iRiver iFP-899 MP3 Player - Price and Recommendation

Price

The device currently retails at $179.99, but you certainly don’t have to pay this much. I bought mine on sale at Best Buy for $149.99. Later, I found it selling online for about $130. For a flash player, this is a great deal.

Apple’s competition for this is the iPod Shuffle 1GB, which costs about $150. Also consider that the iPod Shuffles are far inferior to this iRiver; they have no screen and no navigation to speak of, except the choice of “shuffle” or “non-shuffle.” They have an integrated battery and not even a fraction of the iRiver’s options, which is a bum deal. Compared to the iPod Shuffle, the iRiver is definitely worth the $179 it retails for, perhaps more.

Pros

• Great sound quality
• Lots of storage for a flash player
• Uses AA battery, and has 30 hour battery life
• Simple navigation
• Uses a USB cable and does not plug directly into USB dock
• Clock
• Many menu options and extensive customization
• All accessories included

Cons

• Not powered by USB when connected to a computer
• Not automatically recognized as removable storage (but will work, using software)
• Prevents transporting songs between computers
• Joystick control hard to use while running

Naturally, this player cannot do everything. If you demand tons of storage and a pretty color screen, you should avoid this player (perhaps check out our review of a hard drive iRiver). But what the iRiver set out to do, it does outstandingly. It is the very ideal of an MP3 player for an active person. The sound quality is remarkable, and the navigation is simple. You won’t have to buy or invent carrying devices, as it comes with every one you can conceive of. If looking for a player to exercise with, you cannot go wrong here.

I would recommend the iRiver iFP-899 as a fantastic solid-state MP3 player. Please visit our hardware forums if you'd like to discuss this player,  and please visit iRiver's corporate website.