Creative Zen Stone 1 GB MP3 Player (Blue) | List Price: $39.99
Discount Price: $29.50
|
Brand: Creative Labs
Binding: Electronics
Warranty: 1 year warranty
Features: - Tiny flash MP3 player with smooth curves and glossy blue finish
- 1 GB memory holds up to 250 MP3 tracks or 500 WMA tracks
- Supports Audible 2, 3, and 4 formats; USB 2.0 interface
- Plays music in normal, shuffle, and repeat modes
- Measures 2.1 x 1.4 x 0.5 inches (W x H x D); 1-year parts warranty
Creative Zen Stone 1GB - Nice starter or spare MP3 [Posted on 2007-11-17]
The Creative Zen Stone 1GB is a nice value in starter MP3 players. It has the same capacity as the iPod Shuffle at $40. For $20 more, you can get the 2GB Stone Plus which also has a screen, FM Tuner, voice recording and more.
Pros -
+ good stereo sound
+ nice capacity for a decent price
+ light-weight
+ simple design with more color options
+ Nice format compatibility (MP3, WMA, Audible)
+ USB 1.1 and 2.0 connectivity
+ Can be used as a USB drive / mass storage
+ Can sync music with drag & drop or via Creative software
Cons
- below-average battery life of 10 hours or less
- software issues - Creative software is buggy
- DRM song transfer issues with some firmware versions
- not expandable from 1GB (no SD card slot)
- no FM tuner or voice recording
- larger than the 2nd and 3rd generation iPod shuffles
- for just $20 more you get the 2GB Stone Plus with added features
Creative's Zen Stone line was meant to be the upgrade to the Zen nano, aka Muvo mini. The 1GB Zen Stone is decent but not perfect. It suffers from quality issues and is really ideal for specific uses. I love the new Sandisk Sansa's. The Sansa Express has the advantage that you can plug it directly into your USB port without a cable. SanDisk Sansa Express 2 GB MP3 Player (Black) Still, the Creative Zen Stone feels nicer in the hand. It's not as sleek as the Sansa Express nor as cool as an iPod shuffle or iPod nano. But it is priced very attractively. It's good for a starter, workout unit, or gift for a kid.
The Creative Zen Stone is lighter than the competition, but is still larger than the new iPod Shuffle 2nd and 3rd generations. The controls are an improvement from the Zen nano days. While I didn't mind the toggle wheel, it has been replaced by intuitive buttons for the standard functions (select, play, pause, forward or reverse). There's a headphone jack and a USB port.
Another change from the Zen nano days is the Lithium Ion battery, which gives you about 10 hours if your lucky. This burns out faster than the old battery operated unit, but is more convenient.
The sound is nice, and it comes through in stereo. As usual, you will hear complaints about the earbuds, which most people replace.
The Zen Stone Plus is the only larger option at 2GB. For those needing more space, you will have to explore the Creative Zen, Sandisk Sansa or new iPod Nano. All of those units have higher price tags.
Creative Zen 4 GB (Black)
Creative Zen 8 GB (Black)
Creative Zen 16 GB (Black)
Sandisk SDMX4-4096 Sansa e260 4 GB MP3 Player with SD Expansion Slot
SanDisk SDMX4-8192 Sansa e280 8 GB MP3 Player (Black)
Apple 4 GB iPod nano AAC/MP3 Player Silver (3rd Generation)
Apple 8 GB iPod nano AAC/MP3 Player Black (3rd Generation)
The price isn't a give-away, and the plastic case could be more durable. Creative has fixed some of the software issues. Still, this is a nice starter unit that can last you a while. Check it out. Enjoy!!!
NO NAPSTER COMPATIBILITY [Posted on 2007-12-14]
I bought this item because I've owned several other creative zen products and never had trouble with them (plus i have a vendetta against apple, ugh) but this is the first creative device I've owned that DIDNT SYNC WITH NAPSTER!!!! Maybe they will update this feature in the coming months, but until then, NAPSTER USERS BEWARE!!!!
Love it. [Posted on 2008-02-11]
This is the first mp3 player I purchased. I chose this one because it's inexpensive, and since you just plug it in your USB drive w/o the use of a program, it works with Linux. I've owned it since August and I use it ALL the time, especially while working out. It's a nice small size, any smaller and I would probably lose it for good. It's really simple to use. Basically, I could have just tossed the directions. The battery seems to last about 10 hours, I don't shuffle much and I use the earbuds that came with it (I think they sound fine). I haven't even filled it to the capacity with music yet. I tend to get bored with certain songs then just remove them and add new ones so the 1 gb is perfect size. I've also found I can charge it using my Verizon phone charger. Definitely recommend this to someone who wants music on the go and not their entire cd catalog.
mediocre [Posted on 2008-04-15]
It didn't cost much, and holds plenty of material.
Navigation is difficult without some sort of display. And I can't get the controls to work the way I think they ought to work. I downloaded a 30-minute podcast, and found something interesting in the last 5 minutes. When I went back to find it, I wanted to skip to the end, and then scan backwards to the interesting part. But, from the end of a recording, holding down the "back" key seems to take it to the beginning of the first file in the directory.
Also, it's really, really, quiet. I've got it plugged into the Aux channel of my Scion's stereo, which was designed to accept an MP3 player. With the radio at max and the headset volume at max, I can usually hear the recordings fairly well. But, of course, when I put a CD in the player, I'm blasted out.
nice little MP3 player [Posted on 2008-09-07]
For the price, great quality. Very small - only a few inches long. Doesn't display track info, but for the money, a good buy.
Click here for more details and discount information...
|
){kind=link}