 [Larger view] | Creative Zen Micro 5 GB MP3 Player Black
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Average user rating:  | |
 What you need to know if you want to use subscription music. | |
| This player is fantastic in terms of audio quality, ease of use, and features. However, if you are considering purchasing one to use with subscription music services like Napster-to-go, or Yahoo Music Unlimited, there are a few things to keep in mind:
1. To use the Creative Zen player with a subscription service, you need to go to Creative's web site, and download new software for your PC. You will also need to download and install new firmware on the player. At the time of this writing, that firmware is a "beta release." I haven't seen any problems yet, but if you don't like to tinker a bit, this player can be a little challenging to set up. 2. Right now, the Creative software transfers subscription music files very slowly. It makes USB 2.0 feel like USB 1.1. This doesn't affect standard MP3 files - just subscription WMA files. The solution? Use Windows Media Player 10 to do your transferring. The subscription files are still a little slower to transfer, but it's only by about 10% or so. 3. Subscription files need to buffer when you first hit "play," so there's a 4-7 second delay before the first song starts. However, once an album is playing, there's no gap between songs. The player intelligently pre-buffers the next song. Again, this doesn't affect regular MP3 files - just subscription DRM-encoded files, like those from Napster-to-Go or Yahoo Music Unlimited. These issues knock a single star off the review. Otherwise, this is a great "alternative" MP3 player for those of use who don't want to worship the mighty all-powerful Apple. I got it to use with the new $5-per-month service from Yahoo (Music Unlimited,) and despite the above issues, I love it. The subscription service lets me download as much as I want, and the player lets me take it wherever I go. | |
 Don't buy an iPod! | |
| I was researching MP3 players for 2 weeks. I previewed lots of MP3 Players and I also went to Best Buy to try them out and decided on this product.
Pros .Blacklight is cool .Price is great .Nice design .Easy to use software .Has FM Radio .A built-in alarm .Can have calandar on it .Able to have a customized EQ .Small Cons .FM Radio reception is not that good .Bad battery life (however Creative is releasing a new firmware for this later this month) .Navigation takes a little time to get used to .Works with Napster To GO and Yahoo Unlimited Don't get an iPod because its more expensive and you have to pay $.99 for EACH song. For the Zen Micro you just pay 12.95 a month for Napster To Go for UNLIMITED songs. | |
| Love it | |
| got mine yesterday and I love it.
Comes in many colors 5GB of music will do me greatly great sound good battery life many custimizable features and good organization softwear in the box just one little problem. the sensitivty buttons might frustrate people(my dad was p.o.'d). still if the ipod isn't your thing and want something close to it, this is the one to get |
