Creative JukeBox Zen NX Extra 60GB

The player easily fits in your pocket and can easily be held and toggled with whilst in your hand. The scroll wheel is simple to use and very effective. Play lists can be created on the PC and transferred across or created and saved on the player itself. The screen is bigger than previous versions and has a trendy blue backlight. Also, the Zen can also be used to store any kind of data, not just music, so it is an ideal back up device. The player transfers over USB and is very quick. The sound quality is excellent and with EAX effects, it makes a great atmospheric experience.

With storage space for 16,000 songs, this player is an excellent investment and is much better value for money than an ipod. So don’t follow the crowd and get a flashy over priced ipod, be smart and get this excellent player at an excellent price.

The Zen xtra product is the top product to date in their range of MP3 players. It's key beneficial features:

1. 60GB storage - the largest iPOD is 40GB, so it's 50% bigger which makes a big difference on the amount of files that can be stored. For an intensive high-end user looking to move their music collection over, well 'size does matter'.

2. Supports recording of Windows WMA files - smaller than MP3s but with better quality.

3. Can record source files in the original quality using WAVE format. So true CD audio is available. You can also store PC data files on the unit so it's also a portable hard drive.

4. The product has an excellent and configurable interface supporting playlists and picking songs by artist, genre, album etc. It also has environmental sound processing allowing effects like EQ or reverb to be added.

5. The accompanying PC software is very simple to use, it makes the job easy and quick. It doesn't have much help to guide you but you don't need much anyway.

6. Battery time - the rechargable battery is removable by the user and spares can be bought (unlike the Mac iPOD). The rechargable batteries last 14 hours which is very decent.

7. Interface - Files are transferred in and out via a high speed USB2 link with cable provided. Ensure your PC supports USB2 before buying. If you have a laptop without USB2 you can buy a simple laptop PCIMA card upgrade that gives USb2 for about 30 pounds. This makes a hugh difference to the file transfer rates.

8. Using the headphone out and a cable you can connect the product to your hi-fi speakers and consign your CDs to the loft.

9. Price - you get more than an iPOD and it's cheaper. This may not last but for now it makes it an attractive purchase.

Possible Cons

1. It's not an iPOD - this doesn't inherently matter but some people follow the market leader. iPOD has the name but at least in it's current version doesn't compare well. Stylistically the Creative Labs unit also looks like an iPOD even having the white earphones.

2. It's sensitive to shocks - walking around with this and in a car is fine but don't jog with it. It's not a product for runners.

I really rate this product which I have found liberating and entertaining. It's been most welcome and compares very well to other leaders in the industry of which the Iriver and Apple iPOD are direct comparisons when looking around.