Shuffle's Popularity Just a Stone's Throw Away for Creative

[Damion Chaplin]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.dailytech.com/Creative+Takes+on+iPod+Shuffle+With+ZEN+Stone/article7148.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.dailytech.com/Creative+Takes+on+iPod+Shuffle+With+ZEN+Stone/article7148.htm</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Creative is taking the fight directly to the iPod Shuffle with its new $39.99 USD ZEN Stone. The tiny 1GB player can hold up to 250 songs and can operate for 10 hours on a single charge (12 hours for the iPod Shuffle). A wide palette of colors is also available: black, blue, green, pink, red and white. "The Creative ZEN Stone, at just $39.99, opens up a huge new market for MP3 players," said Creative chairman and CEO Sim Wong Hoo. "This is an incredible price for everyone to get a superior quality MP3 player capable of holding up to 250 songs. Whether it's your only player or a second player to take with you anywhere, the low price lets you think of MP3 players in a whole new way. You can loan it to a friend just like you would a CD or a mix tape and not have to worry about it, but you'll like it so much that you'll want another, so you always have one with you."</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/DFC-ZENstone-050307.jpg" /> <br /><br />With the Shuffle retailing at $79, Creative's new ZEN Stone, at almost half the price, seems like a no-brainer decision to me. Shoot, I'm happy with my current player, but I'm still very tempted by this. Tiny, shiny and black? How can you go wrong? :wink: The ZEN Stone will hit retailer's shelves on May 14th. Anyone here gonna get one? PC Magazine's got a review of the ZEN Stone <a href="http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2125014,00.asp">here</a>.

[Chris Gohlke]

And we get closer to the day that an MP3 player will come in a happy meal or cereal box.

[Jason Dunn]

And we get closer to the day that an MP3 player will come in a happy meal or cereal box.

That day is coming soon my friend...but you know it won't be an iPod, it will be some PlaysForSure device. ;-)

[Felix Torres]

And we get closer to the day that an MP3 player will come in a happy meal or cereal box.

I'd say that's a-coming real soon now.
Shiny. tiny. And Pink.
At the likely street price its looking like a tween's delight... :-)

[jeffd]

mmm, I still want an iriver s10. ^^

[Vincent Ferrari]

That day is coming soon my friend...but you know it won't be an iPod, it will be some PlaysForSure device. ;-)

Actually this more of a PlaysforSomewhat device. It doesn't do subscriptions... :roll:

That's okay. Knowing creative, in a month, we'll have the Creative Zen Stone Ultra Black Super Edition 2 and it'll do subs.

[Jason Dunn]

Hmm. Maybe this means my wife can ditch the Shuffle and I won't have to mess with iTunes any more! Wheeee!!! :lol:

[Chris Gohlke]

Anybody know if this has an integrated clip like the shuffle?

[Vincent Ferrari]

Nope. Creative's charging another $10 for it...

No wonder they're called "Creative!"

[gwinter]

I'm seeing this "news" being posted on several websites. One has the impression that this is something of a breakthrough price-wise. I don't get it. mp3 players with memory slot (without internal memory) that cost less than $10 have been around for a while. With SD cards at dirt-cheap price nowadays, one might be able to get a 4GB card and said player all for $40.

So, is it because this is a well-known brand? Or is it the design (most of those cheap players admittedly has a ermm... cheap feel to it)?

[Neil Enns]

Ironically my current interest in non-digital photography just made me buy something like this :) Or at least that's how I justify it.

Sitting in the darkroom processing prints is boring. This thread got me thinking about a music player. I just settled on the Sansa Express (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2087806,00.asp). I wanted something with a little screen and that was small. It gets great reviews, it's cheap, and it's cheap at a local store. I'm headed out to Circuit City shortly to pick it up!

Neil

[Jason Dunn]

So, is it because this is a well-known brand? Or is it the design (most of those cheap players admittedly has a ermm... cheap feel to it)?

Yes, it's the fact that it's a well-known, trusted brand with a nice design. I wouldn't waste 50 cents on the type of player you've been describing. ;-)

[Jason Dunn]

Sitting in the darkroom processing prints is boring.

Whoa...who kidnapped you and forced you back in time to 1993?? 8O :lol:

[voodoo]

The Sandisk m240 is a decent little player - 1G with a LCD screen for a few lines of info. My daughter (9 years old) has one. Best Buy has them for $35.

[kimellis]

I just got an Express from ecost.com for $55.00. Works great! For not much more money than the Creative you get an FM radio, voice recording, and a mini-SD expansion slot. It is replacing a Creative Zen Vision:M that has bitten the dust, after only 4 months. I have to send it back for repairs. Even though the hardware is covered by a one year warranty, I still have to pay a $25.00 diagnostic fee, since they only have a 90 day labor warranty. I think that stinks but I have over $300.00 invested in it. Don't think I will be recommending Creative products any more.