Comments on: The Creative Zen V http://www.sineadcochrane.com/2006/07/23/the-creative-zen-v/ create and control Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:44:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Mike http://www.sineadcochrane.com/2006/07/23/the-creative-zen-v/#comment-50 Mike Thu, 24 Aug 2006 20:39:33 +0000 http://www.sineadcochrane.com/?p=35#comment-50 Hi Sinead, You make some good points there :) Thanks for the suggestion on trying WinAMP; I've heard good things about it so I'll give it a whirl. Incidentally, Creative might get a chance to spend a little $ revamping their software - today they agreed to settle their patent lawsuit with Apple and will receive $100million. Of course, this guy at Wired believes that Zune will end up crushing all of Microsoft's Plays For Sure partners: http://www.wired.com/news/columns/listeningpost/0,71621-0.html?tw=wn_index_25 Overall, I have to say having such a small player that's not too thin/breakable like the iPod nano is quite nice - you never have to decide to leave it at home because it's too cumbersome. Plus, I've realized from owning a regular sized iPod for a few years that all these MP3 players that cost a few hundred dollars are prone to breaking during or after their warranty periods end. So, if you figure on buying a new one periodically, just like buying a cell phone, I guess you won't be too surprised when the inevitable happens :P Hi Sinead,

You make some good points there :) Thanks for the suggestion on trying WinAMP; I’ve heard good things about it so I’ll give it a whirl.
Incidentally, Creative might get a chance to spend a little $ revamping their software - today they agreed to settle their patent lawsuit with Apple and will receive $100million.

Of course, this guy at Wired believes that Zune will end up crushing all of Microsoft’s Plays For Sure partners:

http://www.wired.com/news/columns/listeningpost/0,71621-0.html?tw=wn_index_25

Overall, I have to say having such a small player that’s not too thin/breakable like the iPod nano is quite nice - you never have to decide to leave it at home because it’s too cumbersome.
Plus, I’ve realized from owning a regular sized iPod for a few years that all these MP3 players that cost a few hundred dollars are prone to breaking during or after their warranty periods end. So, if you figure on buying a new one periodically, just like buying a cell phone, I guess you won’t be too surprised when the inevitable happens :P

]]> By: Sinéad Cochrane http://www.sineadcochrane.com/2006/07/23/the-creative-zen-v/#comment-31 Sinéad Cochrane Sat, 29 Jul 2006 09:20:54 +0000 http://www.sineadcochrane.com/?p=35#comment-31 Hi Mike, You know, I always forget about the software that is bundled with Zen players. Creative Media Explorer is one of the worst pieces of software I've ever had the misfortune to use, infact all the software CDs that came with MicroPhotos wouldn't install, we had numerous customers come back with complaint about this and all we could do is direct them to the Creative website to download the newest version of the software. Very annoying for ourselves as sales people and for the customer. Itunes, yes I'll agree that it is superior, Apple put as much time into the development of their software as they do their hardware - Creative should take a leaf out of their book. However... I personally would choose to use Winamp over any other music playing/ripping/etc software, and it works so perfectly with all Zen players. I suggest you download Winamp if you find WMP or CME cumbersome. :) Hi Mike,
You know, I always forget about the software that is bundled with Zen players. Creative Media Explorer is one of the worst pieces of software I’ve ever had the misfortune to use, infact all the software CDs that came with MicroPhotos wouldn’t install, we had numerous customers come back with complaint about this and all we could do is direct them to the Creative website to download the newest version of the software. Very annoying for ourselves as sales people and for the customer.

Itunes, yes I’ll agree that it is superior, Apple put as much time into the development of their software as they do their hardware - Creative should take a leaf out of their book.

However… I personally would choose to use Winamp over any other music playing/ripping/etc software, and it works so perfectly with all Zen players. I suggest you download Winamp if you find WMP or CME cumbersome. :)

]]> By: Mike http://www.sineadcochrane.com/2006/07/23/the-creative-zen-v/#comment-27 Mike Wed, 26 Jul 2006 17:37:04 +0000 http://www.sineadcochrane.com/?p=35#comment-27 Hi there, I just got one today (live on the East Coast, US) and it's pretty cool! Just as the reviews say, it takes a while to transfer songs - feels more like USB 1.0 than 2.0 speed. However, I think it's great because it supports that crappy Microsoft DRM for subscription music. Plus, my local library has free but DRM'd downloadable audiobooks that work with this player. Transferring songs using WMP or the Creative Media Explorer (included software) is more cumbersome than iTunes on an iPod, but for small capacity players it's usable. Also, small nits like not keeping your place in an audiobook file after the sleep timer activates shows a lesser attention to detail that the iPod continues to have. If I could buy only one MP3 player, it would still be an Apple product, but this is the coolest non-Apple player I've found. Hi there,
I just got one today (live on the East Coast, US) and it’s pretty cool! Just as the reviews say, it takes a while to transfer songs - feels more like USB 1.0 than 2.0 speed. However, I think it’s great because it supports that crappy Microsoft DRM for subscription music. Plus, my local library has free but DRM’d downloadable audiobooks that work with this player.
Transferring songs using WMP or the Creative Media Explorer (included software) is more cumbersome than iTunes on an iPod, but for small capacity players it’s usable. Also, small nits like not keeping your place in an audiobook file after the sleep timer activates shows a lesser attention to detail that the iPod continues to have.
If I could buy only one MP3 player, it would still be an Apple product, but this is the coolest non-Apple player I’ve found.

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