Creative Zen Vision W (30GB) review

Smooth, slick, easy to use and reasonably cheap Tested at £220.00

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

A great alternative to the iPod Classic, particularly if movies are your priority

Pros

  • +

    Easy to use

  • +

    good value for money

  • +

    excellent music and movie playback

Cons

  • -

    Not much really

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Along with great performance, there are three things we want from a video player to take on a long journey: a unit that's slick, small and stylish; a user interface that doesn't require any head-scratching or manual-reading; a big-enough screen to comfortably sit through a two-and-a-half hour movie.

Tick, tick and… tick. By those exacting criteria, the Zen Vision W is an excellent portable. The 'W' has a 30GB hard drive, a 4.3in screen, and the ability to deliver superb sound and vision.

Creative's pedigree as an MP3 brand – longer even than Apple's – comes into play here: the player has a pleasingly punchy, detailed sound via the supplied headphones that very few rivals can emulate.

All-in-all then, the Vision W gets the thumbs up: it's smooth, slick, easy to use, reasonably cheap, a great performer and fits easily in your pocket.

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.


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