BoomGear MP-700 256MB MP3 Player/FM Radio/Voice Recorder

Rating:
Summary: My dream mp3 player!
Review: So I am posting the review that I wish I had to help me decide whether to purchase this or not! I debated back and forth and did lots of internet searches cause there's no comments about this product anywhere! But I am so glad I purchased it. It's a great mp3 player, has all the features that I wanted - because unlike everyone else out there, NO I didn't want an ipod!

Why I like this product:
1. It has a built-in FM radio. I don't have a ton of music, and I get bored easily. So a radio is a necessity for me, and this one works fine. Some stations don't come in that great, but oh well. There are like 15 presets I think, and you can also scan or just tune regularly. Love that it's built-in, because a lot of radio mp3 players have the radio connected to the earphones, but this is actually part of the product. Having an extra little unit that can break or get tangled or lose is a big pain.

2. Has a built in plug for USB flash drive. You slide this little button and a plug pops out! Then when you are done downloading, you slide it back in! I always carry this in my purse, and it is great to be able to go over to my friends' house and at the spur of the moment snag what they have, and I don't need any cords. Also I can copy pictures, files, or whatever they have right then and there. Great feature.

3. Plug and play. I had to download software on my computer, but I am able to plug it into other computers (check the compatibility) and it's instantly recognized. I can copy friends' music and listen to it right after! Only problem is it's not MAC compatible.

4. Works on one AA battery. Between my palm pilot, cell phone, and laptop, I don't want to carry any more chargers when I'm travelling. It's great that I can just run out and get a battery when it runs low.

5. Radio recorder. If I'm listening to a song on the radio I like, there is a one-touch feature where I can record whatever I'm listening to! There is also a voice recorder.

6. Sleek design. This is nice and small, fits in the palm of my hand, maybe the size of a roll of quarters. It is made out of what appears to be metal. I bought an mp3 player online before this that was made of this cheap silver-colored plastic. UGH! This definitely looks much nicer, cause it's not plastic! (Or it doesn't seem like it to me)

It's 256 MB which some people say is nothing, but I don't need to carry my whole music collection w/ me like some people do. I have hours of music on here, and quite honestly, I am never listening to this more than a few hours at a time anyway. It's easy enough to switch the music, so 256MB is fine for me. I borrowed my friend's audiobook on CD and put a few chapters on here! Cool!

What could be better:
1. Not MAC compatible but that's not a big deal. I can't have everything!

2. Some stations on the radio come in a bit staticky. Would be nice if they were clearer, esp. since it has the record from radio function.

3. The sound quality is pretty good, you can switch settings for the equalizer, but I wish it had a setting with more bass in it.

4. The navigation of the menus are pretty easy but this is where I wish I did have an ipod! The screen is large enough to fit one song so I can't see everything at once, so I have sit and skip through all the songs to find the one I want. There is a folders menu but it takes some sifting and a little bit more coordination than I have when I'm jogging or exercising, so I find it easier to not use the folders. Also it's a bit slow when navigating.

Overall, I am very happy with this product. I have been searching for about a year to find a product that fit my needs and had all these features I listed above, so now that I've finally found it, I plan on keeping it! I'm so glad I discovered it!

Rating:
Summary: NOT AS ADVERTISED
Review: When the package arrived I discovered that the player was NOT 256 MB, BUT RATHER ONLY 128 MB. Amazon refuses to accept responsibility and Discovery Channel (where it was shipped from) blames it on amazon. The customer gets left out in the cold!