Creative MuVo V100 - Digital player - flash 2 GB - WMA, MP3 - black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I had a larger Archos gmini 400 MP3 player before this, but got tired of recharging it so frequently, especially as the battery life started shortening. I mainly use it with a Mac running OS 10.5, my collection of 192kbps VBR MP3 files, and JV HA-FX33 "marshmallow" in-ear buds.

Pros
-Good battery life, making it perfect for long trips. Even the Plain Jane AAA that came with it lasted quite awhile.
-It's a USB mass storage device, so it's cross-platform and doesn't require drivers! I just plug it into my Mac, then copy files over in my file manager.
-It is USB-powered when it is plugged in, unlike my Archos. Definitely convenient there, especially if you plan on using it with a car stereo that supports USB devices.
-Custom equalizer that can be toggled on or off, plus a separate bass-boosting control for music that's on the thin side.
-I'm no audiophile, but the sound quality seems to be decent. No unnecessarily huge gaps between tracks, and no distortion that I've heard.

50/50
-No-frills, grayscale interface with (optional) backlighting. I don't care about having a flashy color display for something so simple, but other people might.
-The toggle switch is easy to work, but I wish it was softer on your thumb!
-It's a comfortable size to hold in your hand (IMO, of course), but if you're looking for something ultra-thin this is not it.

Cons
-Included documentation is useless. Instead of giving you a printed manual or a PDF, they include it in some strange (video?) format that I haven't been able to open.
-You can't have more than 3 "Library" folders + the root level of the drive. You can, however, set it to repeat the current subfolder, and use the file browser in the menu to switch folders.
-The play option icons aren't as intuitive to figure out as some of the other features. I had to go online to Creative's website to confirm which one was the "album" play mode.
-Slow USB transfer speed. My Archos MP3 player was a true "Hi-Speed" USB 2.0 device and definitely transferred files at a faster rate.
-It's a bit slow to start up when you have it fully loaded.
-The battery cover sometimes comes off. Most of the time, though, it happens when I'm trying to pull the main player out of the battery pack so I can plug it in to my computer.
-It doesn't let you see what track is coming up next (which the Archos does).
-I wish it came in larger capacities. Unfortunately, at this point a lot of manufacturers are moving away from AAA batteries in low-capacity players in the quest for ultra-thinness, so I'm not sure if Creative will ever make one in 4GB or 8GB (for example).

This is definitely not for people who want to carry their entire collection with them, but it makes a nice replacement for the old DiscMan + stuffed CD wallet combo. If you're shopping around at smaller vendors, I wouldn't recommend paying much more than $50 for this (I've seen some people asking for $70!).

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Product Description:
The Creative MuVo V100 is the portable audio player for people who appreciate simplicity as well as performance. Its compact, two-piece design delivers MP3 and WMA with Lyrics support - great for joining in the music! Its player module can store up to 500 songs and a single standard AAA battery can provide up to 18 hours continuous playtime. The MuVo V100 connects to the PC via USB and supports 'drag and drop' selection of data or music. Its built-in microphone is great for voice recording.