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i wish a company would at least try to come up with something original. it isn't impossible to do.

SIMply WrONG booHOO. Creativeless has been working on this cheap knockoff for a year. Huh.......when did the color iPod come out again?? My 3G is close to 3 years old now.....and I think it is slimmer than this piece of crap......

Does it come with white earphones?

Its copying if I have ever seen it before. How can you say its not copying!? Look at the design of the thing. Get original Creative. Face it the iPod kicks your arse and always will.

wanna see a kid cry on christmas day. Give them this piece of crap. Then when their friends and cousins come over later with their shiny new iPods, then they can cry again.

Creative is a hot mess.

How the blazes dows one navigate through songs and stuff on that thing?
Where are the Next / previous song buttons?
What are THOSE ARROWS?!?!?!
WHERE IS THE INDUSTRIAL DESIGN?!?! *dies*

Hammer: LOL

a la Eddie Murphy:

"You ain't got no i-pod, you ain't got no i-pod, cuz you cain't af-fode it, cuz you on da wel-fare..."

They've been working on that for over a year so they say it isn't a rip-off of the current iPod. Maybe so but funnily enough the design for the current iPod is a refinement of the previous iPod - I think they've been out for a while.

Which means it was copied from the old iPod (which looked almost the same as the new one and had the same GUI) instead of the new one. Duh!

Big deal--it has rounded edges like the old iPod. Still a copy.

If these are comparably-sized shots of both devices (and I assume they are), I'll throw one bone to the Creative device for using the whole screen for the menu, allowing larger text. When you have the screen real estate (especially on a small screen) it is prudent to use it.

Otherwise, I agree with hammer. I'd hate to be the kid (or his parents) that got the knock-off (and espcially couldn't use the iTunes music store).

One aside: I feel like I want a button on the surface of the iPod somewhere to be able to directly turn shuffle on and off without navigating menus. You know, one song gets you into the mood for a particular group and you wanna listen to more for awhile (until you don't, and then you'd be able to jump right back to shuffle). Anybody else feel that way?

...but Creative STILL doesn't have the clickwheel (patent still pending).

Same as having a desktop computer without a mouse. Would you buy it?

pity the poor kid that unwraps one of these pigs; it will be interesting to see what are the exchange rates for these pigs after the christmas season. it will also be very amusing to see the absolute bitch-slapping that the fat little korean is about to receive at the hands of Local Leader Steve J.

Are done by rocking the "wheel" just like on iPod. You can see the little arrows if you look close. The are gray instead of blue for no reason, of course.

So basically, it has 6 buttons--one more than the iPod! It must be better.

It's funny really, you wouldn't think Creative would stoop to the same low as those shithole Korean companies have been doing.

i think what the ipod needs is an option so that while in suffle mode, the next song can be selected by the user to override the shuffle. I have used MP3 players with this feature and it is very convenient.

creative is crap. what a bunch of copying losers.

Creative is stupid. They are setting themselves up to be counter sued by Apple.

MW=death.

So does this mean that all Apple has to do is claim that they had been working on the iPod interface for a couple years before releasing the first gen iPod and therefore it didn't violate the patent (and probably invalidate Creative's patent)?

I can see it now ....

When Creative (?) announces 14 bazillion of these junkers sold during the Christmas season....
Five will get you ten... the numbers wont include the 5 bazillion returned for full refund on December 26th !!

.... of course ....the 14 bazillion number will be grossly overstated

They can copy the look all they want but it still lacks the iTunes software, the iTMS and tons of accessories and car audio adapators. The PC boxes did well 20 years ago because they were 'good enough' and much cheaper. But with the Zen in the same price range just good enough doesn't cut it. They either need to out innovate Apple (impossible it seems) or undercut them by half (not profitable).

Bet it scratches easily.

Oooh, looky, it's got an FM radio!! Like, wow, man.

Btw, is the backdrop picture a drip in a pool of water? Or the ocean? Either way it represents their sales of this crummy knock off.

Wow, no one's mentioned the analyst, Bajarin, at least has the right take on wrong-way Hoo, blowing smoke.

Creative is a Singapore-based company, not korean. Though lots of knockoffs do come from korea....

Creative should change their name to Microsoft, they have a lot in common

Does Creative own the patent for the Aqua interface, too? If not, certainly they've applied for it. What, you can't patent the Aqua interface? Oh, that's right, only text menus.

Luxpro's Super Shuffle -> Tangent -> Top Elegant / EZ Elegant comes to mind.

Translated Creative press release (with accessory photos):

http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/trurl_pagecontent?lp=ja_en&trurl=http://jp.creative.com/corporate/pressroom/releases/welcome.asp?pid=12272

Cool dock and remote available. Surprisingly familiar, yet different, in an ugly sort of way.

Creative is making a lot of noise about 1 little patent of dubious validity. Let's face it almost any patent issued by the US Patent Office is of dubious validity. The same goes for patents registered in any other country.

Anyway, I wonder about the thousands of patents Apple holds and how many of them apply to Creative's wonderful little MP3 players. While I'm at it anyone can play twice as long at half the encryption rate and half the quality.

Oh man I just scammed!

I called Creative @ 800-998-1000, then requested sales.
The phone guy answered and I said I'd like to know more about this Vision M. He explained a bit. I asked what he used. His reply was a small flash based player when he works out. I asked is it the Shuffle, or the Nano. He said it's the ZenNano. My reply.... Oh the Creative copy of the Apple iPod Nano, now you've copied the iPod Video. My name is Steve Job - Call me when they arrive in the USA and I'll see you in court.

Call the 800 number and have some fun!

"Oh the Creative copy of the Apple iPod Nano, now you've copied the iPod Video. My name is Steve Job - Call me when they arrive in the USA and I'll see you in court."

Sorry to say this, but Creative had a 'nano' player before Apple did. However, Creative's product was practically rename of an existing product, while Apple's product was actually brand new.

"Creative should change their name to Microsoft, they have a lot in common"

Well, they wouldnt call themselves Microsoft. In typical Creative fashion, they'd change their name to Mycrosoft.

I must admit that when I saw a Zen Nano (gathering much dust) on the shelf of the local Toys R Us, I was shocked and thought they had copied the name from Apple.

This wasn't because I'm a mindless Apple zealot, it's because I had never heard of such a thing.

I don't know anyone who has a Creative (that is so funny) product. Everyone I know has an iPod (or several).

The knockoff is pretty bad.


~M

If Creative tries to carry on their lawsuit Apple should threaten to come back at them for shamelessly copying their interface.

Clap clap clap clap for MDN's take. I look forward to watching the tech CEO freak show! I hope your gold embossed letters of invitation have gone out to them this weekend MDN? I really think you must arrange this. We could set up a petition - we'd ALL want it to happen..!

As for Creative they obviously 'don't do creative.'

Please surprise us with loads more creativity in 2006 Apple!

It's the "similarly priced" bit that amuses me. Why would you pay a similar price for this, when you could just have the real thing? I can maybe see people buying this over the iPod for half the cost, but similarly priced is going to win them any buyers.

Damn typos... I meant that it isn't going to win them any buyers.

MW: probably. MDN should probably allow our posts to be edited.

Holy shit, you're all morons...

Goodness, the flames. Actually, your all seem to represent some aspect of retardedness, so I shall be blunt. This is a good product, marginally thicker than the 4th Gen iPlod. And the dig at koreans copying players. Err, i think you will find that china plays a bigger role there kids. You all need to wake up. But I will always remember, never argue with an idiot. So i will leave with these parting words. Your idiots, only a matter of time till you realise it. If indeed you don't realise this, I will realise it for you. Your all idiots.

The guy above said it all basically. Stop being sheep and look at the bigger picture. Creative has release a player that's technically far superior- SO WHAT IT IF THEY LOOK SIMILAR? Most mobile phones look the same, and how many lawsuits do you see about that? And all that crap about the Korean ripoffs... hate to bring you down to earth but most of the time things like irivers are much better. In fact, a Korean fake of the nano (although rather dodgey) plays video, has far more features, yet it's a fraction of the price.

On a closing note, have you heard of Ogg Vorbis?

Hi, my name is Mozfan and I shop at Toys R Us.

Like the iPod
Hate iTunes

Buying the Zen Vision:M

"pity the poor kid that unwraps one of these pigs; it will be interesting to see what are the exchange rates for these pigs after the christmas season. it will also be very amusing to see the absolute bitch-slapping that the fat little korean is about to receive at the hands of Local Leader Steve J." Saying this is just right below kissing Steve Job's ass. God Damn. Why are all you people so stupid? It makes me sad.

So THATS why Mac's OS sucks so much...'cause all their employees are busy on this website putting down products that are better than their's! It all makes since now

FACE IT U ARE ALL SHEEP Look at me i have a hit ipod video i have 2 use shitty itunes amnt i cool

The Vision m is sooooooooo much better
Better Screen
Better Battery Life
No Need 2 convert Downloaded videos 2 play them
And Last But Not Least ITS NOT AN IPOOD u see what i did there iPOOd POO hahaha u all suck

The Zen Vision Is WAYYYYYYYYY Better than the ipod Video.....who won the world class product award?? who???? CREATIVE! i dont see any ipod fanboy queers posting here anymore...why? because there is nothing else they can say. the ZVM is just way beter, and there is no doubting that. so have fun paying a dollar a song faggots.

Some of you have short memories, or more likely, have simply never had any knowledge of history. Creative had MP3 players on the market BEFORE anyone heard of something called an "iPod". Now here are you clowns, defending your pride in that $400 you plunked down so you can be like everyone else, and you call Creative the copycats. The sad truth that sits in your throats like a giant lump is that there is something out there superior to your beloved Pods, the Creative Zen Vision:M. Don't believe me though, compare the specs. Four times the color, and double the video output resolution. A dollar per song? How about $5 a month for unlimited downloads instead, with a multitude of services to choose from?

But go ahead, keep denying.

face it the zen vision m isnt a crummy knock off. Its specs are better than the current generation ipod. full stop. video playback formats, audio formats, the microsoft plays for sure meaning it isnt restricted to one particular music program like itunes.
the sounds quality has been verified as better than the ipod. Just because it doesnt have the click wheel doesnt mean its useless. quite the contrary, this device is in fact easy to use. of course i dont expect any of you ipod fans to understand.

face it. its better full stop. better specs full stop. its not envious of the ipod.

Judge the product on its own merit outside the bias of any opinion of the producing company. how does the product itself hold up. If you look at it, you'll see why its better in just about everything than the current ipod.
here are some links:
http://www.dapreview.net/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.259

http://monsternet.org/reviews/zenvisionm/index.php

http://www.cnet.com/4831-11405-6412049.html?tag=next

take a look if you dare

awesome actually you all are all idiots i just bought z zen vision m much much much better than an ipod. totally dude. its sooo amazing and freakishly kool. i dont reall feel like being a brainwashed ipoop freak thats soo ubsessed with it that anything that comes out and is better ill have to deny it it to hold in my pride. seroisly you people make me sick... lol i mean unless you want like well syndrome stick with the ipood. quality+awesomeness=zen vision m and creative
crap+ripoff+overated=tooexpensive=ipod. clear your mind ppeople jeesh.

Face it, name three reasons that the ipod is better. Better yet, let me answer for you.

1) It is slimmer.
2) Uhhh....

Yeah, the zen has every single feature that the iPod has (that doesn't suck), and more. It is also cheaper. I really don't care if it looks the same, it is the quality that counts. Besides, who would want to copy an iPod.

I sold my iPod to get me one of these, best decision of my life. Do you guys realise how crappy iPods are compared to pretty much every othe rmp3 palyer on the market? YOu know what the ipod has on other mp3 players? its slimmer. iIts freaking 2006 and the iPod still doesn't have recording? fm radio? why not? creative and irivers have had that kind of thing for years now. The Zen Vision: M is THE player to own.

Has anyone noticed that all the iPoo fan boys are not commenting? As they now know that the zvm kicks iPoo. YOU ARE ALL A BUNCH OF FUCKING IPOD FAN BOYS.
All you people backing the zvm, I bet you guys aree really coool. NOT sheep.
I think I would be crying if I got a iPoo instead of a zvm

iPods make me look cool.