Buzz Bishop is wrong - Creative Zen Vision is not an iPod Video killer - Blogging 24 Hours Part 2
By Roland Tanglao on November 2, 2005 - 11:34am
Buzz Bishop is wrong (as are most of the "reviews" for electronics in Metro, Dose and 24 hours) in his "review" of the Creative Zen Vision in today's Vancouver 24 Hours daily : The Creative Zen Vision is not an iPod video killer because the Windows Media Player plus Creative Zen Vision user experience to be frank s*cks. Buzz: if the Creative Zen Vision sells more units in Canada by July 2006 than the iPod video, let me know and I will treat you to lunch next time you are in Vancouver.
Click "read more" to read what Buzz wrote.
QUOTE
Why is it that as soon as Apple comes out with a killer new ipod, someone is immediately showcasing the next ipod killer?
Quite simply it’s because while society has defined mp3 players as ipods, just as Kleenex defines tissues, it’s not necessarily the best product on the market.
Most are excited about the new video ipod, but don’t believe the hype. Instead, check out the new Creative Zen Vision. It’s about the size of the early edition ipods, but the screen, at 3.7
I'm looking at cyberbuzz.tv and come on, it's 2005.
The weblog (the left column) doesn't have permanent links to individual posts nor does it have an RSS feed (which we could syndicate at Urban Vancouver, increasing his traffic and inbound links).
The section titled "cyberbuzz now in print!" doesn't have permanent links for the most recent column. No RSS feed either. That is, you have to wait until the next column comes out in order to link to it.
The section below that, titled "cyberbuzz blog archives" doesn't have permanent links either. No RSS feed. (Yeah, I'm a broken record, I know.)
There is, however, a podcast feed, but it's not terribly obvious, since the podcast feed is linked to the iPod image. It says "click on the ipod and the shows you see here will be delivered to you daily", which is misleading, because clicking on the iPod won't automatically subscribe you to the podcast. It really should say something like "subscribe to our cyberbuzz.tv podcast feed" (with the link) so that it's clear how to get the podcasts delivered to your personal digital music player of choice.
You are a Fanboy.
Having used Creative products in the past and just bought a video Ipod I have to weigh in on the subject. Creative might not outsell Ipod but that's because of HYPE and marketing know how only. Creative interfaces and products are intuitive work well and have great flexibility in terms of formats, Ipod doesnt, Ipod plays two video formats both of which you have to use an extra program to compress regular formats for (dont even get me started on ITUNES which is complete garbage). OH and by the way creatives Zen vision will play one of the ipods compressed video formats. Creative products have better battery life and replaceable batteries (keep one charged and ready all the time). As for the IPOD dont make me laugh, with mp3s I can get barely half a day out of it. As for video well lets just say that the Ipods reputed two hours of battery life as opposed to the creatives zen visions reputed four or more, the Ipod leaves me underwhelmed (but I admit I haven't done any benchmark testing of my own). Screen wise there is no comparison 3.7 inches (creative) to 2.5 (Ipod), you be the judge. What about the under utilised portable hard drive feature, well both products require software to be installed but the Ipod has been nothing but a headache when using it as a mobile hard drive on machines other than my home pc, creative products have never let me down. Lastly lets talk about one very annoying and cheap problem with the Ipod video (not sure if this is the same with non video Ipods), where's the freaking wall adapter, leaving it out only confirms my suspicions of Apple's low opinions of it's customers ("What you want a wall adapter too how dare you question the mighty Apple") ?!? At least with creative you get everything necessary for home and the road. So while the creative products may be better in every technical way, Ipod will still hold the lead due to the hype and mystique around the products, as soon as people wake up and see the hype for what it is Ipod is dead in the water. I plan to sell my video Ipod and get a creative Zen vision first opportunity I get.
Thanks for all your tips. I appreciate all the design tips, and yes, I do need to get those RSS feeds up and running!
However, your criticism of my review is waaayyy off.
Creative created the menu tree system for sorting files on digital media devices and recently took their case to court where they were awarded the patent.
The ability to delete files FROM THE DEVICE is huge. I dont have to sync to get rid of a song or movie I'm sick of.
A removable battery is a LIFESAVER. Whatcha gonna do when you're at the best part of a movie and your ipod dies... you're stuck at 30 000 feet or on the beach with no juice. The back up battery is a winner everytime.
The ability to play radio and record audio is a bonus that no ipod has ever done without a pocketful of attachments.
The screen is brilliant and BIG on the Zen Vision. You don't have to hold it in your hand on the plane to watch it, you can set it in a cradle and the screen is big enough to actually read subtitles on foreign films, try that on your ipod without squinting.
Dude, I get it, you're a Mac Addict. You bow down at the sleek white throne of Jobs every chance you get, BUT ... you have to admit, it's hype over substance this time 'round.
Just cause you're biggest, doesn't mean you're best - Apple has been throwing that argument at Bill Gates for decades, and it's about time they listened to themselves chanting it - for now it applies to them.
i luv apple and have 2 ipods (shuffle and 20Gig 2nd Generation)
but i also have an iRiver to record podcasts
for geeks the iRiver's features are great but for the mass market they suck and are hard to use
same with the creative zen vision, great for geeks, sucks for "humans"
by my definition, ipod killer = a device that will sell more than an ipod and i think if you accept my definition, then the zen vision is NOT an ipod killer
Cheers!
--
Roland Tanglao
VanEats
Bryght
the term "ipod killer" has been used in the media for years, and it describes something that's better than the ipod. Been to cnet.com lately?? every day they've got the next batch of ipod killers.
BTW, I disagree on usability. I find the Creative players infinitely easier to use. Can you search by letter on your ipod, or do you have to scroll through all 500 different artists to get to U2 at the bottom of your list?
Case closed. I win.
for geeks, zen is easier to use and so is an ipod killer for geeks i.e. you
my definition of ipod killer is something that will sell more to the masses and is easy to use for the masses and the zen is not that
so we both win, happy :-) !
Roland Tanglao
VanEats
Bryght
the zen is just as easy to use as an ipod, no degree necessary to operate the machinery.
as for "your definition" of ipod killer, why not step up and swim with the rest of us in the mainstream. an ipod killer is something better than an ipod and is the univerally accepted definition by journalists.
just because "your definition" of the sun is the thing that rises as night, doesn't mean its right.
stop being such a twit.
haha i hope more people buy the zen ipods are a rip off and are rubbishgo creative