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Creative Zen V PlusCreative gives Apple a run for its money with a refreshingly compact design and a cheaper price tag. by Brian Heater 
Creative could have introduced a cookie-cutter nano knockoff months ago, but it decided to develop something a little more original. The result of the company’s efforts is the Zen V Plus, which like most Microsoft-backed devices, tries to compensate for the lack of iTunes compatibility and dearth of accessories by pouring on extra features like video playback, FM radio, and in-line recording. This time around Creative went the extra mile by introducing a fresh new design while undercutting the nano by $20 to $30, depending on the capacity. All of these perks add up to a good flash-based media player.
The V Plus’ curvy, colorful design definitely sets it apart from the nano; it’s shorter and nearly as light as Apple’s icon (1.6 versus 1.5 ounces), but it’s noticeably thicker (0.3 versus 0.6 inches). Unfortunately, the plastic case has a bit of a Fisher-Price feel. The trim around the joystick and volume button comes in different colors, depending on the capacity. 1GB is orange, 2GB is green, and 4GB is blue. It’s only a small portion of the player, but this accent makes a big difference. The Zen V Plus’ body is protected with a scratch-resistant coating. This player isn’t nearly as scratch-prone as the nano, but we did start to see a few minor scuffs on the screen after only a few days of use. Holding down the power switch located on the left side of the player for a few seconds turns it on. The switch also doubles as a hold button; when clicked all the way up, the player becomes locked. Creative put the volume controls on the left side, as two ends of the same button, decorated in the same color as the joystick’s trim. The record button is located directly beneath the volume keys. The location of these buttons on the device’s side made in-the-pocket adjustments easier than with other players. Located on the V Plus’ fairly sparse front are the play/pause button, a back/options button, and a small joystick for menu navigation. We found the joystick a bit difficult to use with our thumb, and we experienced problems with most of the playback buttons, oftentimes requiring multiple presses. If you have large hands, look elsewhere. We were a bit underwhelmed by the Zen V Plus’ 1.5-inch OLED screen. While the display certainly is bright and boasts wide viewing angles, the resolution is low compared with that of the iPod nano (128 x 128 pixels versus 176 x 132 pixels). Some of the photos we loaded on the device had a distinctly grainy appearance. The use of a large block font in the menus draws attention to the screen’s miniature size, giving navigation a cramped feel. Consider video playback on such a small display a very modest bonus, especially since clips play at a choppy 15 frames per second. Other features are more practical, such as the in-line recording, voice recorder, and FM tuner. Recording directly from CDs into MP3 format was easy, and you can choose between two bit rates: 128 Kbps or 160 Kbps. A graphical meter lets you monitor recording levels, which is helpful, since the sound can peak out and distort fairly easily. The DJ function generates playlists based on options like Most Popular and Rarely Heard, while the Bookmarks feature marks a point within a track or audiobook, so you can return to it at a later time. The Zen V Plus gets loud with the included set of headphones—really loud. There are eight equalizer settings with such classifications as Rock, Jazz, and Vocal, plus one custom EQ setting, which allows you to fiddle with treble and bass levels. When listening to Frank Black’s “If Your Poison Gets You,’ we got the best sound with the Rock setting, giving the track a pleasantly warm feel. Another plus for the Vision Plus is its endurance. At 15 hours, this player offers an hour more of battery life than the nano. On the other hand, some of Creative’s competitors, like the Samsung YP-Z5 and SanDisk Sansa e260, last longer than 20 hours on a charge. Creative’s latest entry into the high-capacity flash player field is a uniquely designed device crammed with features. It’s a decent choice for anyone looking for nano-like portability, along with the ability to sync with subscription services like Urge and Yahoo Music Unlimited. Still, we think the SanDisk Sansa e200 series is a better bet because of its easier navigation and expandability. Compare Prices | Creative Zen V Plus Specifications
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