Typical price: £185
What is it: MP3 player with 20GB hard drive
What we think: The wire-brushed aluminium chassis and integration with Windows are masterstrokes. However, a very fiddly control system and no support for the Mac means the Sleek falls tantalisingly short of greatness
What you need to know
Reviewed on: 22 August 2005
Tags: Creative, Creative Zen Sleek (20GB), portable, monitors, hybrid
We like:
Chassis design; simple MP3 transfer functions
We don't like:
Confusing user interface; transport buttons may not be durable
You might also need:
A headphone to phono-plug connector would let you rig this into your hifi
CNET UK judgement:
It's no coincidence that the Zen Sleek shares the dimensions of Apple's iPod. Creative has taken its cue from Apple and attempted to replicate the iPod's success. At first glance, the Sleek is a very appealing player, but the tricky navigation system is a big turn-off. Creative isn't quite there yet, although this is a leap in the right direction
Full review:
It's called the Zen Sleek and, in many ways, sleek it is. The entire chassis of this MP3 player is brushed aluminium, with no harsh edges to scrape against your hands. Unfortunately, our demo unit had already suffered a small dent on the lower corner -- but this is the penalty you pay for uber-chic design. The Zen's general size isn't sleek though -- it's almost exactly the same shape as the standard Apple iPod. Continue Reading...
Creative Zen Sleek (20GB) History
20 Sep 2005 in Reviews
So, you're in the market for a hard-drive MP3 player? Well, they might claim to be hard drives, but you're unlikely to catch any of them tearing themselves out of their Dixons packaging and rampaging about, smashing and terrifying the toasters in aisle three. There's a good reason for this: hard drives are actually mechanical devices that store your music on platters that spin at high speed -- like a really, really clever record player...
16 Aug 2005 in Crave
Creative Zen Sleek: come on, feel the noize!
How does the Creative Zen Sleek sound? Loud as a freight train! Run for the hills!
Latest user reviews
July 4, 2006
Posted by: Julian Sinclair
"Great player for £109!!"
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