All good things come in small packages, and this is no exception (Iriver iFP-790 256 MB)

Member Name: allyb2005

Product:	Iriver iFP-790 256 MB
Date:	04/01/06 (257 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Record direct from the built in radio or direct from a CD player with Line

Disadvantages: Battery life on one AA battery

I've always wanted an MP3 player and to my surprise my husband bought me one for Xmas!!!

It was bought from Argos and originally retailed for £89.99, but they had it for half price at £39.99, bargain!

**Box Contents**

Instruction manual for use with the player itself
Instruction manual for use with the CD ROM to upload music files
Headphones (with foam ear covers)
MP3 cover
Lanyard to wear the player round your neck
Line-in cable
USB cable

**The player**

As you can see by the picture its quite small and is red (mine is grey). Its very easy and simple to use.

Apart from the MP3 player there is also a built in FM Radio from which it enables you to record directly from it and encodes it whilst recording. You also have the option to record direct from a CD player or any appliance that has a "line-in" socket, as you record from the CD the player will encode the music.

Aside from the music bits, it also boasts a voice recorder, so if you need to record something urgently you can do so at the touch of a button.

There are three small buttons on the top of the player, the on/off, start/stop button, Shuffle/music equalizer button and mode button which allows you to select either MP3, FM Radio, Line-In or Voice.

On the front of the player there is a LCD display which is black on a blue background alongside which sits the "Navi" button, a long press of this gets you into the "workings" of the player where you can change the settings etc.

**Software included in the Box**

The player comes with iRiver Music Manager CD ROM. A VERY and I mean VERY easy to use piece of software. Once you have loaded the software onto your computer (its compatible with Windows 98SE, 2000 and XP, also Apple Mac) simply plug one end of the USB cable into the back of your PC, open up the Music Manager, plug the other end of the cable into the socket on the MP3 player and you are ready to save tracks to it. Its a very simple "drag and drop" application. I personally use RealPlayer to "rip" my CD's and encode them to MP3 then use the drag and drop feature in the Music Manager to "drop" them into the player.

It takes one AA battery which it comes with. Unfortunately the battery life is not very long and with continuous play won't last.

Overall a great little MP3 player I'd definately recommend it. I've got 4 albums on mine at the moment and have room for a few more. I think in total it will hold a max of around 4/6 albums depending on track size etc.

Summary: Direct encoding, simple "drag and drop" feature of software, easy to use.

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