Re:free ipods?

[Edgedamage]

Ugh the Ipod is a FASHION ACCESSORY if you care about how audio sounds get a creative JB. Snipped from one of many reviews.


"As is often the case with Creative portables, the Xtra sounds excellent. This is probably the best thing about the damn thing. It is extraordinarily loud and clear as could be. Like its predecessor, it boasts a 98dB SNR, which puts it at the top of the jukebox heap. There is no portable on the market that can compete with the Zen family of portables in terms of audio fidelity. All you iPod owners are tricking yourself if you think otherwise. (I love my iPod, but I have no misgivings about its limitations.) If you appreciate high bit rate MP3s and have a decent set of headphones, then the Xtra will keep a smile on your face.

Conclusion

I liked the NX a whole lot. However, the rest of the industry caught up and shortcomings became apparent. Creative realized this and took the appropriate steps. Don't get me wrong; the NX is still a great portable. In fact, its value has never been better. The Xtra does all the NX did and more. It also puts Creative back at the top - not alone at the top, but up there nonetheless.

If you value capacity, sound quality, and price, then the Xtra is for you. It is not the easiest portable on the market, but it makes up for it in other areas."


"Customer Reviews  
 


 Forget the Ipod!!!!! this is a marvellous little gadget

Well, where should I start. If you're thinking of getting a hard-drive mp3 player they don't come better than this little beautie. 60 GB to play with is tons more space than the Ipod and cheaper!!!! Don't get an Ipod!!!!!
For starters the battery life is nearly twice as much as the over-rated Ipod plus it is replacable.
If your Hard-drive ever dies then it's easily replaced with another. It uses a standard laptop hard-drive unlike the Ipod which is customized.
You can create Playlists on the fly while listening to other music. Something you cannot do on the Ipod!!!
The sound quality is tons better from this player. Would you expect anything different from Creative (The daddy of MP3 players) Although I would recommend investing in some better headphones than the one packaged with it. I would also purchase a little util called 'Notmad' which integrates with Windows explorer making it easy peasy to copy files to the Player. Drag and Drop. woohoo.
The unit's case is made out of anodized aluminium and looks and feels sturdy. Overall a wicked piece of kit which gets top marks from me. Buy one now!!!!!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 An excellent product, for this review better than an iPOD

This product comes from Creative Labs - the leading PC peripherals and card upgrade company with a focus on audio.
The Zen xtra product is the top product to date in their range of MP3 players. It's key beneficial features:

1. 60GB storage - the largest iPOD is 40GB, so it's 50% bigger which makes a big difference on the amount of files that can be stored. For an intensive high-end user looking to move their music collection over, well 'size does matter'.

2. Supports recording of Windows WMA files - smaller than MP3s but with better quality.

3. Can record source files in the original quality using WAVE format. So true CD audio is available. You can also store PC data files on the unit so it's also a portable hard drive.

4. The product has an excellent and configurable interface supporting playlists and picking songs by artist, genre, album etc. It also has environmental sound processing allowing effects like EQ or reverb to be added.

5. The accompanying PC software is very simple to use, it makes the job easy and quick. It doesn't have much help to guide you but you don't need much anyway.

6. Battery time - the rechargable battery is removable by the user and spares can be bought (unlike the Mac iPOD). The rechargable batteries last 14 hours which is very decent.

7. Interface - Files are transferred in and out via a high speed USB2 link with cable provided. Ensure your PC supports USB2 before buying. If you have a laptop without USB2 you can buy a simple laptop PCIMA card upgrade that gives USb2 for about 30 pounds. This makes a hugh difference to the file transfer rates.

8. Using the headphone out and a cable you can connect the product to your hi-fi speakers and consign your CDs to the loft.

9. Price - you get more than an iPOD and it's cheaper. This may not last but for now it makes it an attractive purchase.

Possible Cons

1. It's not an iPOD - this doesn't inherently matter but some people follow the market leader. iPOD has the name but at least in it's current version doesn't compare well. Stylistically the Creative Labs unit also looks like an iPOD even having the white earphones.

2. It's sensitive to shocks - walking around with this and in a car is fine but don't jog with it. It's not a product for runners.

I really rate this product which I have found liberating and entertaining. It's been most welcome and compares very well to other leaders in the industry of which the Iriver and Apple iPOD are direct comparisons when looking around.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 The only MP3 player you'll ever need!

No doubt about it, the NOMAD Jukebox Zen Xtra just isn