Creative ZEN V Plus 4GB MP3/ Video Player

Hard to find the music I loaded - instructions are vague as it seems all products from this company are - I just want my music on a player and I want to decide how to divided them up not load it and then have to hunt for everything. Sound is good and video is readable but sorting is vry difficult.

Creative ZEN V Plus is a compact device. As such, it's not really meant for viewing, more for audio playback & quick checking of videos. its about matchbook sized, which means the screen isn't that big (about an inch diagonal or so).

I've been using the Creative Zen V Plus for several months now in addition to my old-school 40 GB iPod. I bought the Creative Zen V Plus initially because I wanted to download audio books from the library and the files are not compatible with the Apple software or iPod. Since I started using it, however, I find that it is my "go-to" audio device 90% of the time. Positives-- Small Size-- no special armband or holster necessary. I've worn it around my neck using the included lanyard, tucked it into a shirt or pants pocket and even tucked it into my waistband. Customized Menu-- You can easily customize the main menu to display and reorder your favorite commands, instead of having to scroll through a list of all the menu options. The system menu is always accessible and lists all commands within its submenus. Easy to Sync-- Connect the mini-USB cable and Sync through Windows Media Player or Drag & Drop onto the player - it shows up as a drive under "my computer". I'm not a Mac user, but I would assume it is equally easy to sync with Apple software. Controls are easy to use and tactile. They are laid out well and after a week or two, I was able to manage the controls by feel without removing the player from my pocket. More about the controls--The primary control is a small knob that you depress to 'select' or you toggle it left/right up/down to scroll through menus or ff/rew through audio files.. The power button is on the left side of the unit - press down to turn it on/off, press up to lock or hold the power on. The volume up/down toggle is on the right side. There are only two additional buttons -- one to pause/play and another that acts like a "back" button to reverse back through your menu selections. If you hold the "back" button down, a list of submenus appears, making it easy to set bookmarks, manage playlists, etc. Contrary to a previous review, the player IS easy to reset, if necessary. There is a small hole below the power button. Just insert a pin or the end of a paperclip. Bells & Whistles-- A built-in FM Receiver with great reception, Voice Recorder, view Pictures & Video, Alarm, various audio/equalizer settings. Plays DRM Protected WMA (Audio) files. Sturdy-- After many months of wearing the player around my neck, tucking it into sleeves and tossing it into various bags, pockets etc. it still looks great with only a few small scratches on one edge of the screen. Negatives-- Includes only a USB cable for syncing and charging. You have to buy a separate wall charger if you don't want to always recharge it through your computer. I found an iGo charger with interchangeable tips at a reasonable price. Small Screen-- I wouldn't watch videos regularly on such a small screen. However, it's great for keeping a few pictures on hand. You can even customize one of them to use as your background image. Overall, this is a GREAT buy and I highly recommend it. I marked it at only 4 stars for audio/video quality due to the small screen size and only 4 stars for ease of use because I had to re-read the manual to figure out that you had to down the "back" button to easily access the submenus.

I received the Creative Zen V Plus as a gift for playing electronic audiobooks provided by my local library. I had hoped to use my iPod but Apple does not support the library's digital rights system. Hence the need for a compatible MP3 player. At first glance it is a beautiful device. The size of matchbox, its shiny black finish and minimalist controls look modern, sleek, and efficient. Its the sort of technology you want to show off. Kind of a cool looking electronic pebble that does useful work. It even has an elegant stamped set of concentric rings on the back that add to the beauty. Everything goes down hill from there. The synching software is confusing, even after reading the directions. The bookmarking feature seems to require about 5 steps, none of them intuitive. The beautiful controls are best manipulated by infants with suction cups on their fingers. Adult fingers slip or are too large. The information on the screen is visible only to those with perfect vision. And, if you hit the controls too quickly in a certain sequence the entire device freezes. There is no easy reset other than to let the battery wear down. Battery life is good but that's about the only plus.