Pros And Cons of The MP3 iRiver Player

Mp3 iRiver

By Anne Ahira

You probably already know that the MP3 market is already swamped with competitors.

That’s why some of the players from smaller companies tend to get swept under the rug.

And that seems to be what keeps happening with the MP3 iRiver devices.

Below I’ve put together a list of some of the good and bad features about the latest of these devices on the market.

Good Points of the MP3 iRiver Device

One of the factors I like about the MP3 iRiver players is the company, iRiver Inc., really doesn’t do anything else but make these types of players.

The company started in 1999 and has since put out several lines of players, including the Spinn, the Volcano, and the Clix.

Another great feature is the diversity of these products. Take the MP3 iRiver player known as the T7 Volcano. These hit the market in mid-2008. They are about the same size as a flash drive and connect to your computer via a built-in USB connection.

Obviously, no large screen is going to be available on a model this small but it does come with an LED screen. Not only can you listen to music on the device but it also allows you to do voice recording and to listen to FM radio.

And you’d be surprised that they can store so much music given their size. A 2 GB and a 4 GB version are available in five different colors. The prices at JR.com are $45 to $55 depending on the storage size selected. Prices at Amazon are about the same.

Of course, you can also find something a little bigger, such as MP3 iRiver device known as the Clix. One of the great things about this player is the large screen which allows you to watch video in brilliant color. Battery life is decent, too.

For continuous music playing, the battery lasts about 24 hours which is comparable to the other models on the market. The device comes in 2 GB, 4GB, and 8 GB models.

The price is around $150 at Amazon for the 4GB model, and you can also purchase a 4 GB model that comes with a free trial membership to Rhapsody for acquiring music.

Drawbacks of the MP3 iRiver Models

Actually, there aren’t many drawbacks except that so much competition is available in stores so finding the MP3 iRiver that you want might require you to turn to the Internet.

That’s not such a bad idea since you’re likely to find a better price through Internet vendors.

Another advantage is that you can usually choose from all of the models and features by shopping online where your choice in person might be limited. For example, some nationwide chains may not carry all of the colors of the MP3 iRiver Volcano.

Here's MP3 iRiver Selections:

iriver T5 4 GB MP3 Player (Black)...	Customer Review: Click Here for More Info
AUX Auxiliary Black Cable Cord For iRiver - 3.5mm ...	Customer Review: Click Here for More Info
Clear/White Silicone Skin Rubber Cover Case Belt C...	Customer Review: I would suggest this item for your iriver the only con that I have is getting to the lock/unlock button from the small slit.... Read More	$29.95 (1)
Silicone Skin Case for Iriver Clix 2 Mp3 Player / ...	Customer Review: Click Here for More Info
USB Cable (2.0) for iRiver H320 MP3 Player...	Customer Review: Click Here for More Info	$29.99