Judging by the Nomad II MG, it's true that the best (and most expensive) things come in small packages. Like previous MP3 players from Creative Technology, this unit combines state-of-the-art features with good sound in a petite package. With 64MB of memory, an FM radio, and voice- and radio-record functions, the Nomad II MG should answer most needs for wired audiophiles -- but that's only if they can afford its steep estimated retail price of AU$809.
Still, you do get what you pay for: The sleek magnesium unit weighs 100 grams, measures 9 x 5.5 x 1.8 cms (HWD), and includes a SmartMedia memory slot, USB transfer cable, headphone remote, inner ear headphones and excellent pair of Bass-Enhanced stereo backphones and a protective carry case. Despite its abundance of features, it's still easy to use.
Control buttons for stop, fast-forward, rewind, and pause are placed along the sides of the unit for one-handed use. The display is on the small side, but it's equipped with a backlight and is fairly intuitive to navigate. The Nomad is powered by two AAA batteries, which lasted through about 8 hours of continuous use.
We found that the Nomad II MG delivered fairly rich sound and acceptable bass while playing MP3 files compressed at 96Kbps, and 64Kbps WMA files. The unit currently supports the MP3 and Windows Media Audio formats but is upgradable so users will be able to download support for future audio formats.
The relatively user-friendly Nomad II Manager software and fast USB connection make audio transfers painless. Transferring a full 64MB of audio from our PC to the Nomad II MG took just under 3 minutes, and the desktop software uses a simple Windows Explorer-type view for managing music files. The included MusicMatch software lets you rip tracks from your CD collection at a variety of compression rates.
Overall, the Nomad II MG delivers on the promise of MP3: It makes music truly portable and unlike earlier players, it minimises the headaches involved with file management and transfer. Although it'll take a serious bite out of your finances, once you've bought the Creative Nomad II MG, you will never leave home without it.
Creative Technology Nomad II MG
Company: Creative Technology
Ph: 02 9666 6100; Fax: 02 9666 6900
Price: AU$809
Rating: 5 Star
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