I am generally not one to "push the envelope" of new technology by buying untested, first-generation equipment. But in this case, I am breaking that unwritten rule. Why, might you ask? (C'mon, just ask -- otherwise you can't keep reading this review). The fact is, I will soon be driving across the country, with a heavy trailer that will limit my un-airconditioned automobile to 45 miles per hour. No offense to those who live there, but if I have to spend 8 hours driving across Kansas with nothing to listen to but old Willie Nelson tunes, I might risk permanent mental imbalance.

So there you have it. While the Tagram and Pine mp3 CD players look terrific, I can't seem to find a single place to buy one. In fact, the only portable mp3 CD player I have been able to locate is from Genica (purchased through www.EasyBuy2000.com), and it is, as of this afternoon, sitting here in my hot little hand.

Preliminary results indicate that it does indeed work, for those of you like myself who might have been skeptical of getting anything this high-tech for $100. I'll break the rest of this review down into categories, so you can skip my humorous and long-winded anecdotes if they don't suit your fancy.

Sound Quality
I'm no audiophile -- I can only occasionally note the difference between a song at 128 kbps and a higher bitrate. Consequently, the majority of my mp3's are encoded at 128 kbps. The real test, I figured, would be to test the same set of speakers I use on my computer with the new contender. I found there to be little discernible difference, although the gain on the mp3 player appeared to be slightly lower than that on my Soundblaster PCI 128 soundcard. This test was performed utilizing the "line-out" port.

The microphone port proved similarly reliable, once I used a real pair of headphones. Even if you had never used, or even seen, headphones before, the crappiness of the included pair would be readily apparent. Listening to music on them creates a sort of annoying popping static. However, this problem was rectified by using a good (well, standard) set of headphones.

Features
The MPTrip has the ability to read directory structures, albeit with a great deal of difficulty (see usability section below). This is cool, because it allows you to organize your songs into folders. Unfortunately, the player does not support ID3 tags, or even give you relevant information like the names of songs or directories. You're on your own to interpret the seemingly random numbers assigned to directories and tracks. Rumor has it that the numbers are assigned by the order in which the files were burned onto the CD.

There are also 5 "graphic equalizer" settings included with the player accessed through a button helpfully labeled as "BASS". However, this is one of the features that is actually well documented in the "manual" (I use this term in the same sense as one would when referring to the local bowling alley as a "restaurant"). And the settings do make a difference, even to my ear.

The 50 second anti-shock appears to work very well -- I haven't been able to make the player skip. I haven't thrown it around that much, as I fear for the cheap injection molded parts, but I have faith that it will ride in my car without difficulty.

Lastly, the player comes with two headphone jacks and_ a line out jack, and there's some bizarre port labelled "remote" which I've heard is for some forthcoming remote control.

Oh yeah, it also plays audio CD's fine.

Usability
It is at this point that the ugly voice of reality tells you what you really got for your money. The buttons on the device are far from optimal, for several reasons. First of all, they are hard to press. While I won't go as far as mp3.com's review, which said it feels like the buttons are going to break, you definitely need to press hard, and the button you want to press most often, "play" is located outside of the four feet on the bottom of the player, necessitating two hands to keep from flipping the player. The "open" button is located on the opposite side, and has similar problems, and also is not seated very well on the latch it actuates. Thus, there is sort of a "sweet spot" on the open button that you need to find in order to actually open the player. This is more of an annoyance than a major usability problem, however. Lastly, there is a button named "next" and another button called "preview", which seems to preform all of the functions of a "previous" button -- methinks something was lost in the translation.

On the software side of things, the interface is downright confusing. Suffice to say that there are multiple playback "modes", some of which allow you to navigate the directory structure. Fortunately, some brave soul with a pen name of "thrillhouse" on mp3.com created this useful piece of documentation, which I have verified independently:

"I figured out the directory function but it's not very convenient. First in dir mode. you have to first hit the dir/file button to change over to directory selection. Once done, the preview key goes up to the root directory, once in the root, each directory is represented by a number (up to you to figure out which number corresponds to which directory) which you can cycle thru using the preview and next buttons. when your directory number is flashing and you want to select it. You have to press and HOLD down the next button, this will go into the directory you chose and start playing those songs. That's it. Personally, I would have liked a next-directory button instead of using this process but then I guess you could have any directories within directories. My two cents. Hope this helps"

Indeed it did, Mr. Thrillhouse. Your country thanks you.

Battery Life
Well, I've been running it off of some rechargeable NiMH batteries, and it's been going strong for about 5 hours now. I believe the manufacturers claim of 6 hours, and there is an AC adapter included with the unit. There is also a Sony car adapter available that supplies the right voltage for this player.

So, what is my final verdict? Drumroll please...buy this player! For $100, I can live with the inconvenience of directory structure navigation -- I plan on making CD's with one big directory full of music I like and then randomizing it. If that's not your style, perhaps wait for the MamboX. But you could be waiting a while. And there's nothing like instant gratification.





Recommended: Yes