iRiver Clix (4GB, second generation)

Pros: Any USB to USB-Mini cable will connect or charge it. It can function as a USB storage drive. Supports .ogg and .flac for Ubuntu or other Linux users.

Cons: Small storage(forgivable since it's all flash and anything higher than 16GB these days is still expensive.)

The display case scratches very easily.

Buttons are a little clunky at first.

Switching between USB drive mode, and the iPod/Zune etc mode for

Summary: I've had this music player since around 2008, and it still works great. One of the biggest benefits is my computer needed to be reformatted, and since I use USB Drive mode exclusively(primary reason I got it) I copied my library straight back to the computer. Support for formats OTHER than wma and mp3 is a welcome bonus(also the secondary reason for getting it.)

I had a Zune, and was tired of having to do the registry hacks in order to access it like a USB drive every time I formatted my hard drive and reinstalled. So this device was a diamond in the rough for me.

Overall it's Pros far outweigh the cons. I use it for music in my car, and that's likely the reason it gets scratched up as I'm less than gently putting it in my center box(Jeep Cherokee and now Patriot. and later Wrangler from lack of repair manuals on new MK models.)

You can see my car choice reasoning as part of a philosophy that led me to the iRiver itself. I hate super closed systems that rely too much on either exclusive parts or repair. As a big self doer(only custom built desktops as laptops are difficult/expensive to repair and rely on too many proprietary connections.)

Though this may not be a self repair device, it's an anti lock in device. Like the PS3, having the ability to use any USB cable with a standard/mini connector is awesome.

If you are picking this up used, or are getting a newer iRiver model. Get it. This company provides a great player without locking you into THEIR connectors.