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