Creative unveils 60GB iPod alternative

Creative has extended its Nomad Jukebox Zen line of hard drive-equipped portable music players with the Xtra - a unit that packs in not only an iPod-beating 60GB hard drive but a new display that addresses one of the key criticisms of older Zens: screen size. Of course, the iPod has the Zen Xtra licked on looks and portability. While the Xtra is a chunky 11.3 x 7.6 x 2.2cm (4.4 x 3 x 0.9in), the 40GB iPod is a slim 10.3 x 6 x 1.8cm (4.1 x 2.4 x .7in). The Apple player weighs 175.8g (6.2oz), the Zen Xtra 224g (7.9oz).

But you can't argue with the Xtra's extra 20GB of song storage capacity. Creative reckons the Xtra's 60GB drive can hold 16,000 four-minute songs encoded at 128Kbps - over 1300 albums, we calculate. The 40GB iPod can store 10,000 four-minute songs encoded at 128Kbps. The Xtra supports MP3 and WMA audio formats.

Creative also claims a 14-hour continuous playback period - Apple can only manage eight hours. And thanks to a USB 2.0 connector, it's no slower than the iPod at transferring tracks. Once criticised for its tiny screen, the Zen line now features a much larger, 160 x 104 pixel backlit LCD that's much closer to the iPod's 2in display in size.

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