After my disappointing experience with the Cowon A2 –and yup, I did return it–but still determined to see if a personal media player (PMP) can be a good thing to have around, I decided to give the Creative Zen Vision W a try (I’m still on the waiting).
Once again, the basic specs of the device are intriguing:
- Creative Zen Vision W (the widescreen version), available at various places for around $300 (30GB) or $375 (60GB)
- 9.7oz/276g (30GB); 10.5oz/297g (60GB)
- 4.3″, 480×272 pixel TFT screen (landscape mode, ‘natch)
- built-in FM radio
- personal info management (PIM) capability–according to the web site, “Store and view all the information that’s important to you – daily tasks, contact lists and even a calendar – that you sync with Microsoft Outlook, or edit with Creative Media Explorer.”
I will get into all the other spec details in my full review in a couple of weeks.
So here’s the original package.
There’s a “slip-on” package over the main package. Here’s the interior package. (Definitely going for that Apple minimalist look; it reminds me of The Beatles’ White Album.)
Opening the package, you see the docs, the software CD, some promotional material, and a soft velveteen pouch for the device (no hard leatherette case, apparently).
Removing that material reveals a flip-up panel.
under which is the Zen Vision W itself, and some additional boxes containing the components.
Already I have to say that I prefer the look of the Zen Vision W to that of the Cowon A2. Nothing objective; I just prefer flat-black to white for my gadgetry.
The narrow box just above the device contains the USB cable and the ear-buds. (Notice that Creative put some semi-circular cutouts into the side of this and the other component boxes to make them easier to remove from the main box. I personally always appreciate this kind of attention to detail.)
Underneath the Vision W and the narrow component box is a larger box that contains the other components.
Here are the components sitting on top of their box.
The complete set of components from Creative. Again, the white power adapter very much has an “Apple” feel to it (for me, this is a good thing).
And finally, here is the Vision W, by its lonesome, just before I plugged it in to charge.
The Zen Vision W is currently plugged into my Belkin surge protector. Tomorrow I will commence loading my various movies, music, and documents onto it, as well as seeing if I can figure out how to sync it to Outlook.
Look for the full review in a couple of weeks.
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