Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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197 of 202 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very happy; very small, great sound and add-on features, September 23, 2005
This is my first MP3 player and I did a lot of comparison shopping. I'm extremely happy with my Zen Nano Plus after a week. My demands included (a) at least 1 GB, (b) runs on AA or AAA battery, (c) build in FM player, (d) must have a screen (Ipod Shuffle - out), (e) line-in music recorder and voice recorder highly desired. Obviously, the Nano Plus has all five features. How do they hold up? (A-Memory) It holds ?30 hours of music in WMA or MP3 sampled at around 50-60 kbps, the latter is still "FM quality" which is pretty good, especially if you're listening on airplanes, subways, etc. More if you use audiobooks (e.g. 60 mb = 8 hrs). (B-AAA Battery). It's 12-hours plus. I'll likely get a four-pack and a recharger. And boy is the Nano Plus tiny. It's really featherweight. (C-FM). It's high quality and records well. It works great in my gym, where for example my Sony CD&FM Walkman gets little but static. Stations of intermediate strength will shift in sound quality with body distance. So you can set the sound just right, start the Record function, but as you walk away the antenna/reception balance may shift. So far I've taped for example a random hour of radio to listen to on an airplane. I expect I'll sometimes be recording a specific program to hear later. (D-Screen). When the Ipod Nano came out, I almost shifted my purchase plan, but I still wanted all the other features of the Nano Plus. I figured out most all the menus in the first day or two of playing around. But the first 5 minutes are confusing. You don't get sophisticated playlist options, but I didn't care about that. Albums or other media go in folders sorted alphabetically, and songs list alphabetically. I thought it would have a folder structure, but it appears to just list folders alphabetically in a series you can toggle through. For example, Folder A, Folder B (subfolder 1 and 2), Folder C. You'll toggle linearly across Folder A, Folder 1, Folder 2, then Folder C. I was a little disappointed with this, but you're unlikely to have more than 10-20 folders. It auto-bookmarks books from audible.com. (E: Line-in and voice). Voice recorder is a little tinny but quite workable. Line-in is pretty high quality. I think I may use this alot - for example, record a talk show on Tivo and later listen to it on the Zen Nano. I also have a hobby of listening to movie soundtracks (the whole audio track, not just the songs) and this will import them from vhs or tivo. [People think this is extremely eccentric of me but talky movies hold up very well as a soundtrack only, especially if you're stuck in traffic, planes, etc. I've even listened to favorite tv series (e.g. six feet under) this way.] You can drag to your PC both FM recorded files and Line-In recorded files. AND WHAT I'D CHANGE: Two GB flash memory would be nicer (and the competing iPod nano has come up to 5 GB flash memory). A timer for FM recording might be nice. An option to set FM to "mono" mode would increase the reliability of middling-strength stations. Ability to actually toggle between two levels of folders. And why not simply record both line-in (now WAV files) and FM files as MP3? More range of options in setting resolution (quality) of recorded files. The included earbuds are real big; I upgraded to Sony MDR-EX71 earplug phones (list $50, avaialble $30) which have rubber cuffs that reduce noise alot; I'm very happy with their sound and comfort.
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134 of 143 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
GREAT Product, July 12, 2005
I've been doing alot of reseach into a new MP3 player and reading alot of reviews, checking prices, etc. I have an RCA2012 and was not happy with it (see my review regarding the RCA). I didn't want one with an expansion card (too complex, been there, done that), one that would work with Windows Media & hold most of my songs (which worked out to be 1GB), one small enough so you could hide it in your pocket at work (it measures 2.5 inches by 1.5 inches in it's case), and a case with a belt clip so I could wear it if I didn't have a pocket and didn't want to jog (the case is rubber flexiskin with a rubber belt clip on the back, although it also comes with an armband for those joggers out there).
All Creative MP3's are well reviewed and recommended. Although this price is the lowest for this player, it's a little more than I wanted to pay. I thought about a 512, but I have more music than that on my computer and experts recommend that you buy the most memory that you can afford.
When everyone said how easy this was to download I definately had my apprehensions (last time I tried to download the RCA it took me a trip to the store to exchange it and 8 hours to figure it out, not to mention the damage to my blood pressure).
I didn't want to start in the evening because I'm not one for patience and if it didn't work I'd be up all night fuming. WELL, I took a chance and WOW. My songs are all in Windows Media and it took literally, I'm still amazed, under 10 minutes to install the software (the software will tell you how long you have before you'll be hearing songs on your player) and another 10 minutes to download almost 1 GB to the MP3 player. I am a little past middle-aged and no techno-whiz (if the computer comes on and the internet works I'm happy). Believe me, if I can get this to work anyone can.
Also, the sound on this is astounding. I WOULD definately recommend this MP3 player and from now on will not buy another unless it's a Creative.
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30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very Good MP3 Player - but is it right for you?, August 10, 2006
[Note: The price on this page, as I write, is ten dollars higher than retail. You can get one at just under seventy d0llars at the Creative site (which stocks 10 colors), Cambridge Soundworks stores, and stores like Staples and most consumer electronics stores.]
I would have given Creative Zen Nano Plus (abbreviated "CZNP") 5 stars, except for two small deficiences: it does not have gapless playback (see #10 below), and the build quality and controls are kind of cheap (see #4 below). Assuming it lasts, it seems a very good unit for the money. Here's why I bought mine, and some questions to ask yourself when you're choosing. [Updated 8/28/2006]
0. Do I want to make a fashion statement with my MP3 player?
Some people will only buy a trendy iPod. Buying a lesser-known unit like CZNP makes a different statement, and you can choose from 10 colors. I prefer function over form, but CZNP offers some of each. I bought an orange one because it is easy to find in my black bag.
1. Do I want to play more than just sound?
The CZNP is a basic MP3 player, FM Radio, and recorder. It has a simple monochrome display and controls that make it a good choice for playing music, podcasts, and ebooks, and listening to local radio stations. It can record from the built-in mike or radio, or from a line input, which may be handy for some.
Some players can play videos, show pictures, etc, and cost a lot more because of the required color screen and larger memory. I don't need these things and prefer not to spend the money needed to get them.
Of course this player can STORE any kind of content, just like a thumb drive, but it only plays audio.
2. Will I be listening to mostly music or mostly spoken content?
When you switch off a unit while it is playing, or pause it and it turns off automatically after awhile, some units will resume at the beginning of the current track, and others (e.g. CZNP) resume exactly where you left off. If you are playing music, you usually prefer to start the song over again. For ebooks or long podcasts, I need to resume where it was turned off (like CZNP does), because it is hard to fast-advance back to where you were.
3. What kind of accessories can I get?
Creative has a set of speakers tailored to the CZNP, and there are many generic accessories that will work with it. By comparison, there are entire catalogs of accessories tailored for optimal use with an iPod (and may not work with others). I have what I need, but pine for some things available for iPod only.
The best accessory of all is a cable that has a 1/8" stereo plug (like the headphone plug) on one end, and two RCA plugs on the other. Plug one of these into the auxiliary or CD input of all the stereos you use, and you can quicly plug this in and play on the speakers. Such cables are available at Radio Shack and most places selling electronics products.
4. How convenient is it to use?
MP3 players vary considerably on how easy they are to use. The iPod is famous for ease of use, though it does not do everything I want to do. The CZNP has relatively cheap controls that work well enough, and does what I want. You don't have to be a computer whiz to use it or its software.
I have been using it while driving with reasonably good results. It is easy to pause and start it, turn it off, adjust volume, skip or repeat tracks, back up or move forward in the current track, and small enough to hold in your hand and still be able to hold onto the steering wheel.
But if you want to skip to a different album, you have to skip, wait, listen, and skip until you find the first track of the desired album. Of course there is a menu way of getting there more easily, but you can't use menus while driving.
It is small and light. About like a Bic cigarette lighter except twice as wide. So far I have found the size very convenient; I don't think I would want it any smaller. But being small, it might be easier to lose - which is why I bought an orange one.
5. How long will it last?
On Amazon, click the link "See all ... customer reviews", then look for the dropdown "Show:" and choose "Lowest review first" and click the Go button. There are a number of reports from people who had problems with their CZNP, some bad enough to throw it away. Some are real problems, others might be a lack of understanding how to use the player.
Despite these complaints, the average review is high. You'll find about the same mix of reviews for most players.
I decided to take a chance. My unit will be well-cared for. If I have a problem, I'll update this review.
6. Can the battery be replaced?
CZNP uses an AAA battery which is said to last for 15 hours and can be changed easily.
The iPod Nano has a rechargeable battery that is not designed to be replaced, which means the iPod Nano becomes landfill when the battery no longer takes a charge in a couple of years. There will be millions of iPods being thrown away simply because the owner cannot make them continue to work, which has an impact on the environment. There are now battery replacement kits for iPod, with tools and instructions, so this concern is lessened for DIY people, but most won't bother.
7. How does it sound?
The CZNP sounds very good to when when I use good earphones like Koss "The Plug", or when plugged into a stereo.
The free headphones you get with it won't give you the best sound, and you should not judge any player on how it sounds with the included headphones. Go buy quality earphones for any new player, as this will make a huge improvement in your enjoyment at relatively low cost.
8. Does the player use flash memory or hard-disk for storage?
CZNP uses flash memory. Flash memory is more expensive per MB/GB than hard disk memory, and flash memory players are smaller than hard disk players. I would not want a hard disk, which I think is too heavy and too fragile for a portable player. Get a hard disk player if you want to carry a lot of content, but make sure you have a backup. Get a flash memory player if you want to hold the content you will listen to today or this week.
9. Does the player have enough memory?
I use Highest Quality VBR, which gives me MP3s usually 200-250 KBPS, and I get about 10 hours of MP3 music. For podcasts or other material recorded at lower quality, you'll get a lot more. With that much space I can have some new or favorite albums left on the player, and have plenty of room for content that changes (like podcasts). If you don't use a computer regularly, you might want more memory, maybe even a hard disk, but 1GB is very convenient for my purposes.
10. Does the player support gapless playback between tracks?
Some albums have music that flows continously from one track to the next. Examples: Radiohead "OK Computer", Dandy Warhols, Moody Blues. The listening experience is disrupted if the tracks have a gap as the player switches from one track to another.
I don't know of any portable MP3 player that offers gapless playback (without Rockbox), though it's bound to come. The CZNP has a brief gap with no clicks, but it is still somewhat disruptive. One solution is to rip the album as one continuous track. The Rockbox open-source technology essentially replaces the firmware on your player, and it features gapless playback. It is supported on a few players, including some iPods, but not CZNP.
11. Does the player require proprietary software or hardware?
CZNP includes software, but since it also works like a USB drive, you can manage content with Explorer / Finder if you want to. All connectors are industry-standard and you can find matching cables in electronics and computer stores.
iPod can only load music using iTunes, and other players require software supplied with the unit, or with Windows. The iPod and others also use proprietary connectors, so replacing a lost cable is more expensive. I would not be happy with such restrictions. Open standards promote flexibility and interoperability. On the other hand the iPod is widely supported and it's easy to find compatible accessories.
For me, at a minimum, the player needs to look like a USB drive when I connect it to the computer, so that I can load it by dragging files to the player's file system, and the CZNP does that. I want to have a program automatically create a custom listening program of various short podcasts that play in a particular order to support Radio on Demand, and I want that to happen by simply connecting the device to the computer, with no keyboard or mouse interaction involved. I have not found such a program, and may have to write it, but I can do that if I want to. With an iPod I have no choice but to use iTunes (or replace the firmware with Rockbox). iTunes will not do what I want it to do, and there is no option to use my own or third-party software.
12. Is the player file-based or tag-based?
The CZNP is file-based: it will play songs in alphabetical order for a given folder. Naming songs with a two-digit sequence number at the beginning of the filename ensures they play in the correct order. It also has shuffle play, etc.
I had tried the SanDisk Sansa, but returned it because all content is organized and played on the basis of tags, exclusively. While my music has tags correctly set to play the way I wanted, podcasts don't use tags consistently enough to play them in a particular order that I chose. With the CZNP you can at least control the order by putting a sequence number at the beginning of each filename.
Tag-based may have some advantages over file-based (though not for my uses), but only if all of the content you want to play is properly tagged.
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