Now for the most important thing--performance.
In our initial installation test, it took 5 minutes 46 seconds for the Creative MediaSource software and the drivers for the Zen Micro to be uploaded, while for the iTunes software and iPod drivers, it took just 3 minutes and 19 seconds, even though we included the time taken to fill in our particulars for iTunes.
We chose to test transfer speed using only USB 2.0 as it was the only common connectivity option between the two players. Using 625MB worth of assorted MP3 files, the Mini clocked 6 minutes and 6 seconds while the Micro did it within 4 minutes and 18 seconds. To test how the players fared with huge chunks of data, we tested both with a 1GB file. The Mini managed to push it through at 9 minutes 24 seconds while the Micro made it in a speedy 3 minutes 38 seconds.
Using the Etymotic ER-4P MicroPro as our reference earphones, we grilled the two players on sound quality with two MP3 tracks encoded at 320kbps each. Surprisingly, despite the Micro's much vaulted 98dB signal-to-noise ratio, the Mini managed to produce a slightly warmer sound than the Micro. On both Coralie Clement's Samba de Mon Coeur Que Bat and Five for Fighting's The Devil in the Wishing Well, the music was gentle and warm for the iPod Mini with a clear articulation of all the instruments involved. On the Micro, we felt that the sound was a little harsh with a slight sibilance especially in the beginning of Clement's track.
We are overall pretty satisfied with the Micro in terms of performance and with only a very small difference in terms of sonic delivery, we would have to go with the Micro on this one.
