Rio Riot 20 GB MP3 Player (MP3/WMA)

Memory isn't the only thing that's large about the Rio Riot--at 5.5 inches wide and 1.25 inches thick, the Riot seems more like an XBox game controller. And unlike the svelte Apple iPod (which is easily operated one-handed), we found ourselves using both hands to manipulate the buttons and scroll wheel controls that are spread across the Riot's face. But its extra-large screen was easy on our eyes, displaying the playlist (something that's missing on the iPod) and currently playing song in readable text.

The Riot provides a number of ways to access tunes, including the standard search through albums, artists, and songs. It also offers the ability to create and save playlists (instead of just transferring them from your PC) and the unique Rio DJ, which can automatically generate playlists. You can set it to find your most-played songs and recently downloaded tunes, or you can use the Entertain Me setting to gather a random sampling of music from 15 minutes to an hour or every song loaded into the Riot. This is easily our favorite feature on the Riot.

However, our least-favorite feature is its USB connection for transferring music from the PC. While USB has become ubiquitous for both Mac and Windows users and is relatively fast, it's not a great solution for transferring large amounts of data. We did an initial transfer of 5 GB of music (one-fourth the Riot's capacity), and it took well over seven hours. Using the Apple iPod's FireWire connection (which can transfer data at up to 400 Mbps), transferring the same amount of files took less than 20 minutes.

The Riot produces a very big sound with the right headphones. The pair that's included are nicely light in weight, but they produce a rather tinny sound. You can adjust the bass and treble with the equalizer setting, but there is no true equalizer feature. It also comes with an FM radio tuner, which is a nice bonus. However, we had trouble getting strong radio signals for even the most powerful stations in the Seattle market.

Despite the fact that the Riot is a spinning hard drive, it seems to have a more than sufficient memory buffer to eliminate skipping. We used our regular air-drumming test (not recommended for typical use) and didn't suffer any skips. The battery life was also adequate, around seven to eight hours. The Riot also smartly puts itself to sleep if you've paused the music for more than a few minutes.

Overall, the Rio Riot offers a lot to like in a digital audio jukebox--if you don't mind its limitations. It's not easily carried in a pocket (unless you have cargo pants), and its slow USB connection can be maddening. But it's a great choice if you're looking for a device to carry your entire music collection wherever you roam. And we really do love the Rio DJ random playlist generator. --Agen G.N. Schmitz

Pros:

• High capacity
• Multiformat playback--both MP3 and WMA
• FM radio is a bonus

• USB connectivity isn't optimal for downloading gigabytes of files from your PC
• FM radio reception was sketchy

This small, ergonomic digital audio player also features an FM tuner with custom presets, an extra-large backlit LCD, and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that will last up to 10 hours. The Rio LogiTrack player interface makes it easy to find, sort, and play your favorite songs, while the Rio DJ remembers your favorite songs and creates custom mixes.

The player supports both MP3 and WMA audio files, and comes with Real Jukebox (Windows), MoodLogic (Windows), and Apple iTunes (Mac) audio software for creating and managing audio files on your desktop PC.

The Rio Riot comes with a pair of headphones, carrying case, power adapter, rechargeable battery, a printed guide to getting started and a manual, and audio-management software for PC and Mac. It is compatible with PCs with an available USB port running Microsoft Windows 98, 2000, Me, or XP. It's also compatible with Macs with a USB port running OS 9.1 or later or OS X or later. The Rio Riot is backed by a one-year limited warranty.