Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

About this reviewer: I listen to music a lot, but about 95% is books. I use this Creative Labs V100 MuVo mp3 player about 20 hours a week. PRO: 1. Flash based: Meaning no HDD spinning around thousands of times a minute, movable parts=easily breakable or they wear down. Meaning you can also jog with it. I'm from the computer world, and us cats know that all HDD's fail, period. *Especially* if you're moving it all the time. We, who want something that lasts, universally stick to solid state; ie FLASH based mp3 players. 2GB is also quite nice as well. They make a 1GB version too. That's enough for most before they can get to a computer again... which brings us to: 2. Connectivity: You don't need any stupid dock, any proprietary cable; USB or Mini-USB or any cable whatsoever. :) You just pull it apart and it becomes a thumb drive, just detach and plug in any standard USB port. It really is ingenious. 3. Size: This thing is small, there are various pictures here, this one is about 1mm smaller on all sides than the CL's Zen Nanos. About the size of a 17-stick pack of gum, but thinner. This is great for jogging, it's weightless. Slip into your shirt pocket as well, without any huge bulge or weight. 4. Compatibility. You DO NOT have to use some weird 3rd party DRM CRAP software like iTunes or Windows Media crap (like you do with Ipod's or IRivers) just drag, drop & GO! If you want some of your friends songs, you don't have to load up itunes, then some hack, or your mp3 players proprietary software cluttering up your friends computer to get his or her songs. I recall a conversation I had with a friend trying to get the songs of another mp3 player "FREAK, it took me 40 minutes to find the right software that world work to get the songs off" and that's not some novice. All the software to use this mp3 player is one just about every computer on earth. 5. Storage: You plug it in you not only drop any of your mp3s/WMAs on it, you can throw some pictures, some huge files, documents, anything, and use it just like a thumb drive. And still listen to your music, it just skips the non-audio files, etc. 6. Mic. The mic is great for recording class, or conversations, just throw it on your desk or shirt pocket and there you go. Much better than the previous N200 and other Muvo's which were terrible. It's as good as the current Zen Nano's. One can easily record a class lecture by sitting it on your desk. One must crank the volume to listen to it a bit, but it's defiantly workable. 7. NON-proprietary battery: Good old AAA Normal battery, throw a few recharables in your bag, you're good to go. I don't have to "dock" it or some crap like that. They do last a VERY long time, I've gotten over 20 hours of play all the time, just listening to books with a single alkaline. With the standard Alkaline AAA batteries this runs you about $0.025 an hour. 2.5 pennies an hour to run. Use rechargeables and your cost almost disappears. I can't not emphasize enough how important this feature is! Who are you going to go to when your ipod's batteries die, and the last few months? You need to limp along not wanting to fork out a huge percentage of the current value to get it shipped to somewhere and sent back, all at your expense. 8. Yeah it has other features I don't use much, WMA playback, flip screen, customizable 5-band equalizer, playlists, Audible playback support, volume restriction option, nifty navigation scroll, blah, blah, blah. CON: -No Radio: The Zen Nano's have a radio, if you are so inclined, which while I have the Zen Nano as well, I never use it. -No Bookmark feature. I listen to books for 20 hours a week. This would be nice, as I could have used it a few times. Creative! This is just a software item, make it into it! -No Line in. If you want Line in, get a professional recorder or the Zen Nano. I just never used it, but it would be nice to have, I suppose. More is better, right? -Doesn't come with armband like the Zen Nanos. I'm sure you can get one cheap if you want one on ebay. I use my old one, works perfect. -Wish it came in other colors. I mean come on now CL, we get your stuff because we don't like ipods, why you gotta make the first one white! It's white against black here, give us black! I'm sure this item will be fixed soon. It's November 2006 when this was written. I have no comment on the earbuds. They are little bit better than most, but I'm 6'6" and figure that's why no earbuds anyone has ever made, did anything but hurt my ears and/or fall out randomly. So I have my own (Sony MDR-EX81LP/B Bud-Style Stereo Earphones - Black). As most people who are serious listeners do. (have their own earbuds) I got there here, they are great; but earphones are a matter or personal physiology and audio-snob preference. :) I don't hate ipods, they are really sessy, but they are just not for me. I could list reasons why I can't like ipods but they are just too freaking expensive for too few bells and whistles. I mean, if you look at my "pro" list, the ipod nano is somewhat small and flash based, but that's it. I don't want to use some crap software, crap dock/cable, expensive battery, short battery life span, can't store anything else, and I don't need to see stupid 200X200 pixel color screen, sucking down the battery all the time as well, I just need to know what's playing and navigate around. (The V100 screen is simple & nice with a back-lit blue screen) Why should I pay twice as much more for an ipod, when it doesn't even get close to HALF the features? So, I will give it a 9.5/10. But in reality, nothing else touches it. The bookmark feature is the only thing I miss, but that's because I listen to books 95% of the time.