Pros: look, feel, price, quality, features
Cons: joystick, resolution
The bottom line: This is an excellent MP3 for the price, or even if it cost 200 dollars.
I recently received a Creative Zen V Plus to use on a vacation, and I am simply astounded by the amount of features they can put in such a small and nice looking device.

It really is a lot of bang for your buck, as it comes with a video player, a photo viewer, removable disk, FM radio, microphone, line in recording, and dedicated volume keys (unlike the iPod, which I also have).

Let me start with the cons. The navigation isn't always easy, especially in cold weather since your stiff fingers have to push the joystick. But i really like the joystick, even if it could have been a bit softer and better. Also the screen is low resolution, but it is still the nicest screen I've ever seen because of its rich color and wide viewing angles.

The pros are substantial. You get line in recording, which lets you do fun stuff like record concerts off of TV and microphone so you can take notes. I personally think the player is off high build quality even if its made out of plastic. It looks and feels nice, although scrolling through large lists can be tedious. Another feature I enjoy is the contextual menu which lets you see details and info on the current file.