Why You Can Trust CNET Cure your $99 Zune envy with a $99 Creative Zen Vision:M
An extremely decent iPod/Zune alternative, the Zen Vision:M (reconditioned) is available from Buy.com for $99.99 shipped.
Too late, you missed 'em. The supply of $99 original Zunes dried up over Long Black Weekend, probably for good. But all is not lost: You can still score a 30GB media player without spending triple digits. I'm talking about the Creative Zen Vision:M, which looks like a chunky iPod Video but has a few aces up its reconditioned sleeve.
The player sports a 2.5-inch screen, FM radio tuner, and voice recorder (even the Zune doesn't have that). It supports podcasts and can sync with Outlook. It's also compatible with music-subscription services like Napster and Rhapsody, so you can fill it to the brim with tunes for $15 monthly.
Here's where you really get to score bragging rights over your Zune-toting brethren: The Zen can play movies and TV shows purchased from Amazon Unbox and Walmart. The Zune's pretty much music-only at this point.
The Zen Vision:M will run you $99.99; shipping's free!