This thing is great, until it just stops being recognized by windows as a USB device after just 5 months of moderate usage. Now I can't access it at all. Creative won't do a darn thing to help either. I suggest you read through the forums on the Creative website before thinking about purchasing anything from them. I used to be a fan... Anyone want a pretty blue paperweight?

I do! My papers are always blowing away.

dude, have you tried wiping the thing and starting from scratch?

Wouldn't the SanDisk Sansa e280/8GB be a better deal here?
It sells for around the same price (I've seen it as low as $140), plays videos too, on a larger screen, has a microSD slot for further expansion and is smaller overall:
http://sandisk.com/Products/Item(2057)-SDMX4-8192-Sansa_e280_MP3_Player_8GB.aspx
The only downside: it doesn't seem to have the MS Outlook syncing capability that the Zen has.

creative should just quit this business already

#5, I hope you don't have an ipod. Creative makes the audio processing chips for the entire ipod line. I don't think Apple could afford to lose them.

Why would you buy this? I bought it because the sound quality is EXCELLENT! Memory size should not be your focus for an MP3 player. I haven't listened to the Sansa, but Sandisk is known for memory, not audio quality. Creative knows audio quality- they have been doing digital audio for longer than SanDisk has been in business. The Micro Photo even ships with headphones that look identical (with the same specs) as $70 Sure earphones- I haven't seen proof that they are rebranded, but they are miles ahead of any other packaged earphones I've received with an MP3 player.

Yes, this thing has a few operational quirks. I can't speak to #1's problem (sounds like general computer illiteracy though), but many people say the volume easily "jumps" when trying to change the volume a little. The software could also be easier to use.

#4 - I think so. One more reason to get the Sansa is flash memory. My wife has a MicroPhoto and eventually the drive crashed (maybe that's your issue #1). I got a replacement drive, but only 6 GB from eBay for about $30 and that fixed it, but I'd rather not have to do that (and lose 2 GB).
The Outlook syncing is one way only, meaning you can't change any Outlook data on the player.
It also will not show pictures and play music at the same time, which I think is kind of stupid.

But besides those flaws, as a general music player it's not bad. I just think you can do better for the money.