This post originated from an RSS feed registered with Java Buzz by Janek Schwarz. Original Post: Don't Buy A Creative Zen Touch MP3 Player ... Feed Title: The Wannabe Java Rockstar Feed URL: http://weblog.janek.org/Archive/Categories/javablogs.rss.xml Feed Description: The Wannabe Java Rockstar: Janek's weblog where all posts go to Eleven Latest Java Buzz Posts Latest Java Buzz Posts by Janek Schwarz Latest Posts From The Wannabe Java Rockstar

... or any other harddisk-based MP3 player for that matter. It keeps you from doing anything useful. For two weeks I've been spending my spare time ripping CDs. I didn't read news, didn't watch TV, didn't blog. I didn't waste time ego surfing or checking referers. It's that bad.

All joking aside, the Creative Zen Touch is a great unit. It looks good, sounds good and is easy to use. As with every portable audio player the enclosed headphones aren't much good. I own a pair of AKG's K26P which are much better. Together with the Zen Touch they make a killer combination.

What's not to like: the accompanying  windows software is awful. Not only is it ugly, it's also hard to use . Without consulting the help file you don't have a chance. The MP3 encoder is a joke. On top of that, the autosync component crashes sometimes. It's not that the software is completely unusable, it's just no joy to use. I think about getting Notmad. I'm not interested in the MP3 encoder as I've been completely satisfied with Audiograbber.

The big question is: Why didn't I get an iPod? First, I don't want to be part of a movement. You know, as a punk by heart I like to do things differently. Second, I don't want to pay Apple's premium prices. The 20GB Zen Touch simply is cheaper. Third, I've neither used iTunes nor the iTunes Music Store. In fact, I don't care for music downloads. I'm one of those old fashioned I-need-the-real-thing-guys. CDs are sort of a compromise.

So anyway, I like the Zen Touch and recommend it. But don't listen only to me. Frank, the GadgetGuy, has a nice series of articles about the Creative Zen Micro. Don't forget to read the last article where he explains why he returned the Micro and bought an iPod.