Price Paid:  $88.00 from Amazon.com

Model Reviewed:
LYRA 5GB

Summary:
Overall unit is nice, compact and software/firmware are easy to use. Good display and simple joystick/funtion ring inputs. Not enough accessories currently available like the iPOD. Unit failed after 1 week of very gentle use.

Strengths:
Slim, clean design, easy input controls and software. Very fast downloads. Good sound.

Weaknesses:
CAUTIUON: This is a hard drive based unit, not a memory card. So it can be prone to damage from shock or magnetic interference. Unit failed after 1 week of gentle use. In fact unit never left the house b/c is was still in the input mode. "File system corrupted" and that is all...sending it back for replacement so we will see how 2nd one does. However,, thumbs down for now.

PS. Unfortunately, some songs were purchased and not saved. ARRRRG! Keep back ups for at least 2 weeks...LOL

Similar Products Used:
Generic MP3 player

Price Paid:  $150.00 from Walmart

Summary:
I liked this product when I first received it. But now the screen flashes and I can't get anything done. It won't even stay turned off!!!!

Strengths:
Small, easy to use at first

Weaknesses:
bump it and it is history

Similar Products Used:
apple nano ipod

Price Paid:  $40.00 from Wall-Fart

Summary:
i dont know what these other people are drinkin.... this device is an exelent value
just dont drop it and be careful with it (like you should anything remotly expensive)

i have checked the RCA website and aparentlly there are diffrent versions of the lyra mine is the RD1072 with 256Mb
(it will hold more if you feed it a sd memory card)
it can transport any file so the devce doubles as a flash drive (yay for RCA!)
contrary to what others have said this thing DOES IN FACT
PLAY MP3S (also WMA) it is VERY EASY TO TRANSFERR FILES
just plug it into yer usb port then open "my computer" then the lyra pops up as a removable drive
open it then cut and paste mp3s and wmas till your hearts content
i have done all this without even unpackaging the instructions!
i never even installed the music match software (i dont like music match)
and it works without it....

Strengths:
compatible with :
mac or pc
windows 98se
windows me
windows 2000 w/service pack 3
windows xp

not made by : bill gates or steve jobs

big easy to read screen and rubberized buttons
small size but still big enough not to lose
cool arm band (included) to keep things interesting if your used to belt clips
expandable storage and updatable firmware (no updates yet have been written)

runs for about 25 hours on a sinhgle battery

has dsp and sounds eXelent when set to "rock" cause of a little reverb

claims to give you 100 free mp3 downloads from emusic.com -i havent checked that out yet)

Weaknesses:
very short usb cord with what appears to be a proprietary connector (so dont loose it)

the "sport case" dosent fit properly .... but a little work with a hole punch and your on your way

stock headphones sound very good but dont seem to fit in my ear correctly...

keylock switch is on rear (disables other buttons so you dont acedentlly skip track or shut off) so you have to take it out of the case to toggle it

dosent come with a tape cassette adapter but i bought one and it works very well
if your wandering its a phillips ph2050w

display only scrolls thru the track title at the beginning of the track...

Similar Products Used:
i once took a palmtop pc with windows ce and installed a freeware mp3 player on it... no headphone jack 2 hour battery life, it didnt work very well
(i bought this used peice of junk for $7) it quit so i decided to get a "real mp3 player'

Price Paid:  $199.00 from circut city

Summary:
this was very great for a while. if u accidently drop it or something it is fine. but after a while the volume button starts to break and then the sound is stuck where it was. i have read many other reviews that have also said this.

Strengths:
everything but volume button

Weaknesses:
volume

Price Paid:  $140.00 from AudioTronic

Summary:
Oh god, this has given me so much trouble. I Loved it when I first got it, but then it had problems. I like my music loud from my head phones, and while turning the volume up, it stopped working. So my volume button was broken. That was my first one. Now, I took it back and got another one. Now this one's giving me trouble! I have no idea what happened, but I think one of my friends touched it, and it litterally went 'poof'. It still works, play music beautifully. But the display is whack, and I dont know how to fix it. I'm a reasonably young person, and I dont know how to fix it!

Strengths:
good sound quality, amount of space, small, loud

Weaknesses:
confusing.