CREATIVE LABS Nomad Jukebox Zen Xtra 40GB Digital Audio Player

Manufacturer:	Creative Labs
List price:	~~$299.99~~
Our price:	that is 100% off!

CREATIVE LABS Nomad Jukebox Zen Xtra 40GB Digital Audio Player

Average rating: Stars

Works great, until it crashes!

I bought the Creative Nomad Zen Xtra 30Gb around the start of the new year. By mid May, the player would get hung on the EAX Soound screen and wouldn't fully turn on. Since it was only about a month out of its warrenty, they would not help with a costumer service line or anything, but I had to send an email to the company. Well, after much hassel and faulty instructions about how to "update my firmware" I ended up having to send my product into the company in TEXAS so they could fix it. Now, not only was it a problem because I couldn't listen to my music anymore, but I also had to pay a hefty $40 fee just to return it, and if there was more to the problem than just my firmware, I would have to pay another $40! About three weeks later, they sent back a refurbished 40Gb player that works just fine, but now I have the task of uploading almost 25Gb of music back on. Speaking for myself, they were not helpful what so ever, the warrenty sucked and should have been extended so things like this don't happen, and they tried to buy me off with a bigger player.

One a side note, this player is HUGE! I know you are getting alot of memory and all, but this is in no way sleek or descrete. I can't fit it into any of my pockets or just carry it around because it it bigger than my hand! It may not look so big in pictures, but don't be fooled!

CREATIVE LABS Nomad Jukebox Zen Xtra 40GB Digital Audio Player - Creative Labs

I would take this anyday over an iPod

I've had my Zen Xtra 40Gb for just over a year now. Up until now I have never had an issue with it. A lot of complaints that have been sent the Zen's way seem to have been a result of either ignorance or negligence.

Complaint 1: The sound quality is average...

Well it depends on what you call good quality sound. If you are from Europe and your idea of good sound is cranking up the music higher than anyone else in the area, then perhaps - if you did not upgrade your firmware with the US firmware (which does not have a volume limiter)- you are incorrect. I am a musician(trained to hear good sound) and with a good set of headphones/earphones, the Jukebox is out there beating the competition. Do yourself a favour and upgrade your firmware. You'll notice an immediate difference in the way it plays.

Complaint 2: The Control Buttons are inconvenient in comparison to the iPod

I couldn't disagree more heartily. I did a comparison with my father's iPod and immediately realised that navigating the iPod blindly while carrying it on the belt would be a very difficult task indeed. Instead, the Zen's side controls allow for blind navigation as each button serves as an individual function button. Perfect for rush hour on the tube when you want your player out of sight, but accessible...

Complaint 3: The iPod has more features.

Perhaps. Although I don't know if the iPod's playback menu items are near as comprehensive as the Zen's. For example: on the Zen it is possible to search for: a track, an artist, an album or a genre. Something the iPod doesn't seem to be able to do.

Complaint 4: The Zen is flimsy.

As with any portable device, the first thing you should do for it is get a case. Mine has never left its case except for the odd clean here and there. The case is tight-fitting, robust and has a belt-clip. Abuse or neglect any computer and it will give you hassles...

This machine is tough, its good-looking (although not as good looking as the iPod), has awesome sound with a feature rich interface (there's always a pleasant surprise in the form of a menu-shortcut or an added feature springing up somewhere) and after 4639 songs, it still has 16Gb of free space. Nothing wrong with that!

My only complaint is with regards to Creative's software. Now Creative make damn good hardware, but their software sucks to be honest with you. I am quite savvy when it comes to computer related stuff, but Creative's Media Source software is just aweful and buggy and so damn ugly. I eventually went across to Red Chair and bought their Notmad software which really does bring out the potential of the Zen and even adds some enhancements such as faster transfer of songs between the Zen and PC, streaming music from the player to the PC etc, etc... Do yourself a favour and don't even bother opening up Creative's solution!

For the sake of their software alone, I am dropping a star off my rating. I would give the hardware a 10 out of 5 and the software a minus 6 leaving us with four stars. Thats fair I think. :)

In conclusion, I think this is the best, most complete MP3 player on the market(despite all the new competition!!)

Creative Labs - CREATIVE LABS Nomad Jukebox Zen Xtra 40GB Digital Audio Player

Don't Buy This Version

This is the version of the Creative Nomad Zen Xtra with a faulty headphone jack. You want item model number 70PD055000032, not 70PD055000017. The other one is the same product, just manufactured at a later point and they have fixed the headphone jack problem. Hope this helps.

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