Creative Zen Vision: M

Hot on the heels of the new video-friendly Ipod is Creative’s latest portable media player, the Zen Vision: M.

The Vision part refers to the fact that the device can play video as well as music. What the M stands for, however, we’re not quite sure.

Given its design and functions, it’s hard not to draw comparisons with Apple’s market leader, so we’re not going to beat about the bush here.

In terms of its technical specs and its price, the Vision: M can be most obviously stacked up against the 30GB current generation Ipod. The Zen matches the Ipod on both storage capacity and screen size.

Both players come with a 2.5in 320 x 240 pixels backlit LCD, although compare the two displays together side by side and the Vision: M looks marginally sharper, brighter and more colourful.

Depending on bit-rates and file formats, the Zen sounds good too, although the white earbuds the device is provided with are just begging to be upgraded. Mp3, wav and wma audio formats are supported, but not aac.

For video, the manufacturer claims support for a wide range of formats, including mpeg2, mpeg4 Simple Profile formats (such as Xvid), wmv, and mjpeg, as well as providing a software tool for converting other types of video to Zen a compatible format.

In practice we were disappointed to find just how many of the video files we tested threw up compatibility issues. We suggest tracking down a good freeware or shareware video format converter to sort out this end of things.

The Vision: M can be hooked up to a TV in order to view video on a big screen, although a separate AV cable is required. It can also be used to transfer media, such as podcasts, from Creative's new iTunes like service called Zen Cast.

On top of music and video playback, the Vision: M can be used to view jpeg photos, display album art, synchronise contacts and calendar databases with a PC and be used as a portable hard disk.

Creative has included a few other useful features that you won’t find on the Ipod. A built-in microphone, for example, allows users to record speech and sounds straight to the Zen’s hard disk.

The device also has an FM radio tuner and the ability to record directly from broadcast. Battery life is good, too. We managed around 12 hours of non-stop music from one charge, although video playback will reduce that time considerably.

It’s only really in terms of design that the Vision: M starts to lose ground against the market leader. Creative’s player is almost exactly the same width and height as Apple’s but is noticeably thicker.

It’s not that the Zen is necessarily an ugly device but it just doesn’t have the artistry of the Ipod design team behind it. Looks are, of course, a matter of taste but whether it’s blue, green, pink, black or white, the Vision: M can hardly be described as the cutting edge of fashion.

Apple is currently outselling Creative in the portable music player stakes but it’s entirely possible that, with all its added extras and neat proportions, the Vision: M could be the device that convinces people to switch allegiance.

Of course, it’s equally as likely that many will wonder why they should pay £250 for a 30GB Ipod clone when £30 less would effectively get them the real thing.