| When an excellent product comes out, like the | | | | subdued lighting. Even though they are not as |
| iPod, there will always be the ones who | | | | small and thin as the nano, they are still |
| follow with more advanced technology, | | | | small and thin enough to carry around your |
| improving upon the original product. That is | | | | neck. Most reviews say its sound quality is |
| how technology moves up the rings of the | | | | superb, depending on the quality of ear buds, |
| ladder, with the development of additional | | | | but customers who know Creative Labs |
| superior products, stepping on the backbones | | | | recognize that they are considered leaders in |
| of previous ones. With this in mind, the one | | | | the industry for sound cards and digital |
| presently at the top of the ladder of | | | | sound devices (so why wouldn't the sound |
| success is Creative Labs' Zen Micro player, | | | | good?). A previous problem of the Zen Micro |
| the latest alternative technology in regard | | | | was its issue with jack plugs breaking on the |
| to digital music players. | | | | headset - which supposedly was taken care of |
| | | | about a year ago. The problem was not |
| Creative's Zen Micro has been designed with | | | | Creative Labs but the customers, such as the |
| ergonomics in mind, fitting into the palm of | | | | stores, did not replace the defective |
| the hand while placing the touch-sensitive | | | | merchandise on the shelves, keeping them and |
| control pad in direct line with just one | | | | running them out. |
| finger. The purpose of the digital player is | | | | |
| to play music - not just look pretty. And the | | | | The nano has a lot less features than the Zen |
| Zen plays music, considered a work horse in | | | | Micro, such as having an FM radio which has |
| comparison to the iPod. It stores 2,500/3,000 | | | | the capability to store 32 FM stations and |
| songs in WMA or 1,250/1,500 in MP3 for the | | | | record them on your demand, in addition to |
| 5GB/6GB hard disk. Also the Zen Micro can be | | | | having a built-in voice recorder. Plus the |
| used for on-line music services and Window | | | | nano gets scratched up more on the surface as |
| PCs, being able to download up to one song | | | | compared to the Zen Micro. Another top |
| per second via the USB 2.0 port. | | | | advantage of the Zen Micro is their battery, |
| | | | as the largest complaint about the iPod has |
| Customers who have a choice between the iPod | | | | always been its battery life and the fact it |
| nano and the Zen Micro, seem to choose the | | | | was not removable. Once you bought it - you |
| Zen more often, but a lot depends on the | | | | had it! The new Zen Micro has a removable |
| customer. The Zen Micro has a more | | | | rechargeable 12-hour playtime with MP3/WMA or |
| availability for a larger music library, a | | | | 16 hours with the FM radio. Zen's battery, |
| micro-drive player, its memory is 2.5 times | | | | which right from the start, has grabbed |
| larger at the same price than the iPod nano | | | | dissatisfied iPod customers who have been |
| with less. The Zen Micro is bulkier than the | | | | having massive problems with the iPod's |
| iPod nano, but a lot depends on what a person | | | | battery. |
| wants. The Zen design is totally different | | | | |
| than the iPod nano, with the younger crowed | | | | Overall, most customers who have purchased |
| preferring the nano for its slim stylish | | | | both digital players prefer the Zen Micro |
| looks, while the older customers tend to | | | | over the iPod. The price is a large factor, |
| place emphasis on sound fidelity and quality, | | | | in addition to its capability to hold a whole |
| which slides over to the Zen Micro. | | | | lot more music. Also, it doesn't scratch as |
| | | | much as the iPod does, which is a drawback. |
| Many customers say the iPod nano is | | | | After awhile - it just doesn't look "cool" |
| impressive when first taken from its box: | | | | anymore. The sound quality is excellent, |
| initial impressions are excellent, flash | | | | with no complaints about it. The thing that |
| based, decent sound, familiar set-up from the | | | | is noticed quite a bit, it a lot of iPod |
| iPod mini, functional, and portable - and so | | | | buyers switched over to Zen Micro, but people |
| on. But the Zen Micro has a large variety of | | | | who purchased Zen Micro first - never |
| colors, has a background perimeter and touch | | | | switched to iPod. Says a lot, doesn't it? |
| pad blue glow which is good at night or in | | | | |