Creative Zen Neeon 2 (4GB)

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The Neeon has traditionally been targeted at the Asia market. The Singapore-based company also must think we are a conservative lot, seeing that it has kept the same basic scroll wheel since the Zen Nomad. So what's new? Lots of things. Least of which includes a new video playback feature for the Neeon 2 and a healthy dose of Creative's patented graphics user interface (GUI).

Design
Based on the Zen Neeon, the Zen Neeon 2 is the second update to Creative's Neeon line since its debut in November 2005. Unlike the first Neeon which used a 5GB hard drive, the Zen Neeon 2 utilizes flash memory as a storage option. It comes in three flavors: 1GB (S$179 (US$128.88)), 2GB (S$239 (US$172.08)) and 4GB (S$319 (US$229.68)). By using flash, the Neeon 2 maintains a waifish 50g weightage and a svelte 81 x 42 x 12.5mm figure. The new form factor also makes the Zen Neeon 2 very slick; the metal backing and sloping lines on the front plastic face give it a lifestyle feel that's missing from the first Neeon.

	Compared to the nano.

The former also used a monochrome display. In keeping up with the times, its successor now employs a 1.5-inch color screen. The display has a maximum resolution of 128 x 128 pixels and we like that fact that despite the small screen size, Creative has added a thumbnail feature for images (JPEG only).

The Zen Neeon 2 boasts the same GUI as the Creative Zen V Plus. Clean and bright, there are four selectable color themes (white, green, pink, blue) and the GUI delivers an "almost" intuitive experience. It's "almost", because while it features contextual menu functions (sub-menus relevant to a highlighted function), it still retains the older jog-wheel used in the Creative Nomad players which favor right-handers.

	It's obvious whose thinner.

How you enjoy the Neeon 2 user experience depends very much on how comfortable you are with the scroll wheel. While most MP3 players these days choose to rely on a five-way joypad, the scroll wheel offers a two dimensional navigational experience. This effectively slows down navigation speed, but Creative inserts an option to "escape" back to the main menu in the sub-menus as recompense.

The Neeon 2 retains our gripe about not having equalizer controls tied to the music contextual sub-menu, which requires the user to navigate out to the main menu in order to tweak his music. It also lacks the keyword search feature that is present in the Zen Vision:M and Zen V Plus.

Button tactile response is good on the Neeon 2 and the unit feels sturdy in terms of construction. Oddly, though, Creative bundled in a pouch that can easily hold two Neeon 2s side-by-side. It's too big. We would have preferred a more form-fitting carrying solution. For sticker lovers, a free Stik-On is included in the package to start you off on your Stik-On collection.

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