Cute nano competitor
It isn't as sleek, or as thin, as the iPod nano, but Creative's new Zen V and Zen V Plus have their own allure when it comes to being eye-candy.
Instead of the ultra-modern industrial design of the nano, the Zen V is more akin to a cute toy with its rounded edges. But it's still a small and powerful portable media player that gives users a welcome alternative to the Apple products.
Available in 1GB, 2GB and 4GB models, the Zen V is thicker and wider than the nano, but only about two thirds the length.
It has a bigger, 1.5-inch OLED screen and, in the case of the Plus model, more functions. The Zen V will support only audio and photos, while the Zen V Plus adds video playback and an FM radio to the package.
Creative has also built Outlook compatibility into the Zen V, enabling you to import your calendar, contacts and tasks data from Outlook (for view only) on the device.
There is an input system for entering the name of songs as part of the device's file-search feature, but this doesn't work with Outlook data.
While it has many features, the number of files that the player supports is limited - only MP3, WMA and WAV audio files, JPEG photos and AVI videos. This means that many other popular formats, such as OGG, GIF, BMP, and even MPEG-4 will have to be converted before they will play on the Zen V.
The Zen V, especially the 'Plus' model, offers a solid alternative to the nano as well as other similar players on the market if you can get over its toy-like exterior. Both models will be available from July priced from $1,000 to $1,650.
PROS: small, big screen for its size, Outlook support
CONS: limited file format support, toy-like design
