Rating: 
Summary: pretty cool
Review: I'm not an expert on electronics but this is the 2nd mp3 player I've owned. I chose to buy this mp3 player for work inside a warehouse handling package and for use at school, walking around. Overall, I'd say its a pretty good player but there are some questions about the durability and lifespan of it.Pros:
-cheap price compared to other mp3 players of the same memory
-expandable memory
-durable design...supposedly waterproof (not anxious to test that claim tho)
-acceptable yellow color and appearance
-nice joystick function (in my opinion anyway)
-GOOD wrap around ear phones (just wanted the basics)
-very nice looking and durable belt clip (never used armband) Cons:
-battery life (1 AAA is only 8 hrs for me...equals only about 2 days of work and campus use, but then again I'm going to buy rechargeables anyway)
-software use (isn't as easy to use as it could be, kinda confusing sometimes)
-*** Once had a problem with the player when it only played 39 songs when I actually had 50 or so on it, worrisome error***
-can only create playlist on software (quite common tho)
-*** list of songs is always alphabetized, NOT BY WHAT ORDER THEY ARE SET UP IN ***VERY ANNOYING*** In spite of these cons tho, I'm happy with my purchase and would buy them as gifts to other sporty and gymgoing friends.
Rating: 
Summary: At last!!! a durable SPORTs MP3 player w/ everything
Review: After frustrations w/ other brands (nike PSA, etc.) and looking for a good sports MP3 player that would hold up to the abuse of long runs/bike rides etc...finally stumbled upon Rio Cali when if first came along and decided to give it a try. Wow, I've been using it for the past 3 months and may never need to buy another MP3 player. Dropped, sweated on (A LOT), kicked around, even once accidently dropped in a pool...and still works perfectly. The AAA battery life is excellent. The controls are easy to use while excercising (when you can't look) and I think very intuitive. The design is perfect for however you choose to carry it, palm of your hand, on the smart/tight belt clip, or the velcro strap for your arm. Many little features show the detail RIO used developing this product...like the placement of headphone jack so less likely target for sweat drops. I never really tried the factory headphones, as I have a favorite sony sports pair...but I'm sure they're fine. Even without addn'l cards you get a few hours of music...and with add'n ones....many hours. Radio is excellent, and the band/equilizer is probablly a nice feature for those a bit more sophisticated than myself. I don't change the music often (has enough memory most of my "workout" songs all fit), but the software is easy to work with and I've had no problems so far. Want the best Sport MP3 player out there. This is it.
Rating:
Summary: This has everything
Review: I found the tuner to be great, contrary to some of the other reviews. I also thought that the ear buds are held securely to the side of your head, unlike others that just fall out easily. Holds a lot of music. Was a good buy.
Rating:
Summary: You say you don't have an MP3 player? Your lucky day.
Review: I've owned... lemme see here,
a Good Technology Soundsgood MP3 player for my Handspring Visor Deluxe;
a Sony MP3 CD player (still goin' strong, very good choice, I applaud myself daily);
a Sony Clie SJ-33 (MemorySticks, lots of it);
a Sony Clie TJ-35 which is still my PDA of choice;
and a Magic Star Grey Whale (256Mb MP3 player with Li-Ion battery, recharged by USB connection, very cool but no LCD screen). So I know a little about MP3 players. I have about 6000 songs ripped via AudioGrabber, so I know a little about MP3s, too. So, the Grey Whale was just not doin' it for me, and c|net had a little preview on the new Rio Cali and Chiba
players. I'm in a bit of a gadget frenzy the past year, so I've upgraded my PC, my PDA, what's left but the
workout MP3 player? Rio delivers with the Cali. Rubberized holder, very snug, and it seems solid despite c|net's doubts about build
quality. Doesn't have a Li-Ion battery, but so what? It takes triple-As and I have plenty of those. Even the
rechargables will last for a few hours of continuous play. What sold me were three luxuries that have now
become workout MP3 necessities:
-an FM tuner: Howard Stern in the AM or whatever Bally's is broadcasting on the TV;
-some kind of expansion, in this case MMC or SD cards, which is great for consumers because those are the
top-two flash formats;
-a display, oh thank you, an LCD display for the MP3 tags. The little joystick is cool, but not necessary. Some have found it counterintuitive, but take it from a man
who configures Oracle 9iAS for a living: this is a snap. The software is pretty decent. It tries to be more than a file xfer program, so it has some potential for
convergent utility. The sychronization themes has an intriguing use: you can quickly push your workout
suite of songs in, or driving music, or whatever you might decide to predefine and push on some repeating
basis. That's kinda neat and something I wished for in my other devices. The bundled headphones do hook over your ears, but I never even considered them, having my own behind-the-neck
Aiwa headphones already. The bundled clip and hook-loop armband are excellent, something I haven't had since
my first Walkman. I missed the convenience. Oh, one thing you might think about when looking at the arm strap is feeding it through the clip to make it
more secure. You can definitely do it, but be sure you're never going to use the clip first. It's not an
easy chore. I suppose there must be a downside to the product, but scarcity is hardly a negative. This is really a
next-generation player, one to consider if you're in the re-arming phase of your gadgets and definitely a
brainy pick for your first portable flash MP3 player. Fred
Rating:
Summary: Rio Cali is a Solid Performer
Review: I purchased the Rio Cali about a month ago along with an extra 256MB SD memory card to extend the memory to 512MB. I've been very pleased with the performance of the player, as well as the tuner. I use it in three settings including air travel, health club and running at home. The ear pieces fit comfortably around the ear and produce excellent sound even in noisy situations like jet aircraft noise. The tuner works well in the health club where various TVs use FM transmitters to send out the stations audio. The tuner also works well on local FM stations. The Rio Music Mgr software is easy to use or you can use Win Media Player. I've set up folders that allow me to switch music types from running to easy listening. Overall, a solid performer for the money.
Rating: 
Summary: The software sucks!
Review: I've had probably 10 mp3 players and the Rio software is by far the worst of any I have ever seen! It is a complete disaster, inconvenient and frustrating as hell if you have more than a few mp3s on your computer. The best players have a simple drag and drop from Windows type format. Then there are alot of players that have proprietary programs that work pretty well. But this is the worst! And they haven't changed it from when I bought my first Rio 500 years ago! If you have a lot of mp3s on your computer Rio Manager will list them 2 or three times and then make it awkward to find them and download. I mean, what the hell is wrong with this company! It's like driving a well made car except half the windshield is covered up! Or driving a great car in a strange city and the maps are all screwed up! I don't get it!
Rating:
Summary: A simple and intuitive player
Review: I'm not incredibly picky about features. I've only ever owned one player before and it wouldn't be hard to beat with what's on the market now. I just needed a player with an FM tuner so I wouldn't miss out on Howard in the mornings while working. I also needed a skip-free player with enough memory to get me through the gym or a decent run without looping over. I also wanted a player that I could manage with Musicmatch as well as the software it came bundled with.
From the reviews I read here the Rio Cali would provide me with all of these features very well.
I've had it for a few weeks now and I've found the player itself to be very intuitive. If you're handy with gadgets you won't need to read the instructions at all. It's very easy to operate with one hand, and also to control without having to look at what you're doing. I find it's design and function flawless.
It holds a very good amount of music for what I was looking for, considering I'm not looking to load everything I own on it. I've never had the occasion to make it through my whole playlist. I really don't even think I'll need the 512mb expansion for it. Again, I'm not listening to it continously throughout the day though either.
My biggest disappointment is the FM tuner. It's absolutely horrible. I live and work in San Diego. There are several very large stations that I can pick up with my little clock radio from the edge of the county where I live. However, the Cali cannot get good reception in the middle of town where I work. I work outside and drive around alot and it's the rare occasion that I can get a tolerable signal. So if you are looking for a good tuner, this model really doesn't have it; as most of the other reviews here have stated.
The software that comes with it is also disappointing. It's tough to use and to figure out. I am fairly computer savvy, and yes I can program my own VCR. I have a very mechanical job and I'm fairly good at figuring out gadgets. I'm prone to not looking at instructions like most guys. Having said all that, the software Cali comes with is not user friendly. I'm sure there is a way to easily add songs to the player but I would have to break down and read the instructions to figure it out. As it is, I have to right-click and add every song. Not very fun. I also couldn't get it to work with Musicmatch. It recognized that the Cali was connected, but I couldn't get songs to load. It also had a hard time deciding how much space was available. I haven't messed with it since. Another thing I'll really have to break down and set some serious time aside to figure out. But, I ripped all my music on Musicmatch, some I pirated online and all the songs loaded fine from the bundled software. The software is good at scanning your computer and locating all of your music. This was a relief since I figured with the copyright laws as they've become I'd have to re-rip my library or something of that nature.
The sound quality is okay. It sounds a little canned, but that may be the headphones. I'm definately going to have to replace them. I like the kind that clip over the ear so you can run and not have them fall off, but the ones that come with it are not very good at all. They don't really fit into my ears and my head is the size of a pumpkin. So I constantly have to keep adjusting them. Not a big expense though.
Overall, I give it four stars out of five because it is a very simple player to use. It's pretty durable as I've dropped tested it several times. I'm happy with it and I would recommend it as a good workout player for sure. It's just very disappointing that it doesn't function as a tuner well at all. Definately worth the price it's sold at. A good buy for outdoor enthusiasts. Probably not a good buy for someone looking to suppliment life with one though.
Rating:
Summary: customer support of rio cali
Review: The rio cali was the best practical gift I have ever received. The sound and quality is fantastic. I have one big gripe however! I was jogging and lost the battery compartment cover and was never able to find it. I called customer support many times to get a replacement and was never able to get one...as...they DON'T OFFER THIS PART AS REPLACEMENT! I am so disappointed and think it's ridiculous that you cannot purchase a replacement cover. They offered to replace my entire unit....for $100. For a battery compartment cover? I don't think so! So.......it's a great unit but please be very careful not to lose that particular part!
Rating:
Summary: A Good Player for Workout & Travel
Review: I've found the Rio Cali a great MP3 player for working out at the gym or traveling on the plane. When I'm on trips I often switch from FM to player mode & the sound quality is excellent. The green color is not pretty, but it is rugged enough to stand up to being constantly stuffed into briefcases & occasionally dropped on the floor. I use MusicMatch JukeBox Player on my laptop to swap different playlists in & out of the player - the only minor complaint I have is the USB1 file transferring is a bit slow. Otherwise a great product!
Rating:
Summary: Better than I expected
Review: After reading some of the reviews across the internet about this product, I ordered it with some reluctance. I have been enjoying it for a few weeks now and am not sorry for my purchase at all. Pros:
1) Very light...I wear it on my waistband and notice my earphones more than I do the unit.
2) Holds enough music without an SD card for at least two hours of exercise.
3) When you get used to the Rio-stick, it makes overall use easy.
4) Battery life seems to be as stated...I'm still on the factory-supplied battery after about 10-12 hours of use. Cons:
1) Like most others have said, don't bother buying this if you want a great fm tuner.
2) Would like to be able to categorize music in some way or change the order with more facility...i.e., software could be better, but it's not bad. The earbuds that come with it are satisfactory, and you can make the sound more appealing by changing the equalizer band. I already own a pair of Aiwa headphones that sound better and feel good in my ears while exercising, so I use those and have relegated the earbuds to use with my laptop. I've only had it for a few weeks, so I can't testify as to whether it will suddenly go dead after 90 days, but I also tend to take pretty good care of things and know that you can't just be dropping electronic equipment and expect it to keep working. Hope that helps anyone else out there who, like me, is reluctant to drop a significant bit of money on something like this. I think it was worth it.
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