Creative Zen V Plus 8GB

I have owned one of these for about seven months and may have found a very good reason NOT to buy one. I have been working away from home and, to my horror, this player point blank refused to charge from any other computers USB port. It would not charge from a generic mains charger either. I have since tried it in a computer without the Creative software installed. No joy. Then installed the software. Charges just fine. There is no warning about this in the manuals or on the creative web pages. Creative have pointed out to me that I could have purchased and used their car charger. I pointed out to them that I would be unlikely to carry a car around in my suitcase before I carry my home computer around (the airline may frown on it). I think both these options are rubbish a far simpler and cheaper option is to buy an iPod nano. I am not, normaly, an apple fan that's why I have this creative thing in the first place. If like myself you are going to be away from your home computer/car for an extended period of time the zen V plus is next to useless.

I had one of these bought as a Fathers Day gift so I can use it by the poolside when we fly off to sunny Tenerife shortly.I came to charge it up for the first time last night via a Dual usb charger purchased from ASDA. The unit powered up but refused to charge.I was concerned to come across Joe90's comments and decided to do a bit of investigating.
I discovered the following in a thread on Creatives web site forums

"Use a Creative wall charger or other charger designed for the Zen V. In order to enable the charge circuit, it is necessary that a special voltage (3.33 volts) be applied to the normally unused pin 4 on the USB Mini B plug that inserts into the unit. Without this special signal, the unit will not charge. The creative charger and SOME (but not all) third party chargers provide this signal. 12 volt chargers that provide a USB Type A socket (or PCs without the software installed) will NOT charge the unit unless a very special cable is used."

I have reserved a Creative Universal charger at my local Comet store and intend to pick it up tomorrow night. Hopefully this will solve my problem (although I object to having to fork out an additional £25 for something I believe should be included as standard in the box.
A portable music player should be just that, I guess most people intend to travel around with them. It should be made very clear on the box at point of sale that an exclusive charger is required.
I will let you know how I get on. Hopefully it will solve my problem and I am not left with a useless piece of kit.

Update on previous post -
Managed to do a deal at local Argos where I originaly purchased my Zen V plus(on special offer at £49.99 at the time). I complained that they had not pointed out the player will only work with the exclusive mains adaptor and if they had I would have purchased at the same time (as they are offering it at half price when purchased with the player).
They have honoured the half price deal so I bought it for £12.50
Upshot is it works and has recharged my player. Frustratingly you can't use the player whilst it recharges ( I guess that is too logical an option !).
I realy like the player - it is simple and intuitive to use.
Sound quality is very good although I suspect can be improved enormously by upgrading the headphones.
Memory capicity from 8GB is excellent and enables me to carry a wide selection of music with me whilst on holiday.
The chargers design enables you to slide and lock in a variety of plugs for use all over the world - giving a neat and compact solution when traveling abroad. It does not however indicate which type of plug is required in which country. Confusingly there are two very similar two pin continental type plugs provided looking identical except that the metal posts are fractionatley slimmer on one of them. To be on the safe side I guess I will have to take both of them plus my uk 3 pin adaptor on my hols just to make sure at least one of them will work.
Its only slightly inconvenient but could have been easily solved with a brief description in the flimsy instruction sheet that comes with it.
It certainly pays to shop around - I would not recommend this player if you were to fork out in excess of £100 for it, however at £50 for 8GB I feel it is excellent value for money - just remember to get a working charger at the same time !