Nomad Creative Zen Xtra 30GB MP3 Player
Navigation: 5 out of 5
I started with this since it seems to be such an important issue with people that plan on getting an MP3 player. I have used the iPod’s touch wheel system, and I like the Creative’s navigation system much better. It gives me much more control, and is much more precise.
Price: 5 out of 5
I ended up paying about $150 for mine, but they generally cost around $220 brand new. It shouldn’t be too much of a problem to find it as low as $180 brand new on the internet though. Considering that the 20GB iPod costs as much as $300, the Creative Zen beats it by far.
Storage: 5 out of 5
After looking around, I found that Creative offers way more in terms of storage for the price than any other MP3 player on the market. 30GB for $180 is unbeatable by any other company, much less the Apple iPod.
Sound Quality: 5 out of 5
It may have been the headphones I was using at the time, but the sound quality on the Zen Xtra beat out the sound quality on the iPod. Either way, it is perfect quality, and sounds better than anything else I’ve ever heard.
Size: 4 out of 5
This is one of the complaints I hear about the Zen, so I have to give it a lower rating. For me, it never is a problem, seeing that it fits just fine in my pocket. I like it, because I know it won’t fall out (and would be hard to steal), and it fits very snuggly. The case makes it look bigger than it actually is, too.
Accessories: 5 out of 5
Right out of the box, the Creative Zen comes loaded with free classical music. The best part, however, was the free carrying case that came with it! The case protects it from scratching, and I keep mine in the case at all times. It also comes with a set of earbuds that fit great in my ears, and of course a USB cable and AC adapter.
Battery: 5 out of 5
My battery has never run out of charge on the road, and I rarely plug it in except for when I’m doing file transfers. The best part about it is if you are going on an especially long trip, you can buy another battery, and switch it out when the other one runs out of charge. The price of the battery? Around $15 brand new on ebay. You can’t beat that with an iPod!
Screen: 5 out of 5
The screen quality is excellent, and is crystal clear. It also has a blue backlight, which looks great and is powerful enough to light up a pitch black room.
Customization: 5 out of 5
There are so many options in the menu, that there is no doubt you can get the settings to be perfect, just for you. You can also store different profiles with different settings, and switch back and forth between them with ease!
Extras: 5 ouf of 5
There are many different extra features added, such as the ability to normalize all files, play them slower or faster (particularly useful for ebooks and lectures), car mode, and much more. The pre-bundled software works great, and it works so well that I even use it just to organize my music collection.
Overall: 5 out of 5
I have a condition that I believe is called “Buyer’s Remorse,” and it is very severe for me. I have regretted everything I have ever bought (including pets), with one exception. You guessed it, my Creative Zen Xtra! I take it everywhere with me, and it is one of my most prized possessions!
