by
Ted Kritsonis
Faze Technology Editor

What it is: Unlike the original ZEN Micro, this model has incorporated photos, so you can listen to music and view photos. On top of that, you can use it as a recording device and capture FM radio stations. You get a 8GB drive, which can hold up to 2,000 songs and many more photos. It also comes in a variety of colours (too bad the pink version isn’t out in Canada for you girls).

What’s good about it: You’re definitely getting some great features in a small (not to mention, cute) package. The 1.5-inch screen isn’t big by any means, but it’s vibrant, so you’ll get rich colours and good backlighting. Creative says that it lasts about 15 hours on a full battery charge, but 12 is probably a more realistic estimate, which is still very good anyway. Another plus is that you can adjust and alter menu options so you’ll only see the things you really want. And last but not least, the recording features are cool in that you can capture something from a radio station or just record yourself and others having a conversation

What’s NOT good about it: By far, the worst thing here is that you can’t view photos and listen to music at the same time. If you’re going to combine the two, then you should have that kind of functionality going. Also, if you plan to go for a jog with the ZEN MicroPhoto, get yourself a strap so you can wrap it around your arm, or else the player will skip.

What’s the verdict: It’s not perfect but the ZEN MicroPhoto is still a pretty good product. If you care a lot about being able to listen to music while watching a slideshow, then you may have issues with this thing, but if photos aren’t a real concern, then you’ve got an excellent mp3 player here.

Manufacturer:
Creative Labs


Cost:
$320 Retail

Rating: 8/10