The Rio Carbon
By Peter Rojas 
posted Aug 2nd 2004 7:41AM
posted Aug 2nd 2004 7:41AM
Ok, so it's not the rumored Rio Chroma we're now
waiting patiently for them to get around to announcing, but Rio did introduce another MP3 player today. The Rio Carbon
is their response to the iPod mini, and is a 5GB MP3 player that's set to retail for $249 and will have a battery life
of about 20 hours or so.
[Thanks, Wirobro]
nothing will ever beat the ipod mini i mean for $50 more you can get a 20g ipod yet the minis are still at popular damand and apple is still having a hard time getting them out to people
Liars want you to think it has great battery life and can hold 2500 songs....
....well.. sure, if you want music @ 64kbs..
Check their site...
In future, we should all check this stuff FIRST as soon as we hear about iPod killers... Apple is way ahead of the industry, did you think they..what.. were low-tech or something? Like Rio knows something Apple doesn't?
I'm not a huge fan of the players that only hold a couple gig. But this looks like a pretty sweet and stylish option for those that don't want to get locked into iTunes and AAC. Rio has already put out players with awesome features and useability, and with this latest generation it looks like they are nailing the design, too.
It may just be me but every time I see a product that is competable with an apple product ipod loving zealots come out and critize it without even having any experience with it. Ohhh the ipod is shiny and pretty which is really useful for when you keep it in your pocket.
90 day warranty. Weak.
I wonder who does design for them :)
dont they understand esthetics is the most importent... I dont wanna have mobile like mp3 player
While it's understood that all MP3 players will be compared to the iPod these days, some users (read myself) like options. I bought the Carbon over an iPod because the better battery life (no, I haven't gotten a full 20 hours out of it, but consistently in the 16-18 hour range) and the ability to play .wma files (smaller, same sound quality, go figure). The only thing I wish for on it would be a firewire option...
Also, there is a small amount of satisfaction to being the only one on the subway without an iPod ;)
amen gyrader!
Why would anyone stand in line for a pink mp3 player. Get out and explore the world. There's more to life than itunes, and the file format is like a ball-n-chain (don't get me started on Sony's file format).
amen gyrader!
Why would anyone stand in line for a pink mp3 player. Get out and explore the world. There's more to life than itunes, and the file format is like a ball-n-chain (don't get me started on Sony's file format).
This player is great, double the battery life of iPod mini, 1GB more memory, and a sleek cosmopolitan design that's very compact...hasta la vista iPod mini...
This player is great, double the battery life of iPod mini, 1GB more memory, and a sleek cosmopolitan design that's very compact...hasta la vista iPod mini...
Bought this about a week ago. Size is amazing- I can close my hand around this tiny device. It's thinner than my wallet (which is thicker than it would be had I purchased an iPod - these are available for under $200 delivered.)
Audible support is possibly the biggest surprise to me- I had no idea how nice the service is.
Audio quality is wonderful, build quality is rock solid (which is key for me- I can't stand sqeeky, creaky, or chinsey gadgets.)
I wanted an ipod mini, because I like the design of the whole idea, accessories, etc. But the battery life pales in comparison, I hate pastels (and the Carbon has a chrome back, too, plus rubber along the sides.)
I can use the Carbon in the dark/pocket without looking at the buttons, and can use it easily with just one hand.
I am not locked into iTunes (for downloading), I can record on the Mic (which I DO use, although I may be the only one :) If the iPod could record, I would have gone with it, though. Why is recording missing from many of these players?
Only Con for me is that I cannot yet get my itunes (locked or unlockled) to play on the Carbon without changing the file format. The Rio FAQ says iTunes can be used with your Carbon, and I foolishly assumed that to mean on PCs as well as Macs, which is incorrect. I also assumed it to mean that my tunes from itunes would play, which they will not.
#$%k drm. I know that's selfish and short-sighted, but I don't care.
About the Warranty; I cannot remember buying any consumer electronics device that has more than a 90 day warranty (though judging from the amount of bitching I hear about this around here, apple must have a better warranty..)
Sack up or buy the extended warranty.
My Carbon came with a 1" dongle to remedy the metal headphone jack short-out on the body design flaw (instead of a piece of tape.)
Hope this helps those of you trying to make a decision!
This thing is AWSOME, cheaper then an Ipod mini, smaller, more streamlined, more space, more battery life, built in recorder that works amazingly......it just seems better
Rio Carbon beets the ipod any day!
This player is selling at J&R music for ONLY
$154.94
--SHIPPED w/TAX. (thats with the a 20$ mail-in rebate thats good for a few more months)
Thats $100 cheaper than iPod mini!... even though the Rio Carbon holds 1G more memory, weighs less, has twice the battery life, and stands out from the crowd. IM BUYING IT. CNET.com gave it a really good review, and so has every other site besides the Apple-loving ones:)
I've been using the Rio Carbon for about a month...love it. I have used a 30Gb Apple iPod Photo player (the minimum I would get if I bought from Apple). My brother bought that for use with digital camera and storing photos and the like.
I love the RIO in that it is everything you could want...form factor is always a key decision with me...I love the minimac computer, but I would have to get it upgraded and accessorised and all ($1.5K)...I'll wait for the new AOpen minipc computer and save again.
I am an ex-Apple Evangelist user for over twenty years.
Ciao!
I've been using the Rio Carbon for about a month...love it. I have used a 30Gb Apple iPod Photo player (the minimum I would get if I bought from Apple). My brother bought that for use with digital camera and storing photos and the like.
I love the RIO in that it is everything you could want...form factor is always a key decision with me...I love the minimac computer, but I would have to get it upgraded and accessorised and all ($1.5K)...I'll wait for the new AOpen minipc computer and save again.
I am an ex-Apple Evangelist user for over twenty years.
Ciao!
It's good... but no iPod Mincer. Why oh why did they downgrade the headphones - my old Rio Nitrus came with Stennheiser headphones but for some reason they downgraded to some awful, tinny sounding ones with the Carbon - what's the point in all that technology and economising on the final piece of kit that you listen through??