Coby Clip 1 GB MP3 Player with Flash Memory (Red)

Comment: The ease of adding mp3's makes this a good product, but the short battery life, needing to be charged after only 4 hours of listening, makes it not so good. This MP3 player has a built in battery needing to be plugged into a computer to charge. It is not always convenient to have the computer available.

Not a good portable MP3 because you have to be near a computer to charge it. Took a train ride to Washington DC, thought I would make it with this player, but needed charging part way there, so was without something to listen to because there was no computer to charge it.

Wished it used normal batteries, I use my other MP3 player because I get better battery life from it.

Comment: I read some reviews first but thought people might not be handling the device properly like selecting "eject" before removing it from computer, etc. Well, I should have taken heed. I need music when working out so the simplicity of the Coby MP3 was what drew me; I don't need a radio or a camera, just a basic player and an on/off switch. The Coby MP3 was fine for a couple of months and then one day I turned it on and it stopped after 30 seconds and went black. Nothing. Heartsick, I tried to charge it up; nothing. Next day, I tried again and it charged away and was fine for a day or two; then went black again. I stupidly got a second one and had to carry both with me. Same thing with the second one; was fine for a while, then died without any reason. Next day, charged up again; good for a couple of days. Right now neither one of them works. So I guess it's okay if you don't mind not knowing if/when it will die or if it will come back. I'm getting another brand.

Comment: I was hoping this new clip would solve the ONLY issue I had with the older version. This new model puts the headphone jack and USB port far apart. The Coby MP-C582 series style has one major design flaw. It's avoidable, but you don't see it until it's too late and it's easy to forget about. These Coby MP-C582 players have the USB charger port and the headphone jack just enough too close together that they put enough stress on each other to cause damage to the jack. Once the damage occurs, the jack cuts out from time to time.

***Why did I put this review here?*** People are saying Coby is junk. I still have several fully functioning MP-C582 clips. You can read my reviews on them for more specifics how I am using them. I have had a couple go south on me, but I put them through heavy use in harsh conditions, I had to learn not to plug in the USB and jack at the same time, and they are plenty old enough to expect the battery to stop holding a charge.

Do not bother wasting time with this new version. I don't know what went wrong with it, but too many people say it is junk. The Coby MP-C582 series is fine if you just remember not to try and plug in the adapter and jack at the same time. I love mine and I certainly got my money's worth in use and hassle free enjoyment out of them!

Comment: I got this as a gift, it worked fine while it worked, once and a while it turned off for no reason but otherwise it was fine. After a about month two I had trouble getting it to charge or get recognized by winXP 64bit, or winxp pro neither would charge it either. I figured it went bad as some have mentioned and left it for about a week before I tossed it around a bit for a day or two, gave it another shot and suddenly it worked, was recognized and charged. It seemed to be fine again for another month, charged, was recognized, no problem then it did it again and has not 'come back'.

So all in all an unreliable cheap product, I like the compact form and battery life seemed to be good maybe 3hrs or so, volume was kind of low even at higher settings if I recall correctly. But I wouldn't waste money on another one, I might pickup a better rated product in the future but I wouldn't risk this or likely a coby product.

Comment: Perhaps I was lucky but thought I should add a positive review for this product. First after five months of heavy use (I run 25 miles a week), there has not been a single problem with the player. The battery has held the charge and my computer (XP) has always recognized it. To the former problem, I have to wonder whether some users full charge the unit the first time. This is a common mistake, especially for kids who are impatient. It's even more important at this price, since obviously the player's battery is of budget quality.

As for the player and its operation, I have loved it for running and the gym. The operation is intuitive with the single stick. Thus I never have to look at the unit to skip a song, increase vol. etc.. The Coby is lightweight with a strong clip, so it can be tacked onto any piece of clothing with no fuss. All in all, I would say it's the best exercise player I have ever used, with a history that has included the venerable shuffle, Sansa Clip, and several lightweight Sony's.

The player is far from perfect however. Coby's sluggish software would be at the top. Transfer rates are agonizingly slow. I found the workaround where I added folders/files directly to the drive via My Computer, instead of waiting on the software. I would much of preferred drag/drop and basic folder management. The sound is thin and tinny, but really for under twenty dollars, I don't think one would be greedy to expect more. Battery life is not exceptional. A full charge will last around 6-7 hours for me. Thus one can't forget about the player for weeks at a time. Once again considering the amount asked, that's a very small qualm.

In summary, this a five star product for operation during exercise; below average for software interface and sound quality. Added together with one more important factor - price point, my rating is a solid 4 stars.