Creative Labs Zen Mozaic EZ300 8 GB MP3 Player (Black)

• 1.8" TFT Color Display
• Impressive 8 GB storage capacity
• More than 32 hours battery life based on 128kbps MP3
• Features FM radio with 32 presets, clock with alarm, calendar, personal informaiton management (PIM) tasks, and contacts display
• Supports multiple music formats, including MP3, WMA, AUDIBLE 4

This is the 3rd creative player I have owned. All of them have been excellent. I really like the mosiac the best. The sofware sets up a logical order so I can find stuff like set up the equlizer,turn on speaker ,etc I will say that it did take me while to learn how to navigate the menu options. The speaker is an added bonus. I rarely listen to music mostly audio books. The sound can be addjusted so I can hear the spoken word clearly. I have poor hearing as a result of listening to music to loud when I was younger. Just a word to the younger folks out there. One final thought all of the players Zen nano plus,ZenV plusand the mosiac 300 do freeze up. I just reset the player it always rebulds and goes to where it left off this is annoying nothing more. When I look back to transister radios i listened to when I was a kid this device is a miracle. Jim C PS I would not continus buying creative if I didnot like the product. I did buy a sansa once e140 did not like it

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How I use it: Music and podcasts, often while drifting off to sleep in the dark. Never use video. Occasionally use FM radio.

Other players I've owned: Several Creative MuVos, a 2gb Creative Zen (similar to the Mozaic, but a conventional navigation wheel), an I-River I hated so much I can't recall the model, a Sansa Clip I liked a lot and still use.

Thoughts after six months of everyday use: Absolutely no operational problems. Good battery life, my computer sees it every time I plug it in (see below), doesn't need any special software to move files onto it (I use old reliable Total Commander). Menus and navigation are a little counter-intuitive at first, but I figured it out after a day or two. Construction seems solid. Display is big and bright. Haven't noticed any firmware bugs, meaning it doesn't go haywire at random times, as some of my players have. The built in speaker is pretty bad.

If you listen to podcasts or audiobooks, the bookmark feature is indispensable. This is the main reason I keep coming back to Creatives. I can't understand why every player from every manufacturer can't bookmark any audio.

I've had problems with Creatives crapping out after a few months of everyday use. This one holds my Creative longevity record, knock on wood.

Two biggest gripes: (Both related to using in the dark): There is no way to blank the screen unless you lock the player, and the screen is bright! The button pad is unlit, and I've gone nuts hitting the wrong button in the dark at the wrong time. This makes it an absolute bitch to use in the dark. I'm going to get some glow-in-the-dark paint and put dots on each button.

Apparently the Mozaic EZ300, doesn't support MTP protocol, just MSC/UMS protocol. This means the device simply looks like a flash drive when plugged into the computer, and apparently it doesn't support DRM subscription services. No problem for me, but may be for you, depending on how you use it. Haven't had any tag problems.

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The unit shut itself off automatically while I was at the beach. The unit was in a beach bag. Thought it failed but after I got home it worked. Battery was fully charged so I knew it wasn't that. Few days later, left the unit in the console of my car. When I came out after work and tried to turn it on. It wouldn't. After I got home, it worked. The only common factor, temperature but in neither case was the unit in the sun. The unit was warm to the touch but not hot. On another occasion the same thing happened when I left it in the car. On a whim, I turned on the air conditioning and held the unit near the vent for less than a minute. It worked again! Obviously, there is a very temperature sensitive component.

Returned the first unit for another one thinking there was a manufacturing defect. The second unit does the same thing. Doesn't always work at the beach; doesn't always work in the car. What good is it? Previously had a Zen V Plus. Never had a problem at the beach or in the car.

I really like the unit, its controls and features but they're of no advantage if the unit doesn't function. There must be a design or component problem. It's return time again, and buy the refurb Zen V Plus 4GB available here.

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My Zen died last week. I don't use an MP3 player for music, rather I use it for audiobooks, both purchased and check out from Netlibrary. I decided I wanted to stay with Creative Zen because it is easy for me to use and it is compatible with the book systems I use(audible, , netlibrary, etc)

I was unsure if I would like this player as it is so much smaller than my old Zen and I wondered if a player this cheap would be worth it. I am happy to say this player fits all my needs, and at an incredibly reasonable price.

If you want an IPOD like device, this isn't for you

If you want all the bells and whistles, this isn't for you

If you want an easy to navigate mp3 player that will play music and audiobooks and you don't have alot of money to spend, then this player IS for you.

This would be a good choice for a child's first mp3 player, or for someone who just wants an easy to use, basic player.

Creative requires that all video be encoded with the supplied "Creative Centrale" software. I attempted to install a (leaglly purchased)digital copy of Hannah Montana the Movie on this player without any luck. The EXACT same video file will install and play on my other Creative players (using Windows Media Player). For a week, Creative and I sent emails back and forth as I atempted to find out why this file would not install on the Mozaic. They kept answering my questions in circles. I finally gave up when their 5th response was the same as their 1st response. Obviously, they don't know the answer to my question. The bottom line...I bought this player for my 8 year old and she loves it. The menus are easy to navigate and the sound is excellent. Do not buy this product if playing videos is a priority.