Creative Zen Vision:M 30 GB MP3 and Video Player (Black)

I received a brand new Zen Vision M 30gb player as a gift. The first nine months were fine. However, my screen changed colors & totally disappeared. No one from the company has returned my emails. My wife also purchased a Zen Neeon. It stopped working in less than a year. As far as I am concerned. These products are garbage. As a consumer, I want 2 buy a product that I can trust. I will never recommend this or any Creative product. Stick 2 your Ipods. The Ipod is next on my shopping list.

I bought this item refurbished off the amazon website in 2007. Came 2 me a few days early too which I liked. Paired with a pair of phillips headset I was rocking 4 hours. Its really easy 2 use & transfer music 2 & putting podcasts on it is a easy task. I did get scared when I first dropped this mp3 player but its sturdy & I have never broke the screen. I give it a 5 because its easy 2 use & it works with every media player out.

Pros.
30 gigs (who needs more really I only have about 20gigs on this bad boy)
music playback is great (its made by creative enough said)
Compatible with all media players 4 transfering mp3's
DRM compatible (which is great 4 people that use online services

Cons.
There are a few times when the mp3 player locks up but its easy fixed with a restart of the unit manually
Software 4 the mp3 player could be alot better but a good effort on the part of creative crew

First of all, I love this product. Unfortunately it just died after about two & a half years of strenuous use, & I go 2 Amazon 2 see if I can get one 4 the same price I got it the first time. I paid 200 dollars 4 it. I get on Amazon & the best they can find is one 4 FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS. Just thought I'd point that out. I'ma go buy an iTouch now.

I've had this product 4 about two years now.
The good:
- Durable, I have dropped it a few times & it's fine.
- Good sound
- Smaller than my last MP3 player (a Dell Jukebox)
- Beautiful - it comes with nice-looking preset themes (6) & the the outside is attractive
- Cheaper than an IPod 4 the same amount of space (30 GB)
- Can function as a planner, calendar, & can do two-way transfer with music & video, as well as can be a (albeit large) flash drive. This feature I LOVE & it kicks IPod's butt.

The bad:
- As mentioned, the touchpad IS very sensitive, but I don't find it bad. Ater you get used 2 it, even if you mess up the setting, you just tap it twice & it goes back.
- Kinda big. It is heavier than most IPods, & if you want 2 go running with your music on your arm, this is not the device 4 you.
- It doesn't come with a charger - we had 2 buy it separately. Charging using the provided USB cord takes FOREVER & you have 2 have your computer on at the same time, which wastes energy & is obnoxious. But I bought the charger, problem solved.
- Because it's not an ipod, it's harder 2 find accessories 4 it. Also nothing cool is compatible with it (eg an i-trip), but that's why I have a CD player in my car.

I've had this mp3 4 three years & I love it.My problem has been with customer support; my FM turnner does not work any more & the battery doesn't stay charged as long as it did when new. I tried 2 contact the company 2 see if they could replace the fm & battery & they won't return my e-mails. what's the big deal? All I want 2 know is if it can be done. Any help out there?
L

The Zen Vision: M 30GB Multimedia Center makes it easy 2 carry all your digital files around - & navigate them more simply. You'll be able 2 enjoy thousands of photo & audio files -- or even video files, thanks 2 the great-looking 2.5" LCD screen. Its 320x240 resolution & 262,144 color display will makes photos look almost as good as the real thing, even in bright sunlight. The TV-out jack lets you store complete movies or TV shows & connect them 2 a TV 4 easy sharing with your friends. The Zen Vision will even turn your slideshows into attention-grabbing multimedia; share your collections of baby photos by adding a backdrop of your favorite music 2 the slideshow, directly from the player. The bigger, backlit Vertical Scroll navigation tool is smoother & helps 2 improve selection accuracy. It's the one-stop device 4 all your digital entertainment needs. The built-in Personal Organizer lets you transfer your calendar, contacts & task list from Microsoft Outlook -- you'll never forget all your important anniversaries & appointments Repeat, resume, & random play Audio Playback Format - MP3 WMA & WAV / Photo Format - JPEG (GIF, TIFF, PNG & BMP) / Video Playback Format - MPEG1/2/4-SP, WMV9, Motion-JPEG, compatible DivX 4,5 & XviD Programmable sleep & wake timers Customizable main menu Also functions as an external hard drive 4 data & file transfer 8 EQ settings (Acoustic, classical, disco, jazz, new age, pop, rock & vocal) Rechargeable Li-ion battery plays up 2 14 hours of continuous audio playback & up 2 4 hours of continuous video playback Size - WxHxD - 4.1 x 2.4 x 0.7 / Weight - 5.7 oz PC requirements - Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1 or 2

In its own right, the Creative Zen Vision:M is a very capable digital audio player, video player, photo viewer, FM radio, & more. Indeed, one could go on & on about how it has the right specifications 2 make it a constant companion 4 entertainment on the go. The really big news about this device, though, is that it's the first device 2 boast complete compatibility with Amazon Unbox, the new digital video & music download service from Amazon.com.

The Zen Vision:M has the features, ease-of-use, & power 2 become your constant media companion. See the Vison:M interactive demo.

Design
Let's get things out in the open. The Apple iPod is the 800-pound gorilla when it comes 2 the digital media player business and, unavoidably, every other device is measured against it. In most respects, the Vision:M matches up pretty well, & there are few things you may even like better. Length & width dimensions are exactly the same at 4.1 & 2.4 inches respectively. When it comes 2 girth, though, the iPod has the Vision:M beat; the Vision:M is .7 inches thick, while the iPod measures .4 inches. The Vision:M is slightly heavier, too. These details aside, the Vision:M feels comfortable, yet sturdy, in the hand, with curved surfaces in all the right places.

Creative takes a somewhat different approach with the Vision:M's controls, answering the iPod's Click Wheel with a vertical touch pad--which allows you 2 scroll up & down menus & control volume--plus four buttons that offer navigation through the user interface. The contextual menu button on the bottom right is a welcome addition, allowing you 2 make quick settings changes & view information about media files on the fly--functions that are more cumbersome on an iPod. Creative could have made the buttons a bit more sensitive--they require a firm press that gives an overall feeling of clunkiness 2 an otherwise well-designed user interface. Another annoyance is the touch pad's over-sensitivity; it's easy 2 make selections unintentionally, sending you on a wild ride through the user interface.

The Vision:M's screen, which measures 2.5 inches diagonally, offers sharp details, vibrant color, & excellent response with little or no video ghosting during high-action sequences. The 320 x 240 resolution is 2 be expected from a device this size, & although it's small, you'll likely have no trouble enjoying video while you're sitting on the subway or a flight, or in the back-seat of a car. Our only nitpick was the screen's less than stellar viewing angle, especially when compared side-by-side with a video iPod. While this can be good 4 maintaining privacy, the narrow viewing angle also means that friends beside you will struggle 2 see anything other than a black screen.

Music, Videos, Photos, & More
The Vision:M's music organization scheme is standard fare; you can browse playlists, artists, tracks, albums, & genres. Equalizer settings are robust, with a nice range of automatic settings, plus a custom equalizer that's easy 2 control. The music library's "DJ" function is a nice touch, allowing you 2 listen 2 your most popular tracks. It can also pull up the tunes you listen 2 least frequently--in case you've got some forgotten tunes lying around on the Vision:M's 30 GB hard drive. Sound quality is everything you'd expect from a top shelf digital audio player, & DRM'd Windows Media files played without a hitch. The device fully supports a whole range of "PlaysForSure" download & subscription services, such as Napster & Yahoo Music. Creative also ships a CD-ripping & music transfer application called MediaSource with the Vision:M.

Playback of Windows Media DRM'd video files (WMV9) was also hassle-free. Purchased videos delivered crisp colors & detail, with no frame drops. Video playback consumes a lot of power, bringing Creative's claim of four hours of video playback into serious doubt. Expect under three hours when watching videos continuously. Thankfully, if you need 2 come back 2 your video later the Vision:M's software remembers the timecode of where you left off--unless you power the device down between viewing sessions. In addition 2 protected & unprotected WMV files, the Vision:M can play MPEG 1/2/4, Motion-JPEG, DivX 4 & 5, & XviD formats, making it a very flexible device with respect 2 encoding options.

The Vision:M can also store thousands of photos, letting you browse through them or set up a slideshow. The device's TV-out option comes in handy here, as you can present slideshows on a TV or projector. Videos can be displayed this way, too. An FM radio with easy preset tuning functions & great signal reception, plus a voice recorder feature, round out the extra media features. There's also a handy application on the Vision:M that formats a portion of the drive 4 use as USB 2.0 mass storage, letting you set aside up 2 16 GB 4 data storage.

Connectivity & Synchronization
A Creative Sync Adapter ships in the box with the Vision:M, making it a snap 2 connect the device 2 a USB 2.0-capable PC. With the connection made, Windows XP recognized the device right off the bat & Windows Media Player immediately asked us if we wanted 2 load the PC's music onto the Vision:M. Music management & synchronization has come a long way on the PC, & the experience of organizing & transferring music 2 & from the Vision:M was, barring a few curious click-through boxes, pretty seamless. The Vision:M also supports synchronization of your Outlook contacts, calendar, & tasks, in case you want 2 use it as a personal organizer of sorts.

Amazon Unbox Integration
To be truly successful, the Vision:M has 2 be more than a great media device, it has 2 integrate with Amazon Unbox & make the process feel like second nature. Although the Vision:M was tested using a beta version of Amazon Unbox, things are looking good already. Amazon Unbox & the Vision:M go together like peas in a pod, making the process of purchasing, downloading, & enjoying content on the go a real cinch. The Amazon Unbox Video Player, which queues, downloads, organizes, & plays your purchased movies & TV shows, recognized the Vision:M right off the bat. An icon 4 the Vision:M appears in the devices panel of the application, & you can immediately begin transferring downloaded content 2 the device. Once you're all loaded up, the Vision:M offers a great way 2 bring Amazon Unbox entertainment along 4 the ride.

Pros

• Crisp, vibrant color screen is great 4 video
• Generous video format compatibility
• Excellent sound quality & music management functions

Cons

• Narrow screen viewing angle may be a problem 4 some
• Finicky controls 4 some functions
• Slightly more bulky than other competitors

What's in the Box
Creative ZEN Vision:M, earphones, Sync Adapter, USB 2.0 cable, pouch, user's guide, & installation CD that includes Creative MediaSource & Creative Media Explorer software. Note: As of July 2006 Creative no longer ships the Zen M with the AC power adapter.

The Zen Vision:M MP3 & Video Player lets you take all your movies, music & photos in a light, pocket-sized device that is loaded with 30 GB of memory. At this capacity you can carry tens of thousands of photos, 120 hours of movies (500 Kbps MPEG4-SP), or up 2 15,000 songs (WMA encoded at 64 Kbps), all in the palm of your hand. You can also tune in the radio (32 station presets), record your favorite talk show, or make personal voice memos with the built-in microphone.

The Zen Vision:M can hold thousands of songs, photos, & movies in its 30 GB memory. View larger. See the Zen Vision:M in 3D.

Today's big screen blockbuster, yesterday's picnic home video, & even your favorite TV shows--they all now fit in your pocket & are ready 2 be shared. Zen Vision:M supports many video formats, such as AVI, DivX 4 & 53, XviD4, MPEG-1, -2, -SP, WMV9, & Motion-JPEG, which simply means you have more choices & less restrictions. Instead of busting out your wallet 2 show snapshots of your kids, you can enlist the Zen Vision:M 2 give viewers a glimpse of your precious memories--tens of thousands of them. In 262,144 vivid colors & 320x240 resolution, complete with a thumbnail gallery, this device makes it easy 2 scroll through your entire photo collection. Of course, music files are a big portion of anyone's digital canvas. Perfect 4 taking with you on the road or just around the house, this device makes all your music sound as good as the Zen Vision:M looks. And with eight preset EQ settings & 97 dB signal-to-noise ratio, you can fine-tune your listening experience 4 any musical genre.

You can also connect the Zen Vision:M 2 a projector or TV with the included AV cable, & put on a big show from this little device. Synchronize music files with photo or video montages 4 a taste of spectacular, personalized big screen magic. Viewing images on this device is a pleasant experience. The 2.5-inch, high definition LCD screen features a 320x240 resolution & hundreds of thousands of colors. What this means is you see crisp, clear detail in every movie & photo, even under bright light.

Creative didn't scrimp on design, either. The Zen Vision:M features an ergonomic design with an innovative touch pad control that enables quick, comfortable access 2 menus & settings. And you'll get loads more playback time with the built-in rechargeable, battery. Enjoy up 2 13 hours of music or 4.5 hours of movies on a single charge. The optional extended-life battery pack lets you double playback time, so you can enjoy days of uninterrupted entertainment. Other features include a personal organizer that you sync with Microsoft Outlook, & an integrated voice recorder that can store hundreds of hours worth of recordings. Take a closer look at all the Zen Vision:M features.

The Zen Vision:M MP3 & Video Player uses PlaysForSure technology. Look 4 the PlaysForSure logo if you're shopping 4 a portable music or video device & you want 2 make sure the digital music & video you purchase will play back on it every time. Match the PlaysForSure logo on a large selection of leading devices & online music stores. If you see the logo, you'll know your digital music will play 4 sure. Choose from a large number of digital music & video stores, including MTV's Urge, Rhapsody, Yahoo!, MSN Music, MusicMatch, MusicNow, Napster, Wal-Mart Music Downloads, & many more.

What's in the Box
Creative Zen Vision:M, earphones, sync adapter, USB 2.0 adapter, pouch, user's guide, & installation CD. Note: As of July 2006 Creative no longer ships the Zen M with the AC power adapter.