Windows portable music just got better …


Say hello to Creative’s Zen Micro mini HD player!

zen

“Hello!”

Late this year, Creative stepped up to the podium to announce an aggressive move to challenge Steve Jobs and his iPod music empire. I merely shrugged shoulders upon hearing this until I read a review of their latest music player, the Zen Micro. From looks alone, I would bet that the iPod Mini has met its match.

It’s almost scary, actually. Click below to read more!

Here are a few things I like about the Zen Micro:

- 5GB of music: thats 1GB up from the iPod Mini, which allows you to store around 166 more 192kbps bitrate songs (I found 4GB a bit too small, but 1GB more? Hmm .. okay.)

- Though slightly more expensive by around US $49.00, it is feature-packed compared to the iPod Mini, boasting an 32-channel preset FM Tuner, voice recorder and 10 attractive colors

- The ability to sync your Outlook data which is one feature I find to be so .. wow!

- A removable battery (the first batch of units come with a free extra battery); 12 hours of battery life as compared to the iPod’s 8 hours and the extra battery only costs US $40.00

- An attractive remote control which is considered to be a necessary accessory, but sold separately (grawrr!!)

First Impression Bottomline: The Zen Micro captures the look and feel of trendy portable music players (namely the iPod) and adds several features which were present in the Archos, Rio Carbon and iRiver players, yet suffered in aesthetic beauty.

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December 21st, 2004
6 Responses
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Comment Number:
1
Written by:
Head Geekette
Posted on:
12/22/2004 at 11:40 am

Yes. I was looking at this and the Creative Zen Touch. I really have no idea which I’d like better! :o

Then again, I’m stopped by the fact that they don’t support OGG.
:(

So, if I have this baby… what am I to do with my Olympus Digital Voice Recorder? :o

Comment Number:
2
Written by:
gary
Posted on:
12/22/2004 at 12:10 pm

i actually like listening to the radio. I sometimes even listen to AM, and there’ve been times i wish i could listen to something else on my ipod - even so many gb. of your own music can get tiring. there’s also no better way to learn about new songs than FM stations. I’d been wondering why they didnt just put radio capability into these things to begin with. Why not diba?

So i think this is a good ’stepback to old school’ move.

the removable batt sounds good too - if they’re proprietary it makes an instant market for aftermarket parts for them as well.

Comment Number:
3
Written by:
jayvee
Posted on:
12/22/2004 at 1:16 pm

the micro records to WAV output and not MP3. sayang!!! but thats ok.. small price to pay.

Comment Number:
4
Written by:
Jones Kingsu
Posted on:
12/22/2004 at 4:54 pm

I say… Nah…

It’s a nice idea though but I don’t really appreciate the design. It looks “fat.” It doesn’t look as sleek as the mini.

The only radio station that I listen to is 89.9’s morning show and that’s it. I tire of endless advertisements that local stations play and the endless repeats of pop songs. (I also used to listen to 88.3 when they were a jazz station.) Screw the radio.

Comment Number:
5
Written by:
Winston Chiu
Posted on:
1/1/2005 at 1:55 pm

You guys still don’t get it. From the interface alone, it shouts “RIP OFF”! For people who are spending thousands of bucks for a digital music player, who wants to buy a second class one. Gone are the days when Sound Blaster still reign supreme.

W

P.S. They might want to consider changing their company name (for it doesn’t speak of their products anymore).

Comment Number:
6
Written by:
lordtaz
Posted on:
1/4/2005 at 3:32 pm

iPod pa rin! iPod pa rin! there’s GREATER VALUE in simplicity! more features doesn’t mean better performance especially in this case. =)