Creative ZEN 32GB player?

[Supersonica]

Hey guys. Saw this on the Creative website. Is it true or what? Looks like they may be the first with a 32GB flash player in store this season.

I'm already queing up

 

[DominicKarma]

Seems to be, but nothing "official" yet. EpiZENter.net will be the first with the news when it is announced, probably...

 

[DrBenway]

Anything But iPod reports on a limited edition (Europe only) of the 32 Gb flash-based Zen, allegedly on sale next week. It says the unit will have an SDHD slot, so the total potential storage is 64 Gb of solid state goodness. The 32 Gb SDHD cards will, of course, be nosebleed expensive, but prices inevitably come down. This looks like the future.

Electronista also mentions the device and offers a few details.

 

[Aevum]

sorry to ruin your party, but duplicate thread,
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f15/32...player-270902/

 

[DominicKarma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrBenway /img/forum/go_quote.gif Anything But iPod reports on a limited edition (Europe only) of the 32 Gb flash-based Zen, allegedly on sale next week. It says the unit will have an SDHD slot, so the total potential storage is 64 Gb of solid state goodness. The 32 Gb SDHD cards will, of course, be nosebleed expensive, but prices inevitably come down. This looks like the future. Electronista also mentions the device and offers a few details.

The SD slot on the ZEN is currently a POS, it does not integrate with the internal memory, besides the 32gb cards are not even realistically affordable...

 

[DrBenway]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DominicKarma /img/forum/go_quote.gif The SD slot on the ZEN is currently a POS, it does not integrate with the internal memory...

So the slot is there because it looks cool? Are you suggesting that adding an SD card via this slot does not add storage to the player?

Quote:

Originally Posted by DominicKarma /img/forum/go_quote.gif besides the 32gb cards are not even realistically affordable...

Well, yeah, I thought that my reference to it as "nosebleed expensive" kinda sorta made that point. In the late '80s, PC RAM cost nearly $1000/Mb (that's megabyte, not gigabyte). These days you can pick up a 1 Gb module for what, $40? Prices will come down precipitously within 18 months.

 

[DominicKarma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrBenway /img/forum/go_quote.gif So the slot is there because it looks cool? Are you suggesting that adding an SD card via this slot does not add storage to the player?

Absolutely not and I made no claim as such.

What I did say was that the two sets of memory (internal and external) do not combine. That is, if I have "metallica" on the internal memory and "metallica" on the external memory I will not be able to browse all music by "metallica" in one location, it will be stored in two separate locations making user friendliness not so friendly.

 

[DrBenway]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DominicKarma /img/forum/go_quote.gif Absolutely not and I made no claim as such. What I did say was that the two sets of memory (internal and external) do not combine. That is, if I have "metallica" on the internal memory and "metallica" on the external memory I will not be able to browse all music by "metallica" in one location, it will be stored in two separate locations making user friendliness not so friendly.

I see your point, but I just don't see the problem. Having to access storage volumes separately is an inconvenience, sure, but a **very** minor one. I buy audio equipment for sound, not convenience. Aside from which, a little time spent reorganizing files will assure all tracks from a given artist are on the same volume. Problem solved.

 

[DominicKarma]

It is actually much more annoying than you would think, and I know first hand that this is the very sort of issue which draws many complaints, while it may seem like a minor issue to you I must admit you would not represent the mindset of the majority.

 

[WalkGood]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrBenway /img/forum/go_quote.gif I see your point, but I just don't see the problem. Having to access storage volumes separately is an inconvenience, sure, but a **very** minor one. I buy audio equipment for sound, not convenience. Aside from which, a little time spent reorganizing files will assure all tracks from a given artist are on the same volume. Problem solved.

IMO, this is an issue as most other players on the market with SD slot’s combine the file with onboard memory for easy of files browsing (like the Cowon or Sansa,…). From what I’ve read, creative has noted this issue and intends to correct this in a future FW release.

 

[Trippytiger]

I'm glad to hear that they're planning on improving the way that the player handles the SD card. I've got a 4 GB card on the way for my Zen that I plan on using strictly for videos, and I think I'll be able to live with its limitations for that purpose, but it would be really nice if it could integrate with the main storage to give me a real 12 GB player. It would also be really nice to be able to navigate away from the 'Now Playing' screen without stopping the tunes.

 

[DrBenway]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DominicKarma /img/forum/go_quote.gif I must admit you would not represent the mindset of the majority.

That is without a doubt the kindest compliment I have received this year.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WalkGood /img/forum/go_quote.gif IMO, this is an issue as most other players on the market with SD slot’s combine the file with onboard memory for easy of files browsing (like the Cowon or Sansa,…).

All things being equal, convenience is...convenient. So is instant coffee (problem is, it tastes like rot). So is permanent press clothing (problem is, it looks like crap). So is fast food (problem is, it tastes like dog food).

The first question I ask: how does the hardware sound? If it doesn't pass that test, nothing else matters.

 

[Supersonica]

I guess everyone has their own expectations. To me, sound quality is equally important too and Creative has always had players wuth top notch audio quality. Anything else less and I might as well listen to radio with equally bad reception.

 

[Donnyhifi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by WalkGood /img/forum/go_quote.gif IMO, this is an issue as most other players on the market with SD slot’s combine the file with onboard memory for easy of files browsing (like the Cowon or Sansa,…). From what I’ve read, creative has noted this issue and intends to correct this in a future FW release.

Thats too bad for them, Creative should've came out with a statement earlier. They were ignoring the large number of complaints on their forums and this lead me to pickup the Cowon X5L which I'm very happy with.

Cheers,

Donny

 

[WalkGood]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrBenway /img/forum/go_quote.gif ......All things being equal, convenience is...convenient. So is instant coffee (problem is, it tastes like rot). So is permanent press clothing (problem is, it looks like crap). So is fast food (problem is, it tastes like dog food)...

What the heck does any of this have to do with the zen

btw, I drink fresh ground café Britt

Quote:

The first question I ask: how does the hardware sound? If it doesn't pass that test, nothing else matters.

Wouldn't know, don't care, I'm sticking with my cowon