MP3 PLAYERS

A FEW YEARS AGO YOU LOOKED POSH IF YOU HAD A 32MB MP3 PLAYER. NOW YOU CAN FIT UP TO 60GB OF MUSIC IN YOUR POCKET. SO GET READY TO RIP YOUR ENTIRE CD COLLECTION AS WE DELVE INTO THE ROCKING WORLD OF HARD DISK MP3 PLAYERS

Creative Zen Touch

Manufacturer:	Price:
Creative Labs	£179.99 inc VAT
Reviewer:	Review Date:
	Dec 2004

	OVERALL RATING

SCORE

5/6

Verdict: A joy to use and there's value in simplicity.

The Zen Touch is an updated version of the earlier Zen (and will more than likely replace it), and is far and away the best MP3 player Creative has produced. It's smaller than the monstrous Zen Xtra, and the rounded curves and white-on-silver design give it a much more modern look. The screen is larger and crucially, the interface and sound quality are also better.

It's still a blatant attempt to cash in on the iPod's fashion appeal, which is no bad thing. However, the Zen Touch is actually far superior to the iPod and all the other players in this Labs test.

For example, it boasts a formidable maximum of 24 hours playback, which makes its battery life unbeatable. Like the iPod, there's a random play button that pulls up random tracks from your entire collection. This is an excellent feature that makes listening an involving experience. The Zen Touch's sound quality is also better than the iPod and is among the best in this Labs test, really getting the most out of the MP3 format.

However, it still has a few foibles. The vertical touchpad on the front for scrolling through menus and music can't quite match up to Apple's design. Creative's touchpad divides up into three sections, so the faster and further you sweep your finger, the faster and further the scroller moves. It's initially difficult to get the on-screen selector moving smoothly, as there's a certain knack to it. Once you've got the hang of it, though, it's very easy to zip through thousands of tracks and find what you want to listen to. The ID3 tag database sorts tracks efficiently, too.

Cost is also in the Zen Touch's favour - at £180 for 20 GB, it's exceptional value for money. Our few gripes are its inability to create playlists on the fly and the somewhat tricky touchpad, but otherwise it's a joy to use. It may lack extra features, but as anyone who has written a cracking guitar riff will tell you, there's value in simplicity. As a jukebox, the Zen Touch is unsurpassed.

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