NOT A FISHER PRICE MY FIRST MP3 PLAYER! (Creative Muvo² 4 GB)

Member Name: andersonmarske

Product:	Creative Muvo² 4 GB
Date:	22/01/05 (275 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Capacity, Sound Quality, Software

Disadvantages: Headphones, No FM radio/microphone, Menu system

~Introduction~

After getting £140 for Christmas I decided to get something I really...really wanted, a MP3 player. However I couldn't decide what to get.

First I eyed a Creative Muvo 256MB, then a Mustek PVR-A1 , but then again, 256MB wasn't enough and after advice from another Ciao member I didn't really want the (32MB) PVR-A1.

Suddenly, I spotted this baby, the newer version of Creative Muvo, and a 4gig mini-hard disc capacity, I wasn't complaining. I decided it after a lengthy series of Ciao, Kelkoo and Pricerunner searches, Amazon was the cheapest 'large' company, offering it at £138.99.

~Technical Info~

This MP3 player also plays WMA and MP3s, the software it can't play DRM unless you use the software to de-DRM it.

It seems to only support M3U playlists and also supports downloaded 'Audiofeast' shows. The 4gid capcacity allows plently of music.

~Non-Technical Information~

This MP3 player seems to only support M3U playlists, so you should create these with the free software. (Don't hold me to tihs though). This music player can contain 2100 average WMA(special file format, free converter provided) songs.

~Menu system~

The menu system is rather fiddly, you need to use little keys about 2mm square. The menu has ten items: Folder (root); this is how you choose the music you want to play, playlists; how you play playlists, playmode; allowing you top play shuffled or repated, EQ; the equalizer, delete; allows you to delete the current tune, settings, music(exit menu), microphone and fm (you have to pay an extra £40 for a plug-in to play these).

The annoying thing is if your on the first item, you can't skip to the last one when going around the file system so when searching for music. So when you want a band with a crazy name like "Zoobs" you'd have to go thorugh the list of all your other artists to find it.

~Another disadvantage~

There's no search system.

~Look, design and weight~

The MP3 player's larger than I thought it would be. about 7cm x 7cm. It it obviously a square, and is 2cm thick. It's got silver outside and in the centre a black (nearly) square.

I must agree it looks great, however it weighs quite a bit, because of the compacticity (not a real word I think) of it.

The battery holder is quite nice, it's easy to get in and out. However their is no + and - on the MP3 player, but a + and - in the battery. Still, there's only two possibilities so you're not going to have to ponder.

~Manual~

I'm a man! I don't read those things!

~Durability~

I've dropped it once or twice and it hasn't broken, however mini hard-disks are delicate so I recommend you do take care, unlike a flash memory player.

~Software~

The software is one of the only players I've seen able to play legal DRM WMA music. You must use this software if you want to pay DRM WMA on the MP3 player.

The software looks futuristic, not a nice Windows 98 interface, still it's okay.

The primary feature is the converter. It allows you to convert between different bitrate MP3, waves, WMA, WMA Pro and WMA Lossless.

The software is very easy to use and even has a search feature.

~Battery Life~

The battery lasts about three hours, not great, but fine. Its quite a while, especially saying it's not using a half hour AAA, but a rechargable one (I suppose it is a little of a disadvantage as you can't go and easily buy a new one).

~Conclusion~

If you don't want a microphone or radio go ahead, it's great value. You could buy a microphone or radio, but they're hard to find.

Please read, rate and comment kindly,

Summary: