Creative Zen Vision:W

Media junkies looking for an affordably priced portable video player will find a compelling option in Creative’s Zen Vision W, so named for the screen’s wide 16:9 format. It comes in two flavors: 30GB ($299) and 60GB ($399); we tested the 30GB version. Our Editors’ Choice for personal media players has been the Archos 604, and while this Zen doesn’t knock it out of the top spot, it’s able to compete, thanks to solid video performance and well-designed menus.
 
The Zen Vision W is slightly larger than the Archos (notably a quarter-inch thicker), but since neither device is exactly pocketable, the size difference is negligible. Unlike the Archos 604, the Vision W has dedicated volume buttons on the top edge. The mono speaker in the lower right corner puts out enough sound to be used at home.
 
Compared with the Archos 604, the control layout on this device is much more intuitive, and the menu system is easy to read and navigate. The small menu, return, and transport buttons are well marked and responsive, and the five-way selector switch makes navigation a breeze. One small navigation complaint: We don’t understand why the OS displays a right-pointing arrow indicating submenus, but wants a click of the center OK button rather than a right flick on the five-way.
 
The Zen Vision W lacks a kickstand, but edges in front of the Archos 604 by offering a nonproprietary USB connection. We also like the option to charge the player through a USB cable connected to a PC or with the bundled AC adapter.
 
One perk is the CompactFlash slot hidden under the screen on the unit’s left side. While CompactFlash seems a puzzling choice, the large slot accommodates an adapter (sold separately) to take other flash cards such as SD. This makes it easy to transfer pictures to the device, which you can view as slideshows, complete with background music.
 
The Zen Vision W’s display is on par with the best players available. The 4.3-inch, 480 x 272-pixel screen is crisp and clear, and video performance was excellent in our tests. During our many hours of playback, we didn’t notice a single skipped frame. Plenty of formats are supported: WMV, MPEG-1, -2 and -4, DivX and XviD AVI files. Our biggest disappointment is the lack of recording and DVR functions. If you want those features, you’re better off with the Archos 604.
 
Audio support includes WAV, WMA (with or without DRM), MP3, and Audible, and the Vision W is PlaysForSure compliant. You can bookmark audio files so the Vision W will resume playing video from your last-viewed moment—a nice touch. A microphone is onboard to record voice notes, but the record feature can’t capture audio from the built-in FM tuner.
 
With respect to video playback and playlist controls, Creative made a few poor decisions. Video playlists are not supported, and the OS doesn’t support sequential playback, so the player will bounce back to the menu when a clip ends. And while we like the control layout and basic functions, we were frustrated that none of the transport keys could fast-forward to the next video clip in a folder, especially considering that the fast-forward button and right side of the five-way selector switch perform similar functions during playback.
 
The Vision W is much better at presenting media on its own screen than through the A/V interface, in part because only a lowly composite cable is bundled with the player. We watched the same files through the Vision W and as burned as data on a DVD, and the Vision W’s output was noticeably inferior.
 
As an audio player, the Vision W’s battery life is disappointing at only 13 hours. Creative rates video playback at 4.5 hours on a full charge, but our results topped out at a little over 4 hours, which compares well with other big-screen PMPs.
 
At only $299, the lack of DVR functionality and the weak video output can be forgiven. The Creative Zen Vision W is light on bells and whistles but succeeds as an easy-to-use player with impressive video playback.