Creative Zen Vision W reviewed

We were all stoked about the Creative Zen Vision until we discovered what a let-down the screen turned out to be. Therefore we're understandably wary going into this one, but apparently Creative noted our concern, and the Creative Zen Vision W comes out looking like a champ. CNET got their hands on one for a review, and seemed quite enamoured with the brightness, color and viewing angle of the new 4.3-inch widescreen, though a bit of sharpness was lost in comparison to the Zen Vision. Otherwise the Vision W doesn't have a lot of surprises. The size has definitely bulked up, since both the length and thickness of the player have been impacted by the new screen size and extra storage. Format support is juicy, like always, though CNET had a few problems with certain DivX files. Other familiar perks include a CompactFlash slot, near identical -- and quite tactile -- buttons, radio and voice recording, and A/V out. The lack of video recording ability is a bit lame, and while the standard Zen software has received a bit of a bump with the DJ, Smart Volume, virtual keyboard and Outlook features, the Vision W doesn't quite do as hot as the Vision:M without the latter's touchscroll. Happily, the Vision W does manage a quite impressive 18 hours and 28 minutes of MP3 battery life, with 5 hours 6 minutes of juice when playing video -- both well exceeding Creative's battery ratings. Overall the player seems like a hit if you can handle the bulk -- and don't quite have to patience to see if Apple is finally busting out an iPod video on the 12th.

[grindboy @ Sep 7th 2006 1:28PM]

Whoo 1st post!

This looks great! Long live creative, Down with Apple!

[kevin @ Sep 7th 2006 1:38PM]

"it cannot be easily held in one hand while viewing videos"

Not sure how i feel about that...

[Geqxon @ Sep 7th 2006 3:13PM]

Great job discriminating the lefties here Creative, really nice. What's next? Making devices only for white people?

I'll stick to my iPod. Symetric all the way baby.

[pathfinda @ Sep 7th 2006 1:56PM]

.. figures, the same issues that the original CZV has...

[mike @ Sep 7th 2006 2:09PM]

A little off topic but I can't help feel that creative are playing catch-up with apple even though this player trumps the ipod in screen size (for now). I just walked past a Cambridge Soundworks (in Cambridge MA) just steps away from an apple store. The Soundworks store was a graveyard that used to buzz with people looking at speakers and components. The wall space was taken up with large plasmas and lcd's that can be bought from any store, the concentration on speakers has disappeared. They had store presence long before Apple did in malls in this area and they have lost ground in their basic bread and butter (in my mind at least, speakers and table radios) in a race to catch up with apple in the mp3 market. I can only see the stores closing soon and becoming a mail order deal. Which would be kinda sad as I bought Cambridge Soundworks speakers and receiver from that same store, but I'm not sure I would do the same again. I can get a big TV from a bazillion places. Most likely I'd buy an mp3 player from any store that had the one I wanted. I just don't see a compelling reason to buy it from them in their expensive to run store.

[griindboy @ Sep 7th 2006 2:04PM]

Oh Im sorry, I am just a huge idiot and I have no idea what quality is please disregard the first post I made.

[ninepoundhammer @ Sep 7th 2006 4:09PM]

ipod fanboy ranting in 3...2...1....

[Matt @ Sep 7th 2006 3:26PM]

Are you incapable of operating the controls with your right hand? We're not talking about handwriting or baseball here, it's a few buttons on a media device.

Good God.

[Yoshi Likes Boys @ Sep 7th 2006 3:42PM]

CNet would give a bull turd a good review if it was marketed as an ipod competitor.

[Yoshi Likes Boys @ Sep 8th 2006 9:26AM]

Cnet would give a bull turd a good review if it was marketed as an ipod competitor.

[J @ Sep 7th 2006 4:56PM]

Who was disappointed with the screen on the original Vision? It looked way better than the ipod video screen in all comparisons and reviews. Short-term memory guys.

[dave95 @ Sep 7th 2006 6:04PM]

In all seriousness, does Creative have a patent on thickness? :-)

Archos 604 is 17 mm while this Creative Vision W is 22 mm. When you look at their (Creative) 60 gig, it jumps to 26.4 mm.......

[TheJetzer @ Sep 7th 2006 7:52PM]

Are they saying that the W would be better with the touchscroll that is on the M? The touchscroll is one of two major issues I have with the M, it is such a pain in the butt to operate. That and the module to connect to usb.

[David @ Sep 7th 2006 8:31PM]

"Who was disappointed with the screen on the original Vision? It looked way better than the ipod video screen in all comparisons and reviews. Short-term memory guys."

The Vision:M does have a better screen than the iPod. they are talking about the Vision which had terrible viewing angle issues, which the Vision:W fixes

Vision:M= a DAP with video functions
Vision/Vision:W= PVP's which Apple doesn't have anything to compete with still, hopefully that will change soon

[bangraman @ Sep 7th 2006 11:34PM]

I agree that Creative is always 'late'. This unit is just playing catch-up for what they lacked with the Vision last year. This month onwards, the releases (Cowon, iRiver, Samsung, Apple) would be mounting with features like wi-fi, touch-screen, gps, bluetooth, perpendicular drives, better recording capabilities, and the list will go on. I know a lot would argue 'I don't need this/that; it's an added gimmick blah blah'. Who didnt upon ipod's releases on the previous years. But the companies would do their best to take a piece of the Apple profit and always use ipod's upcoming features as a standard. So yeah, its sad for Creative not to even do with an internal recording feature. Some say it's gonna be an upcoming accessory add-on but, geez, look at the size and price of that thing already (think Archos 604). Creative stop clenching your *** with the lawsuits and think about your market in the coming months. You minght end up like that Cambridge Soundworks store illustration Mike posted.

[aliask @ Sep 8th 2006 4:01AM]

TheJetzer has it right on. I can't stand the scrollpad players - #1 priority when buying my next player is that it has tactile buttons. Oh - and it should run rockbox too :)

[Asia_Calling @ Sep 8th 2006 8:25AM]

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[grindboy @ Sep 8th 2006 10:48AM]

Wow post #4 you almost managed to spell my username correctly!!! Just goes to show that ipods rot you brain.

[David @ Sep 8th 2006 12:06PM]

What do you mean "don't quite have to patience to see if Apple is finally busting out an iPod video on the 12th." you can't buy the Zen Vision W yet!

[grindboy @ Sep 8th 2006 12:44PM]

ipods not rot me brain, what you mean "Just goes to show that ipods rot you brain"?

[Frances @ Sep 14th 2006 12:14AM]

just wondering where can we buy one (zen w)?

[zenlvr @ Sep 3rd 2007 6:58PM]

I have enjoyed my Zen Vision W for several months now. Downloading is simple. The display and controls are fantastic. Connecting it to the tv is awesome. I bought an extra battery for long travel. I can't say enough about this device. The size seems to be a factor for some. It does what I want it to do. I think it's the perfect size. I do plan to get the Zen Stone Plus and clip accessory for working out. Way to go Creative!