Need a New Device Recommendation

[phasmaphobic]

My current Zen Vision M is on its last legs. it served me faithfully and true over the last few years, but sadly, it's time to get a new MP3 player. Being an owner of both a Windows PC and a Xbox 360, I figured the Zune might be a good choice for the sake of interoperability between them. However, all signs seem to point to the Zune being incompatible with Mediamonkey, and frankly that just is not a good selling point for me.

Now, I'm considering just buying another of the same device, as it does everything I need. I can't stand the iPods, so that isn't an option. Thing is, I know next to nothing about the other devices currently on the market.

My biggest requirement is that it needs to be supported by Mediamonkey, my favoritest media library ever.

Other requirements:
* Playlists
* Video Support, with Divx and Xvid
* Portable Storage Drive support

So aside from just getting another Zen Vision M, what are some other players I should consider, for use with Mediamonkey?

[nynaevelan]

Being partial to Creative products I upgraded my Vision M to the 32gb Zen X-Fi. There was no learning transition other than the fact that the buttons are in the opposite order of the Vision. All of my videos for the Vision works flawlessly on the Zen and MM works exactly the same with the Zen as it does with the Vision. The only thing I don't like about it is the SD card integration, in other words there is none, it is meant as a storage device. If you do not mind not being able to use playlists from the device or not being able to bookmark tracks on it, then it is great. But other than that I love it.

Nyn

[phasmaphobic]

The only thing I don't like about it is the SD card integration, in other words there is none, it is meant as a storage device. If you do not mind not being able to use playlists from the device or not being able to bookmark tracks on it, then it is great.

I'm a bit confused on a couple of points.

1) How does the SD card work, then? I mean, for what purposes would an owner of the X-Fi actually use that card slot? Can you not play music from it, or transfer said music to the device?

2) Are you saying that the device does not support playlists?

[nynaevelan]

I'm a bit confused on a couple of points.

1) How does the SD card work, then? I mean, for what purposes would an owner of the X-Fi actually use that card slot? Can you not play music from it, or transfer said music to the device?

You can play music from it but if you turn off the player while playing tracks from the card and then turn it back on it will not remember your location like it does with the tracks that are on the device. You also cannot transfer back and forth between the computer and the card with it in the Zen, you have to connect it to the computer for transfers.

2) Are you saying that the device does not support playlists?

Oh it definately supports playlists but only on the device not the card itself. Personally I use the card to transfer my database and new music back and forth between home and work and for those tracks I want to listen to that I know I wouldn't necessarily mind not being able to bookmark back to. I am a HEAVY playlist user and my Zen currently has over 75 playlists on it. This Zen does everything your Vision does and the sound is a little better, but I have not played with all the different settings yet. There is also a wi-fi feature as well as some chatting-type functionalilty but I have not used those features either. This one also has the fm capabilities like the Vision but I do not listen to that on this one or did I listen to it on the Vision. I got this one over the regular 32gb Zen because I figured I might want to use the wi-fi features one day. I think there was a $20-$30 difference between the two. I also have not noticed any video differences but to be honest I have not encoded any new videos yet, I still use the same ones I watched on my Vision.

Nyn

[phasmaphobic]

Weird. So it sounds like the SD card and the Wi-Fi are, for the most part, pretty useless. Hmmm. Getting another Zen Vision M is more and more attractive =)

Thanks for the info. I'll have to look into it more.

[nynaevelan]

Would you want to get another Vision since they stopped support on it?? Do a search on the board there are a couple of topics regarding player recommendations. Personally I love the Zens AND I have alot of accessories that I bought for the Zen that I did not want to replace if I bought a different player. If not for the fact that the ipods are so restrictive in their use and they are more expensive for the same functionality I would have gone with one of them, but nothing annoys me more than manufacturers telling me where I have to use a product I paid for.

Nyn

[phasmaphobic]

Would you want to get another Vision since they stopped support on it??

Honestly? Because during my three-year love affair with the Zen Vision M, it has not given me one single issue until this one. My current problem is that the power switch broke, and now I can't take it out of the "Hold" position. I've spoken with their support, and it has been deemed a hardware problem, so resetting or modding the firmware does nothing.

Aside from this issue, the device has served me perfectly. The only reason I'm considering just replacing it is because, well, it is perfect. It has all the functionality I need. I actually bought Mediamonkey specifically to sync with this device, because they synchronize so amazingly.

I'm open to upgrading to a new device, but only if:

A) the new device also does everything I need, and
B) the new device doesn't require that I spend a lot of unnecessary cash on unnecessary (and mostly unsupported) features.

[phasmaphobic]

And I completely agree with your point about the iPod. I'm the same: thanks, I paid for it, so stop telling me how to use it. Argh, iProducts are such a waste of money.

[nynaevelan]

Would you want to get another Vision since they stopped support on it??

Honestly? Because during my three-year love affair with the Zen Vision M, it has not given me one single issue until this one. My current problem is that the power switch broke, and now I can't take it out of the "Hold" position. I've spoken with their support, and it has been deemed a hardware problem, so resetting or modding the firmware does nothing.

Aside from this issue, the device has served me perfectly. The only reason I'm considering just replacing it is because, well, it is perfect. It has all the functionality I need. I actually bought Mediamonkey specifically to sync with this device, because they synchronize so amazingly.

I agree I love my Vision, I still use as my backup device when I am away from the 'puter at home but she cannot handle the hard use I give her during the week. Even though the size is kinda big I loved what she can do.

I

I'm open to upgrading to a new device, but only if:

A) the new device also does everything I need, and
B) the new device doesn't require that I spend a lot of unnecessary cash on unnecessary (and mostly unsupported) features.

You should look into the Zen 32gb, the regular one not the X-Fi one but I like the buttons on the X-Fi one over the regular one (my husband has the 8 gb one). But they are both in the league with the Vision except the Vision had a bigger hard drive, I was a little disappointed that Creative didn't produce another 60gb device but with a 16gb card I didn't lose too much space. But don't buy the travelsound speaker for the Zen, it takes the volume from the player, which doesn't go that loud as you would expect with an external speaker. I prefer the Sounddock as an external speaker.

Nyn

[phasmaphobic]

Hmm. So how does the basic Zen compare to the Vision M?

[nynaevelan]

Since I only use the same features as what was on the Vision it compares very well.. On my Vision I only turned on the EQ, Smart Volume and Bass Boost and you can tell the difference between the two. The new Zen has more "umph". I haven't noticed too much difference in the video but like I said I am still using the same videos I created for my Vision. Just think of the Vision in a smaller package and better sound. Both the regular Zen and the X-Fi has better sound. It takes a little getting used to adjusting to the buttons, I am used to being on a train and having the Vision in my pocket and being able to adjust the buttons without looking at it, I am still messing up since they are opposite on the Zen. I am getting to like it more but the Vision is still my favorite player. And like you I had minimal problems with mine,I eventually upgraded my 30gb to a 60gb. But one thing the Zen has over the Vision, when you have to hit the rebuild button it rebuilds a lot quicker than the Vision and I have less album art mixups with the Zen than I did with the Vision. Oh I forgot to add, the Zen syncs faster than the Vision.

Nyn