Creative Zen X-Fi 16GB review

Creative's Zen X-Fi is one of only three players here to have integrated wireless networking, so it can play music from a UPnP media server.

It doesn't have a web browser, like the iPod Touch or the Archos 5, but it has an instant messaging program that supports MSN and Yahoo! Messenger. Typing messages on the mobile phone-style keypad is tedious, though.

You can manage your music, video and photo libraries using Windows Explorer, Windows Media Player or Creative's own Centrale software. There's little advantage in choosing Centrale due to its fiddly interface and sluggish video conversion, although it can rip video from non-commercial DVDs.

The Zen X-Fi's interface is logically organised, although if you have large fingers you may find the buttons too small and close together. The included in-ear earphones aren't perfect, but they're surprisingly good. They have plenty of volume and bass, and block out some background noise, such as the hum of air conditioners and other office equipment, although vocals sound a little muffled.

The Zen X-Fi lasted only 12 hours and 45 minutes when playing music, which is disappointingly short for a modern music player. It fared better when playing videos, lasting a respectable five hours and 43 minutes.

An SD card slot enables you to add more storage if the 16GB internal memory isn't enough for your media library. It can also back up any photos on the SD card to its internal memory, which is a welcome feature at this price. Unfortunately, browsing the thumbnails of large, high-megapixel images can be tedious.

Creative's Zen X-Fi is a good music player thanks to its high capacity, low price, decent earphones and support for media streaming. Sadly, it's let down by its disappointingly short battery life for playing music. The iPod Nano and Philips' 8GB GoGear are better buys for regular travellers.

Author: Barry de la Rosa