# Tell me about the Creative Labs Zen Jukebox **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 28, 2004, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-creative-labs-zen-jukebox/277012 "2004-11-28T16:49:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Berserker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@Berserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berserker)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2004, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-creative-labs-zen-jukebox/277012/1 "2004-11-28T16:49:58Z")
If this is in the wrong forum, MODS please move it. It was music related, so I thought this was a good place. I have decided to purchase an mp3 player of some sort and was looking towards the ipod. The problem is they wont work with Windows 98 and I have no intention of upgrading. So the next best thing I have found after some research is the Creativ Labs Zen Jukebox. I’m curious if anyone here has any experience with one of these. Has it been reliable? What is the battery life like? How is the program interface on the computer? Any information about anything regarding this player would be most appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2004, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-creative-labs-zen-jukebox/277012/2 "2004-11-28T17:56:14Z")
I’ve had my Creative for about a year now, and haven’t had any problems with it. Not sure about the battery–I’ve never been in a situation where I was listening to it continuously for a long time, but I’ve never had it run out on me either. The software is no problem to use. ---
**Author:** ![Aglet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aca169/32.png) [@Aglet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aglet)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2004, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-creative-labs-zen-jukebox/277012/3 "2004-11-28T22:52:28Z")
**Berserker** , my Sweetheart has had the Jukebox for a year and loves everything about it. Battery life is long (he often listens to it for 5 to 8 hours a day with no interruption). Software use is easy (we have XP). The use of the product itself is easy and straight-forward. I think it is his favorite thing in life. He often tells me that it is the best gift he ever received. I highly recommend it. ---
**Author:** ![kimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f0a364/32.png) [@kimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kimera)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-creative-labs-zen-jukebox/277012/4 "2004-11-29T01:34:02Z")
I love, love, love mine. In fact, I bought one over an IPOD. The only thing I like better about the IPOD is that it is lightweight. The IPOD is harder to use without a manuel, the jukebox seemed more straight forward and easy for me. I suggest getting one. ---
**Author:** ![shimmery](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@shimmery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shimmery)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-creative-labs-zen-jukebox/277012/5 "2004-11-29T02:09:44Z")
My brother and I both have them, and have no complaints. I haven’t listened to it continuously for more than an hour or two, so I’ve never had the battery run out. The computer interface is also very easy to use (rather than using their program, you can also just use Windows Explorer.) Basically the only complaint is that it’s not as cool-looking as the iPod, but its extra buttons do make it a lot more intuitive to use. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-creative-labs-zen-jukebox/277012/6 "2004-11-29T03:55:17Z")
I’ve had a Zen Xtra 40GB for a couple months now and have no complaints. Battery life is as others stated, at least 8 hours (and I used mine continuously for several weekends). I bought extra batteries on eBay (real OEMs for about half Creative’s price). The software that comes with it, while not phenomenally great, isn’t bad. It gets the job done once you get the hang of it. If Creative says it’ll work with Windows 98 then I guess it will. Its just that Win 98’s USB support was never great (compared to XP or 2000). I would definitely recommend it over an iPod simply because iPods, like all Apple hardware, are overpriced. If you’re buying it new you might want to consider getting a service contract when you but it. Normally those are a waste of money but sometimes these harddrive mp3 players just die and there’s no fixing them (not for much less than what a new one costs anyway).