Review on Enhance your Entertainment: Introducing the Creative Zen 20 GB Portable Media Center by Bob Walters

Okay, I've been using Creative Zen PMC for a few months now and I think I've had enough experience to give an opinion at this point. I have absolutely no doubts that this device is fantastic! There are a few things that could be improved on the next model, but overall it's a great machine. First, I'm 25 years old and active in the military. I am also attending full-time college classes to pursue my master's degree. I needed something to store files on when switching between computers, I wanted to take MP3s with me wherever I went and finally be able to watch some movies on the plane or even during a TDY and see pictures of my family can and my girlfriend what was necessary. This device meets all my expectations. It is very easy to use, very easy to understand how to interact with the device and more or less the device works very well. The screen is quite prone to fingerprints, but the screen is VERY sharp and clear. The battery life is about 7.5 hours of watching movies, so you can easily survive a flight. The battery is easy to swap out, and a spare battery costs well (around $35). I wish you could charge a spare battery in one of the charging cradle instead of plugging it into a charger. But it is okay. The external speaker isn't very loud, but the headphone jack delivers great sound! Scrolling through the menus was easy enough for my 5 year old nephew who can read fairly well. Putting movies on this device is easy but a bit tricky. Further in this review, I will tell you EXACTLY how to transfer movies from DVD to Mpeg-1. But first about additional devices. I highly recommend the cradle, which allows you to just pop the PMC into the cradle and transfer files from your computer. The USB port also charges the device, which is very convenient. Oh yes, you can charge this device from any USB port, making it very versatile. I would advise you to buy some cradles like me. They are very cheap and you can connect one to your computer and the other to your stereo just like I did. If you have a stand connected to your stereo, you may need an optional wireless remote control. The remote control is easy to use and has only a few buttons, which made me very happy. Efficiency comes from simplicity. Windows Media Player 10 is definitely not my favorite program in the world, but it efficiently transfers files to the right place, well, and in a reasonable amount of time. This allows you to really "drag and drop" as advertised. The program then converts all files into the appropriate format. Please don't complain about the conversion time and processes. This thing was designed to use specific formats to keep things simple. HOW TO GET A DVD ON YOUR PMC NOW! Now it's time to relax and not be an impatient weakling. When I weighed just 140 pounds and started working out in the gym 7 years ago, I knew it would take patience and dedication to get down to a meager 215 pounds. I'm "7 YEARS LATER!". In any case, you need the following "FREE" software: Smartripper, TWO versions of DVD2AVI (versions 1.82 and 1.77.4) and finally TMPGEnc. Due to interoperability issues with SP2, two different versions of DVD2AVI are required. If you don't have SP2, I don't think you will encounter the problems I had. It took me a day or two to find, identify, and work around what was wrong with the interaction, and I finally found that using two versions is easiest. If you download version 1.82, be sure to rename it to "DVD2AVI SOUND" as this version will handle your sound correctly. If you download version 1.77.4, rename it to "DVD2AVI VIDEO" as it will handle your video correctly. First, use Smartripper to copy the .vob files to a folder. Open DVD2AVI programs and process your D2v files (you will know what it is when you use the program) and 2ch audio files properly. When you're done processing these files, you need to open TMPGEnc and put everything together. TMPGEnc will ask you for a video stream and an audio stream. This allows you to create a goal. Just put it on your desktop and move it later. (.) The last thing to remember is the same as the first: BE PATIENT! Your computer won't drain quickly, no matter how expensive and brand new it may be. File conversion takes time. There are some advertised programs that claim to do everything in no time and for a good price. I suggest you get to know your computer and device by trying it yourself. These files are FREE and I PROMISE THEY WORK! I was shocked what a good job it turned out to be. I wish you all the best of luck and I encourage you to give this product a serious try! Once you learn how to use it, you will be amazed at how easy it is to use.