The 6GB Rio Carbon

They're even—gasp—lagging behind Apple with this one, but Rio has finally confirmed that a 6GB version of the Rio Carbon will debut on June 1st. Retail price: $229.99.

[Thanks, 0ndsk4]

[christopher wanko @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

Impressed. Charging from USB is good, USB 2.0 support is very good, drag-drop to the device is a winner. The ten-spot for the car adapter is actually *half* of what they usually cost, a nice pickup on its own merits. MSRP ain't all that bad either: check Amazon for a pre-order special next month like they did with the Zen Micros.

-C

[swarmster @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

"drag-drop to the device is a winner"

I've never understood what people find so alluring about having to update the library, and every playlist on your device, by hand every time you get a new song. Am I missing something? All I have to do is plug in my iPod.

[swarmster @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

Disclaimer: I don't mean to pick on #1, or the news post, it just reminded me of something I've always wondered about.

[David @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

the Carbon has self-databasing I believe so it automatically adds new songs when you turn it on

[John Beckman @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

This has nothing to do with the player, but Im really glad to see Astral as the example band. Dont see obscure bands such as this on a big name ad.

Good for them. I myself love this album.

[Greg @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

I was going to say what John B just said - I found out about Astral because they were pre-installed on my Carbon when I got it last year.

I've used iPods and I've used the Carbon. I bought the Carbon.

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

"Am I missing something? All I have to do is plug in my iPod."

You're not missing anything. Some people just like to make things as hard on themselves as possible. Others "don't trust technology" (they think automatic sync is somehow deciding what music they should be listening to) which makes me wonder why they're even here.

It's a debate that rages every time someone even mentions drag and drop. I am as guilty as anyone of perpetuating that debate, because I don't understand the allure of it either (having dealt with it for years, and now using iTunes instead - I would never go back).

But to each his own I guess. Whatever floats your boat...

[ale_ers @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

Still not Napster to Go compatible? I wonder what is taking so long with the firm ware updates. There still is no flash player NTG compatible.

[TheZodiac @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

"Am I missing something? All I have to do is plug in my iPod."

Some people just like doing things for themselves. Its a pretty simple concept that dates back quite a few years. Like Apple enthusiasts thinking they are cooler than anyone else..... thats why Apple sues their own fan sites and their own users. They're cool!

[DM @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

Ok - What would you prefer -
1. Music upload through proprietory software only
OR
2. Music upload through proprietory software AND drag and drop

If you have noticed, most, if not all players come with a music transfer app and the drag and drop is added as a bonus - so you know, maybe you can put put in a file or two when in a hurry, be it music or anything for that matter.

The only people who "dont get it" are people who dont have drag and drop support on their mp3 players....

[swarmster @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

What people always seem to overlook, though, is that iTunes was a great jukebox program long before the iPod and the iTMS. It wasn't just cobbled together and thrown into the box in a sad attempt to make casual users comfortable, like most other players' software. I could think of no easier way to "put in a file or two when in a hurry" and get them where I want them than to plug in my iPod and drag some songs into iTunes, and any playlist I want.

Hell, if I've ever listened to the files before, you can bet they're already organized in iTunes, so I just need to plug in.

[christopher wanko @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

For #2 and #7: drag/drop means i can use the generic file sync programs i already own. believe it or not #7, auto file sync is older than iTunes.

as for #2/3, no offense taken. i was commenting on the ability of dra/drop as it relates to avoiding a proprietary transfer system, as Rio had been doing for prior players a la Rio Taxi. file sync is a separate function.

it's still a compelling upgrade to the Carbon. i want choices other than the iPod, which I admit is the standard by which all should be measured.

-C

[Aaron @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

The allure of drag and drop is I can be at work, download a few mp3s from blogs, and chuck them in a folder on my iRiver and play them on the way home. I don't need to have iTunes installed on the machine that has the music on it.

That's a big big bonus. Sure, once I go home I can organize those mp3s if they weren't tagged properly originally, but that's secondary. I've already had the music on there on my commute home.

Can't do that with an iPod. You need software to make the music even show up on your player.

I remember having a friend ask me to install ephpod so he could put some music on his iPod. Made no sense to me. Why7 can't I just copy the files onto it? It shows up as a drive, right?
But it's that database system it uses. You need software to hear the files on there.

Don't assume drag and drop means we hate using organizing software. It's not either or. It's in addition to.

[otakucode @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

You guys that like syncing obviously don't have very much music. I can't use syncing with my 40GB RCA Lyra because I have over 3x as much music. If it only allowed syncing, then I guess I'd have to create some other directory and lose 40GB to a copy of the content of my MP3 player which I could change and then sync with. That'd be pretty stupid.

[Morwan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

#11: Rio Music Manager is actually one of the *few* transfer programs that doubles as a good media player and file sorter. It even provides syncing features very similar to that of iTunes.

However, the one thing that RMM lacks is a set rating system.. Instead, it 'rates' songs based on how many times you play them.

[Kentucky Wildcats! @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

autosync on a 6GB player? how small does your collection or bitrate have to be for that?

[Chewbaka @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

I also use my carbon for data transfer instead of burning cd's etc which is really easy to do and move between pc to pc. With an ipod this is next to impossible, as soon as you plug it in to another computer it wipes due to incorrect synching, so for me a carbon is far better (not to annoy ipod users btw). Also the 'wedge' shape of the carbon is better fitting in pockets than teh ipod mini tbh and i have used both a lot.

[Kevin Mc Guckin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

Could anyone out there tell me whats the difference in a Rio Carbon and the Rio Carbon Pearl???

Also is it possible to get plug in speakers for above product? I've already committed to buying one but need speakers for my holidays. Thanks Kev

[Kevin Mc Guckin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

Could anyone out there tell me whats the difference in a Rio Carbon and the Rio Carbon Pearl???

Also is it possible to get plug in speakers for above product? I've already committed to buying one but need speakers for my holidays. Thanks Kev

[kusazaru @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

Thankyou #13 for finally bringing the whole drag drop issue to the point. I've often visited someone and gotten music from them *without* forcing them to install some piece of software to do it. Do you i-pod guys carry an installation disc about with you??

To #7... "Some people just like to make things as hard on themselves as possible. Others 'don't trust technology' "

You seem to be inadvertantly talking about yourselves. What's so hi-tech about an 8 hour battery life? Does it makes things easier for you when your i-pud runs out of charge and you're left with silence? Apple seems to have suckered in a lot of loud mouthed cretins, protective of their mediocre status symbol. Maybe it's the price tags that gets you all defensive?

[Sid Deshmukh @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

I have iTunes on my PC and I have transferred virtually all my CDs to iTunes.
I am thinking of buying a Rio Carbon. Is it compatible? Can I just drag and drop the iTunes musuc files to Rio? Or is it better to go for an iPod as my music is all on iTunes?
Somebody pleeeeze help!!!

[Ronnie H @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

I have two questions.
1. can you easily create playlists using the Rio software.
2. if that playlist holds downloaded tracks(MSN for example) as well as normal tracks will the whole playlist be intact and playable if sync'ed to the player.