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View Full Version : Early Thoughts on the Creative Zen Vision:M


Jason Dunn
01-23-2006, 05:00 PM
A couple of weeks ago when I was in Las Vegas for CES, I had some spare time after I arrived, so I went down to Fry's to look for electronic goodies. I was hoping to see a Zen Vision:M in person, but I wasn't optimistic since it was just released a few weeks ago. Much to my delight, they had just received a shipment of black Vision:M's, so I eagerly purchased one. Here are my first thoughts about it - I'm hoping to do a full review later (perhaps a video review if I'm feeling up for the challenge).<br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/zen-vision-m-small-jason.jpg" /><br /><br />The build quality is fantastic, and it looks great. Having had some hands-on time with an iPod video before, I was a little leery of the Vision:M being twice as thick, but it feels great in the hand. The back of the unit has a hard white enameled metal of some sort, while the front seems to be made of...butter. In trying to compete with Apple, Creative seems to read a little too much from their playbook - the screen is very prone to scratching. I treat my electronics very gently, and the screen had minor scratches (quite visible) after only 48 hours. Frankly, I'm not pleased at all with this part of the player. The screen quality, though, is stunning. Images area bright, crisp, and well-saturated without looking too "hot". Photos look excellent on it, and videos look fantastic if you're starting with a high-quality source. A 320 x 240, 800 kbps DivX 6 file looks crisp and is fluid with fast action sequences.<br /><br />30 GB seemed like a lot to me at first, but once I started tossing all my media on there, it filled up fast. A 60 GB model would <i>really</i> be cool. I've struggled with video conversion - the bundled software isn't great, and can't transcode DVR-MS files or straight VOB files from DVDs. Worse, on three different computers, Windows Media Player 10 wouldn't properly transcode the video, leaving me with weeks of trying to go from DVR-MS to MPEG to WMV. It was a nightmare. I was convinced they screwed up the MTP protocol, but when I tried connecting on a fourth computer, it worked and I was able to get all my TV shows onto the device. Rather bizarre, no?<br /><br />The price is $329 USD retail, but already some vendors are <a href="http://thoughtsmedia.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=15660800/sort_type=price">dropping their prices</a>. More from me later, but overall I'm still very pleased with the Vision:M!

brntcrsp
01-23-2006, 08:57 PM
How do you like the software for it? I was dismayed when i learned it has no support for USB Mass Storage. Can you copy non-media files? I was hoping to combine my DAP needs with my on-the-go file storage needs.

casinova
01-24-2006, 04:33 AM
I have been very curious about the M too. Anyone try to play xvid files? Like the ones found from bittorrent? And what about a video out cable...I am hoping the M will allow me to watch my xvid/divx without conversion as opposed to the ipod.

Lee Yuan Sheng
01-24-2006, 06:40 AM
Since I've had the Zen for a bit longer than Jason (a couple of weeks :P), I'll try to answer the questions here.

brntcrsp: Copying non-media files requires you to set aside a partition on the Zen. Not as great as having the player be MSC, but that's the way it is.

casinova: Yes, it can play XviD files, but not all of them. I recall some videos which used advanced encoding settings will not work, and any video file encoded with AC3 audio also will refuse to play. Video out cable is not included with the package, but I managed to get it working with an old camcorder cable. However, I've been warned by a friend in Creative that such cables cannot be used. You do need the annoying dongle though, as I have mentioned before.

sub_tex
01-24-2006, 09:29 PM
Man, if only this thing was MSC and supported ogg I'd be all over it. It looks slick.

Hopefully Cowon or iRiver will make a competing device that will have the mass codec support.

sojourner753
01-25-2006, 03:14 AM
Hopefully Cowon or iRiver will make a competing device that will have the mass codec support.

I was looking at the Cowan x5 before the M was released, but the thing that bothered me was how long it was taking them to implement ID3 tag support on the device.

=================
I've had my M for about a week and here are a few points that I'd like to add in addition to some of the things that Jason mentioned.

First, I love the device. If I had to make the choice again, I'd buy again and twice on Sunday. :D

Pros:
I like how the ID3 database is generated on the device. I don't know if this is standard, but the ability to drag and drop music, then pull the plug and its ready to go. No need for 3rd party software. And its much faster than using WMP10.

I like the right-hand alphabet when I'm searching albums and artists.

I like the contextual menu, though admitted I haven't used it much. Except for saving one of the demo photos as my background.

Cons:
The equalizer options are lacking. There is no R&amp;B, Rap, or HipHop options. And some of my music falls into this catagory. I'm surprised that atleast one of these isn't there. Its the first time that I've come across any audio device with presets to not include one.

There is no easy way to get to the settings menu other than constantly hitting the back button. You can't even assign it to the short cut key.

Lee Yuan Sheng
01-25-2006, 05:24 AM
Cons:
There is no easy way to get to the settings menu other than constantly hitting the back button. You can't even assign it to the short cut key.

Yes you can. When changing the "My Shortcut Key" setting, select the "Jump to: XXXX" option. Under that option is the Zen's entire menu structure for you to select as a shortcut.

sojourner753
01-25-2006, 05:44 AM
Cons:
There is no easy way to get to the settings menu other than constantly hitting the back button. You can't even assign it to the short cut key.

Yes you can. When changing the "My Shortcut Key" setting, select the "Jump to: XXXX" option. Under that option is the Zen's entire menu structure for you to select as a shortcut.

Thanks good to know. Now, part II.
Is there a place that I can map my shortcut key to that will give me easy access to both my Music Library and Settings?

I find that these are the two places that I go to the most and would like an easy way to get there.

Jason Dunn
01-29-2006, 11:42 PM
How do you like the software for it? I was dismayed when i learned it has no support for USB Mass Storage. Can you copy non-media files? I was hoping to combine my DAP needs with my on-the-go file storage needs.

That's not correct, someone gave you bad info. It has a USB hard drive mode where you partition off between 512 MB and 16 GB of the hard drive, and when the device is in that mode (you select it from a menu option), it looks and functions exactly like an external USB hard drive. You can drag and drop data files into the Data folder without going into that special mode (that's part of the MTP protocol it uses), but you can't create folders, move files around, etc.

Jason Dunn
01-29-2006, 11:44 PM
Looks like most of the other questions have been answered...I'm back from my vacation and a review of the Vision:M is on my "ToDo" list. I've asked Creative for a few of the accessories, we'll see if they can help me out. The fact that it doesn't come with a video-out cable in the box is really irritating. :?

sojourner753
01-30-2006, 12:41 AM
Welcome back Jason...

What I'm waiting for is a cool case.

Unfortunately I've already gotten a negative from one company that I usually look to.


I am sorry, Sena does not at this time have any future plans to release a case for that device, the only new MP# device besides the IPOD we manufacture a case for is the isee360 device. If that plan changes and a ZEN case is created, I will send you an e-mail update.

Jason Dunn
01-30-2006, 11:45 PM
What I'm waiting for is a cool case.

Yeah, I'd like a nice case too. For the moment I'm using the bag that came with it as my "case". Works ok, but the bag is all beat to hel now. ;-) I've asked Vaja about making a case for it, and they have't confirmed as of yet.

Lee Yuan Sheng
02-01-2006, 05:36 PM
A Vaja ivolution case would be nice. Not sure if I'll spend the money on one though. :P

Good luck in getting accessories for the Vision:M; I've been checking with my friend in Creative for the dock and there's no news on it!

sojourner753
02-20-2006, 03:40 AM
A Vaja ivolution case would be nice. Not sure if I'll spend the money on one though. :P

Good luck in getting accessories for the Vision:M; I've been checking with my friend in Creative for the dock and there's no news on it!


Yeah, I'd like a nice case too. For the moment I'm using the bag that came with it as my "case". Works ok, but the bag is all beat to hel now. ;-) I've asked Vaja about making a case for it, and they have't confirmed as of yet.

I posted this in another thread. Thought you might be interested.

I was browsing over at boxwave and found this Flexiskin case (http://www.boxwave.com/products/flexiskin/flexiskin-creative-zen-vision-m_1128.htm).

Oh, and this (http://www.boxwave.com/products/bundles/flexiskin-armband/flexiskin-with-armband-creative-zen-vision-m_1128.htm) one with an arm band.

Lee Yuan Sheng
02-20-2006, 07:36 AM
Aieee... What's with the stupid lanyard hook? I really wish companies would stop putting those in!

Ditto for belt clips. At least offer an option for those who don't want one...