To-go subscription services
December 21, 2005

Submitted by: E. Fleming, CNET reader e-mail
I'm getting my son a Creative Zen Micro Photo for Christmas, and I'd like to know more about subscription-based services. Can I use Napster with the Zen?

James Kim, senior editor
Lucky son! Yes, the Creative Zen Micro Photo is indeed compatible with WMA subscription services such as Napster To Go and Rhapsody To Go, as well as Yahoo Music Unlimited. For a reasonable monthly fee--$11.99 to $14.95 per month or a better annual rate--these online services allow you to download as many songs as you like and transfer them to a compatible device such as the Zen Micro Photo. Being a subscriber also means you have access to song and radio streams on your PC. It's important to understand that you don't actually own these songs, but you can listen to them as long as you are still an active subscriber. Basically, you're renting songs. You may still purchase songs, which are about 99 cents each, or albums using these services, in which case you may burn them to a CD or transfer them to a portable device for as long as you want.

For a partial list of subscription-compatible devices, check out our music compatibility wizard, and for more information on subscription services in general, check out CNET's quick guide.

• CNET Music Center
• Music compatibility wizard
• Editors' top MP3 players

• Understanding on-the-go music services
• Music store bit-rate chart

• Back to countdown index

Got a holiday shopping question for our editors?

Send it to us!