| Below you will find some useful information | | | | batteries in order to get the device to |
| and comments about a few of the most popular | | | | recognize the new memory card (another note: |
| MP3 players by Rio, including the Nitrus, | | | | some users have had problems getting the |
| Carbon, Cali, and Forge. None of these MP3 | | | | device to accept 3rd party memory cards). |
| players are perfect, but each offers a unique | | | | Also, it seems that the player may not be |
| set of strengths and weaknesses that should | | | | able to play regular mp3 formats you may have |
| be taken into consideration before you | | | | on your pc hard drive. Rio admits that these |
| purchase any one of them. Be sure to compare | | | | mp3 files need to be converted through their |
| price, usability, and the overall performance | | | | own software in order for them to work. |
| of each.Rio Carbon 5 GB MP3 | | | | These, and other odd quirks, undermine this |
| PlayerManufacturers Description: The Rio | | | | particular player quite a bit. On the |
| Carbon is capable of holding up to 80 hours | | | | positive side, the device has good battery |
| of MP3 (160 hours WMA) music, and with up to | | | | life, plays clear, crisp music, and has a |
| 20 hours of battery life on a single charge, | | | | good radio feature as well.Price: $120Rio |
| music lovers need not worry about running out | | | | Forge 512 MB Sport MP3 PlayerManufacturers |
| of juice.Sporting an ultrathin and tapered | | | | Description: The Rio Forge series is our |
| design and with 25 percent more memory than | | | | latest generation of flash based sport |
| iPod Mini, this tiny MP3 player--about the | | | | players. The Rio Forge was designed for |
| size of a business card--will slide into any | | | | people that like to play hard and use music |
| pocket, virtually unnoticeable. The Rio | | | | to play even harder. The new design |
| Carbon is capable of holding up to 80 hours | | | | integrates the grippy, protective rubber from |
| of MP3 music (160 hours of WMA), and with up | | | | previous models with a new shiny stainless |
| to 20 hours of battery life on a single | | | | steel face plate for added durability. Up to |
| charge, music lovers need not worry about | | | | 20 hours of battery life allows you hours of |
| running out of juice. Supporting USB 2.0 and | | | | non-stop work out time. Comfortable Sport |
| a host of file formats, users can download | | | | Clip earphones and a newly designed case with |
| music efficiently and easily from most of | | | | armband keep your player and music secure and |
| their favorite online music sites. The Rio | | | | accessible. Simple menus and intuitive |
| Carbon also includes voice recording and | | | | controls make for easy one-handed operation. |
| provides seamless integration and support of | | | | Stopwatch and Lap Timer make the Rio Forge |
| both the Windows and Mac platforms.Features:- | | | | the ultimate gym or running companion. Plus, |
| 5 GB of memory stores up to 80 hours of MP3 | | | | the new FM record feature allows you to |
| music or 160 hours of WMA music | | | | record radio content onto your player to |
| | | | listen to at a later time.Features:- Holds 16 |
| - Plays MP3, WMA, and Audible audio formats | | | | hours worth of Music |
| | | | |
| - Built-in microphone for voice recording | | | | - Storage capacity may be upgraded up to 1 |
| | | | GB |
| - Easily drag and drop data and music files | | | | |
| onto your player | | | | - Durable Stainless Steel Face |
| | | | |
| - Rechargeable battery offers up to 20 hours | | | | - 512 MB of storage |
| of battery life on a single charge | | | | |
| | | | - Stopwatch feature for work-outs |
| - USB 2.0 for faster downloads | | | | |
| | | | - Up to 20 hours of battery lifeComments: |
| - Charge from USB or the included power | | | | This latest generation of sport mp3 players |
| adapter | | | | by Rio is perhaps the best so far. What we |
| | | | really liked about this device is the easy to |
| - Windows and Mac compatible | | | | use and intuitive user interface and clear |
| | | | LCD screen. The one downside is the 512mb |
| - Includes Rio Music Manager, the most | | | | upper limit in storage (although technically |
| intuitive way to create and manage your | | | | you can upgrade to 1GB), which is a little |
| digital music libraryComments: Users tend to | | | | low compared with the market average. Even |
| agree that this is one of the best mp3 | | | | so, the features like the FM tuner and stop |
| players Rio has developed. It's really quite | | | | watch make this a really cool little sport |
| small and slim, and can actually fit in your | | | | mp3 player. It's about as durable and user |
| pockets. 5GB of memory really doesn't sound | | | | friendly as they come, plus the battery life |
| like all that much any more, but I think most | | | | is friendly for those long work-outs. Thumbs |
| new user will find that that is plenty of | | | | up on this one.Price: $180Rio Nitrus 1.5 GB |
| space. The long battery is nice (20 compared | | | | MP3 JukeboxManufacturers Description: The |
| with iPod's 12), and the interface is easy | | | | revolutionary Rio Nitrus packs 1.5 GB into a |
| enough to work with. One little | | | | stealthy, razor-thin design. With the ability |
| dissapointment is the inability to hit any | | | | to carry over 375 songs, never before has |
| buttons on the device when it is in its | | | | this much capacity been offered on a player |
| carrying case. Also, it does have some | | | | this small. Fast USB 2.0 connection loads the |
| compatibility issues with Mac music programs | | | | player quickly. Simple menus, thoughtful |
| like iTunes. If you really love Mac, you may | | | | controls, and a clear display make navigation |
| want to consider iPod or Shuffle instead | | | | instinctive. A 5-band adjustable equalizer |
| (this goes for all Rio products).Price: | | | | provides a custom listening experience. |
| $230Rio Cali 128 MB Sport MP3 | | | | Quality components throughout yield a player |
| PlayerManufacturers Description: Wrapped in | | | | without compromise.Features:- 1.5GB HDD plays |
| grippy, protective rubber, the Cali 128 is | | | | back over 25 hours of MP3 or 50 hours of WMA |
| built to play hard. Solid-state electronics | | | | music (over 375 MP3 or 750 WMA songs) |
| carry over 30 songs with no skips -- ever. | | | | |
| Comfortable Sport Clip earphones, case with | | | | - USB 2.0 for fast transfers |
| armband, and integrated stopwatch with lap | | | | |
| timer make the Cali a functional sport | | | | - Transfer content between multiple PCs |
| accessory. 5-band adjustable equalizer gives | | | | |
| more control over your sound than most | | | | - 16-hour continuous playback with the |
| players. Onboard FM tuner means you always | | | | rechargeable LiIon battery |
| have something to listen to. An empty | | | | |
| expansion slot allows you to add up to 512 MB | | | | - 5-Band adjustable equalizer with |
| of additional SDTM or MMCTM memory. Simple | | | | pre-setsComments: This is an overall fairly |
| menus and intuitive controls make for easy | | | | solid mp3 player with a few design and |
| one-handed operation.Features:- 128 MB of | | | | engineering defects that should be mentioned. |
| memory plays back over 2 hours of MP3 or 4 | | | | First, the buttons are not quite as easy to |
| hours of WMA music (over 30 MP3 or 60 WMA | | | | use, or as well laid out as some of Rio's |
| songs)* | | | | other players. Specifically, the volume |
| | | | buttons are smaller and closer together than |
| - Expansion slot to add up to 512 MB | | | | they should be. Another thing is problems |
| additional memory using SD or MMC cards (sold | | | | with the battery life, some users getting |
| separately) | | | | significantly less time out of their |
| | | | batteries than they are supposed to. And you |
| - USB 1.1 connects to almost any computer | | | | really can't expect to get the full 16 hours. |
| | | | Also, the scrolling feature doesn't seem to |
| - Transfer content between multiple PCs | | | | help much. On the plus side, the device is |
| | | | big enough in storage size (1.5GB), and small |
| - 18-hour continuous playback using one | | | | enough in physical size to appeal to alot of |
| Energizer AAA Battery | | | | potential consumers. The sound is also quite |
| | | | good and just about every volume level.Price: |
| - 5-Band adjustable equalizer with | | | | $175Bradley James is a senior editor at |
| pre-setsComments: Anyone considering buying | | | | SciNet.cc, a website containing many helpful |
| this device should be aware of some odd | | | | consumer electronics review articles. For |
| functional issues that may be frustrating. | | | | more information on Rio mp3 players, please |
| First of all, when changing memory cards, | | | | visit our Rio mp3 webpage. |
| many users have had to actually take out the | | | | |