Creative Zen Vision:M - very close iPod killer

[Kwisatz]

NOTE: DO NOT FLAME ME AND POST PICTURES OF IPODS WITH SKINS AND CRAPPY PICTURES OF BEAT-UP CREATIVE PLAYERS! DO NOT FLAME ME FOR BEING A FANBOY! DO NOT MAKE UP SPECIFICATIONS! DO NOT CITE OLD CNET RATINGS! POST SENSIBLY!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry about that. I just know that the iPod vs. everything flame war is very strong, especially in these forums, and I just had to write that nasty little disclaimer to avoid any flaming.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Seeing as how there are many iPod-related threads, I just thought that I'd like to bring attention to a different MP3 Player: the Creative Zen Vision:M. Review I wrote from another post:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I got it, I opened it up, to find everything neatly packaged in foam, and the player encased in protective plastic all over. The back of the player is a "rough" plastic - that is, it doesn't show fingerprints, grips easily, and is still nice looking. It's not shiny though, and that may disappoint, but it doesn't scratch, so I'm happier with it. The front is shiny plastic, very similar to the iPod. The screen seems to be slightly taller than the iPod, but this isn't via side-by-side inspection. The screen is also more vibrant, and looks much nicer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Vision also plays DivX videos. I converted Transporter 2 to DivX format in an hour and a half using DVDx, and I transferred it and hooked it up to my television. The quality is amazing - my friend has the iPod A/V dongle, and because the iPod does not output 640x480 at all, the Zen Vision:M also wins in the resolution area. Note, however, that the screens of the two are the same resolution, so don't expect anything different there (except the more vibrant colors on the Vision:M).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Zen Vision also has revamped (read: nicer) controls than its predecessors. The touch pad is not as sensitive as it used to be. Although I never had a problem with over or undershooting using my Zen Micro, the problem appears to have been alleviated further, from the experience of my friends using the player. Also, all of the controls are now tactile (button) rather than touch, like on the Zen Micro. The foward and rewind buttons are situated next to the vertical pad, and also function as left and right buttons. For instance, when viewing the artists, you can hit the left button to go to a list of letters, and selecting one will instantly jump to that letter in the artist menu.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The battery life is a purported 4 hours video and 14 hours music, but I have been unable to test this. The player did, however, charge in 2 hours from when I got it and plugged it in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My only qualm with this player is the thickness - it weighs in at .7 inches deep. I thought it would be atrociously thick when I bought it, but it's not too thick, and slips in to your pocket without being seen. Granted, it's just not quite as thick as two iPods, but it's still thick. Just not noticeably thick. It also feels a bit better in the hands, due to the heft.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The other thing is that the player comes with a wall wart, which probably explains the $30 price difference. The only downside to the system of charging and syncing is that you have to use a little 2" x .75" adapter, which you plug in to the bottom of the player, a la the iPod. This is a stupid idea, and it would have been better had they just stuck the USB port on top like on the Zen Micro and put the AV output through the headphone jack, because they're the same anyway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The player also has nice software. For instance, even if by chance the Vision:M can't play it, Creative's software will convert it. The player also syncs to any computer that has WMP10 on it, so you can dump your songs onto your friend's computer. My friend has an iPod and he is planning to maintain two copies of his song library - one on the data partition and one on the music - just so he can copy his songs to peoples' computers. This isn't a problem with the Zen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall, I'd rate this above the iPod. The only disadvantages it has are price, thickness (but not weight), and possibly control and interface, depending upon your preference. For instance, the Zen Vision:M has a right-click-type button, whereas the iPod does not. The Vision:M also has a voice and FM radio tuner/recorder, but I don't use those really. Pay the extra $30 and get this. If you don't like it, return it and get an iPod. While everyone else is screwing around with Videora trying to get their videos to work, you'll be dragging and dropping your DivX, WMA, AVI, and MPEGs onto the Vision:M and watching them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I may sound like a fanboy, but most of this is quantifiably-justifiable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Like I said above, the player is really awesome, but its caveats are size and the fact that you have to have a little dock-type connector to sync and charge. Discuss.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remember, avoid bias, and no flaming.

[weezcake]

I did a Zen vs. iPod post on my xanga, and most of my readers were open minded. They saw the Zen as a better deal and said when their iPod broke, they'd go and get a Creative Zen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I personally don't really like the Vision:M. It's too expensive for my tastes ($319 MSRP, I believe) and I use my mp3 player for nothing but radio or playing my mp3s. I really don't understand why you need to have movie and picture capability on it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I prefer the Zen Micro to the Vision:M. :) But I'd rather buy a Vision:M than an iPod. it's a bit more expensive, but I heard that the iPod can only play .mov files. Plus, IMO, it looks much nicer.

[Kwisatz]

I did a Zen vs. iPod post on my xanga, and most of my readers were open minded. They saw the Zen as a better deal and said when their iPod broke, they'd go and get a Creative Zen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I personally don't really like the Vision:M. It's too expensive for my tastes ($319 MSRP, I believe) and I use my mp3 player for nothing but radio or playing my mp3s. I really don't understand why you need to have movie and picture capability on it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I prefer the Zen Micro to the Vision:M. :) But I'd rather buy a Vision:M than an iPod. it's a bit more expensive, but I heard that the iPod can only play .mov files. Plus, IMO, it looks much nicer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don't get the video thing either, but what I'm doing is transcoding my favorite movies to DivX. Each takes up about 800MB of space, and that's at full resolution. I can therefore fit maybe 30 of my movies on there, plus my music, and then, if I'm ever at a friend's house, relative's, or anywhere with RCA inputs, I can just "jack in" and play any one of my favorite videos. Kinda like your music collection on the go, but movies too :wink: . I tried to watch a movie in bed, and it sorta works, but really it's too much trouble if you're going to hold it up. If you just prop it up and you're a foot away from the screen, it's mildly enjoyable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I used to have a Micro and I loved it BTW :D

[insane]

the iPod can only play .mov files.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mmhrmm and for digital camera videos you need to buy a special version of quicktime to actually convert them correctly.

[Mementh]

 

the iPod can only play .mov files.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mmhrmm and for digital camera videos you need to buy a special version of quicktime to actually convert them correctly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ok this is the MOST silly thread i have heard filled with lies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

800 megs for a movie.. your quality is like HD.. reduce your quality and you will get more on (your tv can't use all that quality)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ipod has RCA jacks.. just get a cheap phono jack from radioshack and just remember sound and audio on one of them are flipped

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

also i posted on your thread.. the deal was style ipod.. other creative...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

also you don't HAVE to use quicktime.. google videora ipod converter...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OR.. let ITUNES convert for you (much slower but still does it)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and.. your rebuttle is?

[wahoo]

that you are a child who doesn't keep an open mind about other products on the market.

[Kwisatz]

 

 

the iPod can only play .mov files.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mmhrmm and for digital camera videos you need to buy a special version of quicktime to actually convert them correctly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ok this is the MOST silly thread i have heard filled with lies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

800 megs for a movie.. your quality is like HD.. reduce your quality and you will get more on (your tv can't use all that quality)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ipod has RCA jacks.. just get a cheap phono jack from radioshack and just remember sound and audio on one of them are flipped

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

also i posted on your thread.. the deal was style ipod.. other creative...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

also you don't HAVE to use quicktime.. google videora ipod converter...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OR.. let ITUNES convert for you (much slower but still does it)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and.. your rebuttle is?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wow, I wasn't really aware that it was a debate!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. The iPod DOES have RCA jacks, but it outputs 320x240 only, not full 640x480, like the Vision:M. That's why I have 800MB per movie - because they're at full resolution, so I can watch them in good quality on a TV. Also I didn't buy a cable for mine, I just used the one from my DVD Player :P That aside, can you cite where anybody on this thread said that the iPod doesn't have A/V? I even said it does in my first post here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nobody said that you have to use QuickTime either... Insane said you needed it for digital camera videos, not every video. Again, I mentioned Videora in my first post. Even so, you still have to convert it, wasting time. With my Vision:M, I just went to Compfused, downloaded all my favorite videos, and then just copied and pasted them onto the Vision:M. That simple.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read before you post, bud.

[Anesthesia]

Creative have always had good value (many say better value) players, but it seems to me that if you want the best and are willing to pay more for it (in which case you'd see the apple players as better value) then the apple products still have the edge in terms of size and user interface.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

However, putting the words 'iPod' and 'killer' in a title gives negative connotations. So many players have been touted as 'the iPod killer' and all have failed.