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| Date Reviewed: 02/03/2005 |
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Strengths: Large storage capacity (1GB SD Card + 128MB internal), 5 band EQ, compact, lightweight, MP3 & WMA.
Weaknesses: Tiny multi-selector switch, back cover doesn't seem to fit very tightly (not a problem with sport armband case attached), USB 1.1 (Ugghh!), proprietary software to load SD card.
Summary: The Rio Cali is difficult to beat with its features for the price. My biggest complaints are with the USB 1.1 and having to use Rio's software to load the SD card with music. The player needs to create a playlist through the software so I can't take the SD card and insert it into my USB 2.0 card reader (up to 480x faster) and then insert the card in the Cali. It doesn't recognize any of the loaded files and states the card is empty. Other than that, rock solid little player that has great sound quality and great storage capacity. Cool color too!
 100% of People (13/13) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 01/04/2005 |
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Strengths: Ample Space,
Amazingly Duriable,
Good Strap and Clip Earphones,
Battery Included,
Free USB Cable,
Software,
Lock Settings,
Nice Design,
Radio.
Weaknesses: NA
Summary: This MP3 player is great for both indoor and outdoor activities! It holds just enough space for the tracks I want. Of course, I can upgrade it. The radio also increases the amount the mp3 player is worth. The look was also very attactrive. The clip makes it easy for me to carry it around on my belt.
It is also amazingly duriable! I took it outside with me to play some outdoor basketball. I used the strap on my arm. I accidentally didn't clip my rio well enough. After a couple of shots, my rio accidentally flew out from the strap mid-shot. When I saw it roll at about 5 miles an hour hitting bumps and rocks, I thought, "Holy Crap..." When I went to my Rio, lo and behold, it still worked! There didn't seem to be anything wrong about it! It was still pumping on music. It didn't even turn off or anything. I still wouldn't take my chances if I were you. This is a great product and I greatly advise you to buy this mp3 player.
100% of People (6/6) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 12/19/2004 |
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Strengths: USB Interface, upgradeable to 512mb, durability, and low price.
Weaknesses: Arm strap is a little fragile.
Summary: Before I purchased this product I did a little bit of homework. I compared various flash memory mp3 players and found that this offered the most features with the lowest price. The arm strap has been good so far but seems like it can easily be broken but if that happens I'll just use my pockets. Besides that I recommend this to any buyer who needs an mp3 player that's durable enough for working out with or playing sports.
100% of People (3/3) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 05/28/2005 |
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Strengths: Very easy to use the player and the software. Expandable memory is great. Good sound too. Ear buds are more comfortable than most. Comes with armband.
Weaknesses: None as of yet.
Summary: This player seems very sturdy and is so easy to use. The software installed quickly and was very self-explanatory. The songs transferred to the player extremely quickly. It has better sound than I expected and you can't beat the price!
100% of People (1/1) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 01/22/2005 |
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Strengths: Easy to use
i love how it looks
Weaknesses: none so far
Summary: I bought this prouct fr working out. ANd its perfect for that. The way it looks and its easy to use. The headphones are another thing that I really like. IT doesn't have a belt clip but thebclip for the armand functions almost the same way.
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| Date Reviewed: 01/27/2004 |
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Strengths: easy to learn & use, nice backlit display that displays date, time, battery level, etc...
Weaknesses: The program that comes with it sucks, I somehow got it to work with my Windows Media Player 9 on my Windows 98 SE. Also, not waterproof.
Summary: awesome, four of my friends now own one after seeing and using mine. Quick, easy music that fits in my pocket and rocks all day long. Battery life is very impressive. 1.5-2 days worth of use (not consecutive use). Just don't forget to turn it off because there is no auto-off feature. If it ever breaks, I will immediately order one again.
95% of People (19/20) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 12/26/2004 |
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Strengths: Easy Menus; Listen by Track, Albumn or Playlist; Adding memory is simple; Included ear buds sound excellent once I figured out just how to fit them in my ear canal.
Weaknesses: Radio reception was not as good as I had hoped but probably as good as I should expect from a small unit like the Rio Cali.
Music Manager software Sucks. Manage this device as a Drive.
Summary: 2004-12-29 09:30:34 The Rio Cali 128 MB had music installed as delivered (most was not my taste but provided a good example that A) it works, and B) the range of the audio and the function of the Equalizer.
The Rubber Grip surface makes it easier to handle (especially when you're sweating at the gym). The display is easy to read even without my reading glasses, yet the size of the unit is small and light.
Rio Music Manager software installed on my Windows XP Professional without a problem, searched and found my few MP3s and added them to the list. Ripping CDs was easy. It does not handle playlists correctly. Playlists must be created on the memory location (Internal or Memory Card) where the related songs exist. I use WinAmp to create my playlists. In fact I gave up on Music Manager today and just use the Removable Mass Storage Device through Windows Explorer to add/remove/manage my music. It's much easier and the Rio reconfigures after I eject it. If all else fails delete all the database files and start over.
I did find out only by trial and error that I had to select the Rio from the column at the left to create playlists on the device from the songs on it. Once I discovered that it was simple.
I only have USB version 1.1 so transfering files to fill up my 128MB plus the added 1 Gig card took some time -- I think I'll invest in a USB 2.0 card... it's a small price to pay.
I did find that I wanted more than two CDs worth of files, which is about what it would hold with the internal 128MB of memory, so I was glad I purchased the 1 GIG SD (Secure Digital) add-on memory.
While the Rio line includes many colors based on which model of Rio and what size memory, I wasn't picky but kind of like the bright yellow of this model. Mine has a black joystick where the one pictured on their web site is red, (they call it a Riostick but it's basically a short joystick which can be pressed in for "select"). I like it in black better than red.
The included arm band case is a simple press-in design with a semi-soft plastic molded to fit the Rio. It works excellent and appears that it will hold up fine based on an examination of the construction materials and design.
I'm very happy with my purchase choice and would recommend the Rio Cali to anyone wanting an easy to use, expandable, Sport-ready MP3 player.
And remember the SD memory cards go on sale from time-to-time, so you may choose to have a couple with different music collections on them.
91% of People (10/11) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 05/04/2004 |
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Strengths: Small size, light weight, solid buttons and navigation, supports active lifestyle, xlnt battery life.
Weaknesses: None for me. I was looking for something I could use while running, in the gym, and mostly for audio books.
Summary: I found this unit to fit my needs perfectly. I initially had a bit of a problem with the joystick - in order to click thru the menu system you will need to click it firmly. Once I got used to it, I really liked it. As far as the headphones are concerned, I like them, good for athletics and the like. I like the future possibility of upgrading the memory with the SD memory cards. Included is a great little belt clip to hold the player - slimline and clips onto anything. I don't really see a need for the armband included, but it's there if you like.
There are a lot of players on the market, I carefully researched my needs and then looked for a player to accomplish my objectives. I wasn't looking to carry around a 1000 hours of music, I wanted something to hold audiobooks with the appropriate bookmark and resume functionality in a small light package. Great little player, solidly built.
90% of People (37/41) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 09/27/2004 |
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Strengths: Small and light.
Expandable memory.
Stopwatch and FM tuner.
Weaknesses: Carying case. Software. Fragile.
Summary: It is easy and inexpensive to expand memory. I bought and additional 256 MB momory card for $20 and still payed much less than I would have for the 256 MB player
Getting used to button takes time. I cleared the stop watch before seeing the time on my first run.
The carrying case doesn't hold it very well, and the armband just clips on to the carrying case rather than connecting to the body of the player.
90% of People (28/31) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 11/19/2003 |
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Strengths: FM Tuner, Size, Shape, On-Screen Menu
Weaknesses: USB port is covered by the carrying case. I use this excusively for biking and jogging so I constantly keep it in the case. It would be easier if there were a cut-out in the case to accomodate this.
Summary: I am trhilled with the Rio Cali Sport 128 mb MP3 player. I had been putting of the purchase of an MPS player until I found one with the features I wanted (mainly FM tuner and an overall design concept that lends itself to physical activity). This one is it. And it does all this at a very reasonable price. 128 MB is a good amount of memory. Additional memory cards are easy to find and inexpensive.
It comes with very few written instructions. There is CD rom with a users guide in it. I haven't looked at it yet though. The on-screen menus for the device are very intuitive.
I highly recommend this unit!
89% of People (8/9) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 04/27/2004 |
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Strengths: Expandable memory, easy to use, good sound quality, nice arm band
Weaknesses: Could have a better battery life
Summary:
Very happy with the purchase. This is my first mp3
player and from all the research I did, this one was
best for the money I think. I really like how it has
expandable memory and a FM tuner. The tuner is ok
but could be a little better. Although I don't think that
many of the mp3 players have good FM tuners. The
battery life isn't the best - but I am not sure how other
mp3 players would compare. Would purchase again, no question.
86% of People (32/37) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 12/21/2003 |
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Strengths: Very compact, decent base memory with option to upgrade.
Weaknesses: Inability to drag and drop files directly to the player.
Summary: I have used the Rio Cali 128 on many time since my purchase. I have been very impressed with its very light weight and jam packed features. Another cool feature is that it is a FM radio. One of the main reasons I purchased this mp3 player was that it had expandable memory thru a SD or MMC card. The only thing that I have disiked about the player is that they didn't make it drag and drop capable, you must install the software (which in my opinion the software is not very good).
86% of People (12/14) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 12/16/2003 |
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Strengths: Size, weight, accessories
Weaknesses: FM a little weak
Summary: Bought this for use in the gym and while on the bus to go to and from work. I like the fact that a belt clip comes with it. However, if you choose to not use the belt clip you can use the arm band.
Headphones are good quality for included headphones.
Would recommend this unit as a buy especially with the $20 rebate you get with it.
83% of People (10/12) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 04/12/2004 |
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Strengths: small, SD flash memory expandable, very easy to use software, good battery life,
Weaknesses: head phones poor quality but can buy good pail for about $10, FM tuner weak but effective
Summary: I have read several reviews and have done research on lower price MP3 players and I believe the Rio Cali Sport is the best on the market for $100. Purchased 256mb SD card and now it can hold approx. 11 average size CDs. I hope it can hold up to exercise abuse
81% of People (13/16) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 06/29/2004 |
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 I don't know why I thought the customer service wo ... Strengths: lightweight, reasonable price
Weaknesses: customer service, customer service, customer service
Summary: I don't know why I thought the customer service would have gotten better. I bought a Rio one a couple of years ago and had the worst costomer service ever. This time was no different, they make assumption on what you need then don't resolve anything and then while dealing with them they try and get out of warranty work becuase during the process of talking to them I went past the warranty period. Never again
75% of People (12/16) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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