Creative Zen Micro...The First Real Challenger To iPod?

[Kent Pribbernow]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://creative.com/products/product.asp?category=213&subcategory=214&product=10795' target='_blank'>http://creative.com/products/product.asp?category=213&subcategory=214&product=10795</a><br /><br /></div>Creative is unveiling a colorful new line of portable audio devices; the Zen Micro. Micro is a 5GB small form factor audio player available in a variety of colors, similar to the iPod Mini, and is expected to be widely available in time for the holiday season. <br /><br />This is probably the first non-iPod player I have seen that actually has some personality to it. If Creative prices this product right, and markets the hell out of it, the product could be successful. Marketing is key in creating a cult of "hipness" around a product, which is largely why the iPod has been such a monumental success. It's going to take that same stamp of trendiness to get another competitor in the ring. We'll see if that is the case with Zen Micro. But keep your eye on this product...I think it just might be a winner. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/3281_super.jpg" />

[Zack Mahdavi]

Looks interesting, but I really don't like the touch pad on this device. I think it would be very annoying to scroll down in a list of songs, then lift your finger, move it up to the top of the touch pad, and scroll down again. I like the iPod's round touch pad which allows you to "scroll" through the songs. Much more intuitive, imo.

[arebelspy]

The iPod is all anyone's talking about. Look at the past few stories on this site alone.

Even in articles about other mp3 players the iPod is the standard measured up against, and gets a mention.

As the incumbant, even if a far superior product comes along it'll take forever for it to threaten the iPod.

Look how long it took PPC to overcome Palm. We all knew it would happen, but it took 4+ years. In all early PPC reviews they were compared to Palms. It'll be a similar story with the iPod and competing music players.

-arebelspy

[Filip Norrgard]

http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/3281_super.jpg
Anybody else think "inspired by Nokia"? :lol:

http://www.nokia.fi/img/products/3220/proddet.jpg

[Tim Williamson]

Who else thinks the OS on this thing looks inspired by another famous MP3 player's OS? :wink:
http://creative.com/images/inline/products/zenmicro/lowres_zenmicro_black.jpg

Now if only they had a 20GB version then I might consider this...

[dean_shan]

I'm digging the iMac color idea. http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/images/smiles/pukeface.gif

[cmorris]

I'd take the Rio Carbon over that or the iPod mini, but that's just me. :D