the box, you charge it using the usb and sync adaptor(6-7Hours Complete charge).
Don't bother turning it on, just plug in to charge (to pc or adaptor, which ever you have).
It wasn't charge when I try to use it. You will have to charge it yourself (you can use the PSP 'playstation ac adaptor' to charge it, which is what i and alot others do directly into the DC IN 5V input of the sync adaptor) (2Hour Complete Charge).
A battery icon will blink along with a lighten bolt on the lcd screen(top right of screen) and a blue light on top of the player will blink.
A Steady blue light (on top of player) and blue full battery bar on your screen will show that its done.
Now go and install the software. if you want to fully using everything in the player, install everything off cd (you can always uninstall the programs you wont use).
Using the player- (Must know)
The 4 lights around the scroll touch pad are buttons (use them! lol).
It took me forever to notice i can press them. Top left shourtcut key,Top right play/pause, Bottom left Back, Bottom Right Options.
Then two left and right arrounds backa nd fourth, Top Edge touch pad and down for going up and down or tap it and middle for selection or right arrow button.
So go and adjust the sensitive scroll pad to 'Low' under System-Player settings-Touch pad. It does take skills to navigate without messing up.
Last thing. Incase it freeze on you for what ever reason.
Hold the off switch on top of the player left, while holding left insert a paper pin under the player to hit the reset button inside of the player, then release. This will bring you to the bios where you select rescan. don't format or eles you lose everything. Rescan and boot back up and booya your set.
I took the time to write this because none of this is in the manual I had to go to there (creative) support forums to ask alot of questions.
I plan to buy the white zen too!
Customer Review: Great sound if you can find your music
Summary: 3 Stars
This is my first MP3 player, and I got it solely to store and carry around music. I shopped extensively and picked the one I thought would be the best. And, the sound quality is amazing. (Do upgrade the headphones.) I thrashed around a bit learning the controls and how not to run the battery down too quickly. Customer service was very helpful with both of these issues. It's great to have so much music and the complete collection of someone's music.
However, I am an old-time music buff. I listen to albums, not single cuts of this and that. Finding my music and playing it as I expect to hear it is close to impossible. First, there's the issue that it files under "the" if that's the first word in an album title or group's name. Second, I don't know the name of many albums, I know the artists. But I can't find them easily because it adds pretty much everyone on the album to the list. For example, Walter Trout and Friends: all the friends are listed. It's overwhelming. I want to flip quickly through my extensive blues section, but that's really not possible because I own so many blues compilation CDs such as all of the Blues Masters albums. On Media Player, when I select a genre (and I carefully filed every album I ripped up to the computer under my system), it then shows the list of albums. On the Zen, the list is artists -- including all those ones I don't care about.
But a much bigger problem is missing cuts and disarranging cuts. If I go to listen to N'Awlinz: Dis Dat or d'Udda by looking up Dr. John, six of the cuts don't play. If you go in by the album title, everything is there. Some artists, where I have two or three albums, only one or two cuts are listed under the artist's name. On some albums, the music is all there but it plays in a different order than recorded and ripped. It's like reading chapter 9 before chapter 3. No, I'm not into "random" play. Creative can't solve this problem and I don't have the time and energy to keep trying new ways of filing and ripping that work. I've looked at programs you can buy but they are intended to organize single cuts. Don't care. Some even want to remove the duplicates in your library. Whoa: I can keep the Dylan original of "Man Gave Names to All the Animals" but it's going to delete the wonderful Tim O'Brien cover? No way!
Finally, I tried to put together a playlist so I could just push a button and listen all day. It worked great, until I tried to change it. It didn't sync up the way I wanted it to. It added the stuff I wanted up further in the list to the end of the list and didn't remove the albums I wanted to delete.
Is there a more organizable MP3 out there? I don't know. But I've talked to many people I work with and no one listens to music the way I do. Albums are just passe. So many have told me, I can get any album and find one good cut to save. Well, that one good cut is a fluke, folks. I don't care about it. I want a solid album start to finish. I might drop a cut here and there, but not often.
I'm keeping the Zen and gnashing my teeth, but if you're in the market for an album-playing MP3, I'd look further before settling for great sound that is totally disorganized and sometimes unfindable.