good as it sounds

seems to have pretty good video format support too: it will play DivX 4 and 5, and XviD formats natively, plus WMV9, MJPEG and MPEG4-SP formats. But before you go and get too excited, however, this isn't as good as it sounds. The Zen isn't DivX certified, and it won't downscale videos of higher resolution than its screen, which means you can't just drop any old file onto it - you'll still have to re-encode most downloaded videos down to 320 x 240 first. This is made a relatively simple task thanks to the Zen's excellent management and browser software, which integrates itself into the Windows Explorer tree and lets you convert, sync data, and transfer music and video without having to fire up a separate application, but it's still an unnecessary hassle. That said, it's no different to the nano in this respect. Creative has gained somewhat of a reputation for putting MP3 players in a vast array of colors, so it comes as a bit of a shock (and maybe a letdown, for some) that the Zen will be offered in just one: black. Still, it must be said that black does make an excellent frame for the awesome 2.5-inch TFT screen, which is capable of displaying 16.7 million colors. Also, while the design might not be as innovative as that of the iPod Touch and iRiver Clix--or as cute or as eye-catching as that of previous family members--the Zen has a certain understated elegance with its shiny face and brushed-metal backside. It's like a smaller, sleeker version.