Creative Labs Nomad II C 32 Meg ClamShell

by Creative

Product Details

Product Manual [2.63mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 0.8 x 2.5 x 3.7 inches ; 3 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005S0PG
• Item model number: II C
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #289,186 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

The Creative Labs Nomad II C is one of those gadgets that are so much fun to play with, you find yourself forgetting they're useful, too. When portable MP3 players first hit the market, they were relatively simple devices good for one thing: playing MP3 files. Now, as companies have learned customers want more than just that, today's devices can no longer be described as just MP3 players.

The Nomad II C's most overlooked feature is that of a digital voice recorder. Since voice recordings aren't the memory hogs that music files are, the Nomad II C can record up to four hours' worth. This feature is perfect for dictating messages to yourself or for the fledging journalist recording interviews, and you can even upload voice files from the Nomad II C to your PC.

From an audio perspective, the Nomad II C couldn't have performed any better. The equalizer had good settings, and the ability to program user-defined settings was awesome. Furthermore, a wired remote control and bass-enhanced, behind-the-head headphones completed the package.

MP3 players are great for music lovers on the go. Because they have no moving parts, they're well known for skip-free music. To test the Nomad II C, we loaded it up with some hip-hop and headed down to the local BMX spot in San Francisco. With the player clipped to a belt, we put it through its paces over a multitude of jumps and with more than enough crashes. We did our best to make it skip, but it performed perfectly (though beware--the Nomad II C isn't scratchproof). Only after the battery started to get low (the Nomad II C offers eight to 10 hours of playback) did performance degrade. But this was easily remedied by dropping in a new AA battery.

This version of the Nomad II C has 32 MB of onboard memory, but it does include a slot for SmartMedia memory cards. As additional memory is still relatively expensive, and most of us don't have extra cards lying around the house, there will come a time when you'll tire of the songs on the device. And without the presence of your PC--and no additional SmartMedia cards--you're at a loss.

MP3 music, like everything else technology related, is in constant flux. Recognizing that, the Nomad II C ships with reprogrammable firmware that should enable it to support digital-audio formats and software extensions as they emerge. So, you should be able to enjoy your Nomad II C for years to come. --William O'Neal

Pros:

• Awesome sound
• Lightweight
• USB interface makes connecting to your computer simple and downloading fast
• Intuitive software
• Supports numerous digital-audio formats

Cons:

• Simple software could be more robust
• Navigating the LCD menu can be a pain

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best price performance, December 11, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Creative Labs Nomad II C 32 Meg ClamShell (Electronics)

I originally bought a Rio One, but after the first song I found it was a complete waste of money. Thanks to Amazon.com's great return policy, I returned it and bought the Nomad IIc and it's been perfect since. Buy a 128MB memory card too, and some batteries if you listen to it all the time. I bought some cheap... headphones... and they work perfectly. The sound quality is awesome. I reccomend this to everyone. It's so cheap compared to others!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars So far, so good, December 9, 2001

By 

SBR "SBR" (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Creative Labs Nomad II C 32 Meg ClamShell (Electronics)

I wanted an MP3 player almost exclusively for running, and this fit the bill. Since I have a good supply of SmartMedia cards for my digital camera, I wanted something compatible. I also did not want to spend a lot of money on something like this, given the limited use and chances of eventually dropping and breaking it. (...)It is a great choice. Using a 64 mb memory card (which I already had), I have plenty of room for 16-20 songs, which is far more than I listen to on my 3-4 mile runs. Adding new songs involves only plugging in the USB cable, hitting "transfer," and waiting a few seconds each. Obviously, if you want a lot more memory, or you don't aleady have SmartMedia cards, your mileage may vary. I will eventually get one of the 6-10 gig players for other uses, but for my purposes, this player is perfect.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More features, January 25, 2002

By 

James A Catchpole (Boise, Idaho United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Creative Labs Nomad II C 32 Meg ClamShell (Electronics)

I'm very imporessed by this player. After downloading the flash file from Creative's web page, my 128mb smartmedia card was recognized. Definatley recommended!
A few more of the nice features;
Headphone jack is tight, keeps the headphones in if the unit falls off your belt, acting like a safety cord.
The output from the headphone jack can be powered to drive speakers or changed to a simple nonpowered line out, for connection to audio equipment.
The headphones supplied are pretty nice, a little small for my big head though. Great bass response, although I'd recommend getting a better pair.
The Amazon listing mentions "clamshell" but the unit doesn't have a protective cover.
If you buy a memory card, be warned that the player doesn't add this to the total available. I.e. you won't be able to have a 160mb MP3 file. You could have a 128mb mp3 file and a seperate 32mb MP3 file though.