Creative's latest digital audio player is the most sensible option if your heart is set on a hard disk-based MP3 player, but you'll be forgiven if you think it looks familiar.

It's generally similar to other models in the range, but offers speedier USB 2 data transfer rather than the FireWire or standard USB offerings of the Zen and Jukebox 3.

The smaller price tag also means that some of the frills present in earlier models are missing. The recording facility has gone, which means a PC is essential to copy music onto the player, and the old large blue LCD has been replaced by a smaller green one, which isn't half as nice to use.

However, the menu system has been tweaked and is much faster than previous versions and the 10GB capacity is huge in digital music terms - enough for 4,000 songs at reasonable quality.

As well as MP3, it also supports the more space-efficent WMA format. The headphones are not particularly attractive and the player itself is larger and less stylish than some of its peers, but at £200 it makes for good value.

DETAILS
Price: £200
Contact: No UK number
uk.europe.creative.com