iRiver E100 MP3 Player Review

iRiver has built a respectable name for itself in a market dominated by Apple's iPod. Does its latest low-cost MP3 player live up to that name? Come along as we review the iRiver E100 and issue our verdict.

iRiver has been conspicuously quiet in the American market since the release of their Clix Gen2 in the first quarter of last year. The Clix MP3 player landed with a large splash and made a name for iRiver as an MP3 player manufacturer to rival Apple. Although this publicity was great for iRiver, it also set consumer expectations so high that great things were expected from the company. Now, iRiver has released their next player: the iRiver E100.

The first thing you should know about the E100 is that it is a lower cost MP3 player, starting at just $100 for the 4 GB version (and around $150 for the 8 GB upgrade). I question the wisdom of iRiver releasing an intentionally low-quality product directly after their highest quality product, but I don’t really have the qualifications to denounce them for it.

The obvious weaknesses of a $100 MP3 player are limited storage and lack of touch-screen technology. It would be great if that was the extent of the E100’s weaknesses; unfortunately, such is not the case. Very little of the sleek design and advanced technology of the Clix found its way into the construction of the E100. In fact, what did find its way into the E100 is exactly what the concept behind a cheap MP3 player implies: cheap design, cheap parts, and cheap construction.

Of course, the fact that the E100 is cheaply made does not necessarily disqualify it from a fair trial; it is a cheap MP3 player, and anyone that is looking for a cheap MP3 player has good reason to consider its purchase. On the positive side, the E100 is packed with a great variety of features that the consumer cannot typically find in such a low-cost product. The combination of good and bad adds up to an MP3 player which is great for someone who isn’t looking for perfect quality and doesn’t want to spend an exorbitant amount of money.

Label: mobile devices