Gets the job done for very little money
Written: Jan 04 '05
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Pros: Simple, no-frills, expandable, intuitive software, comes with carrying case, indestructable
Cons: Limited to 256MB, feels cheap
The Bottom Line: A basic MP3 player for occasional use. Easy to use with enough memory for 90 minutes of music. Won't disappoint for $90 or less.
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| thegsrguy's Full Review: Rio S50 Street (128 MB) MP3 Player |
Let me begin by saying that this is no iPod. It has limited storage capacity, only basic features, and doesn't have a frosty white appearance with chrome trim. However, it is significantly cheaper and is a smart choice for anyone needing a basic MP3 player. Read on to find out why.
For starters, the Rio is inexpensive. This was the biggest selling point for me. It was only $90 at Best Buy when I picked it up about 14 months ago. The iPod, and other "large storage" MP3 players were $299+. I'm a college student without a wad of discretionary cash to spend. For $90, I feel I got my money's worth.
The S50 has 128MB of built-in memory. Many would laugh at this little storage, but I can squeeze roughly 90 minutes of music on it. That equates to roughly 1 1/2 music CDs. Should I need a bit more room, I can expand it with another 128MB card for a total of 256MB. This is a cheap and easy upgrade (since it uses digital camera media called MMC).
The S50 has a simple blue housing with gray accents. It isn't ugly, but it certainly won't attract a lot of attention (like the iPod would). The casing has survived a decent amount of punishment, including dropping on cement, sitting on it, and stepping on it. The plastic is molded into the blue color, not painted, making the finish impossible to remove. The LCD screen is easy to read with a bright blue backlight. You can adjust the contrast depending on the outside lighting.
Feature-wise, the S50 is a bit weak, but again, this is a budget player that doesn't throw in unnecessary features like an address book and contact list. You can adjust sound output via a 5-band equalizer, which I like for different types of music and the two sets of headphones I own. There is a timer/stopwatch function in there for people who jog regularly. Included is an AM/FM tuner if you run out of music; I liked using it at my health club to watch the TVs (audio is broadcast over the radio). Other features include bookmarking, button lock, and a clock. Again: just the basics, nothing frivolous.
The S50 comes with a USB cable + software, headphones, AC adapter, rechargeable batteries, and a carrying case with belt clip. The included software is relatively easy to use and catalogues your music on first launch to make browsing easy. I have actually gotten the S50 to appear in Windows Media Player, which makes music transfer even easier.
The included rechargeable batteries offer about 8-10 hours of playback, depending on volume. I find it sufficient for about one week and plug it in for a quick recharge. And yes, the battery is replaceable.
I stated earlier that the S50 gets the job done for $90. I say this because I only need it for about 60-90 minutes at a time while I work out every day. I do not walk around campus with music playing constantly. Erasing old songs and downloading new music takes me less than 5 minutes. I only need something that plays MP3s for a short time. I'm too afraid of an expensive iPod being stolen, broken, or misplaced. If the S50 breaks or gets swiped, it won't be as big of a deal.
The Rio S50 is a cheap, dependable MP3 player that works just fine for the basics. If you need something for long plane trips, long car rides, or are just too lazy to change the songs every few days, this is NOT the player for you.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 90
Recommended for: Athletes - Lightweight and Portable, Perfect for the Gym
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Epinions.com ID:
thegsrguy
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Member: Dan Parmelee
Location: Oak Park, IL, USA
Reviews written: 99
Trusted by: 2 members
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