This is my secondary MP3 player, I also own an iPod Shuffle 512 MB. This BenQ Joybee was purchased because I was tired of listening to my 4-year-old's music in the car, and wanted a tough and cost-effective solution to save me from losing my mind to the tune of London Bridge is Falling Down... So instead of listening to pre-schooler music on the CD changer, I primarily bought this Joybee for my daughter to use in the car and on the go. And, there was NO WAY that I was willing to put Raffi or Sharon, Lois and Bram on my iPod! Here's my review of the BenQ Joybee 102R:
WHAT YOU GET
The Joybee 102R is as cute as a button. It kinda looks like a button too. A round little MP3 player, it's about the size of a silver dollar, and twice the thickness. At 128 MB of memory, it can be used for data storage as well as a source of musical entertainment. In the box you will get an installation CD, wearable earbuds, the Joybee itself, a USB connector, and a sports armband.
Complete specifications on the Joybee 102R can be found on the company website at:
http://www.benq.us/Products/mp3player/index.cfm?product=458&page=specifications
STYLE AND FASHION
The BenQ Joybee 102R is a basic MP3 player. After iPod cornered the market on 'cool', the fashion factor is worth mentioning. The Joybee is lightweight and stylish - this will be very attractive to those interested in image. The Joybee is just downright cool to look at, and available in metallic orange, green or purple, is pretty funky (mine is orange). It's not an iPod, but the Joybee is far cooler to look at than other basic MP3 players out there (such as iRiver, Creative, and Sony). Now, onto the performance and features...
FEATURES
This Joybee 102R provides 128MB of storage space, and can be used as a flash drive for data as well as an MP3 player that supports MP3, WMA, and WAV file types. BenQ has included drivers and software in the box to get you up and running with data or music storage and management. The Joybee has basic MP3 player features including volume control, skip forward and reverse and play. The Joybee is powered by a built-in Li-On Rechargable Battery: 100mAh , 3.7V which charges when connected by USB to your computer. For features, that's about it. The Joybee DOES NOT have a display, there is no radio capacity, and no pause feature for playback. Unlike the iPod Shuffle, there is no random or shuffle mode. Songs play back in the order that they were dragged onto the player when loading the Joybee up with music with the QMusic software (included).
PERFORMANCE
The Joybee 102R provides crisp and clear sound at a high quality. There is no way to adjust the bass, treble, or sound to your personal preferences. I have read other reviews of the Joybee which condemn it's ability to pump up the bass, but I think that the bass is more than adequate, and changes depending on the earphones/headphones used. The included BenQ earbuds are a snug fit, and again, depending on your ear size, the bass most especially may be compromised. Noise tends to seep in and/or escape easily using earbuds, and the BenQ earbuds are a one-size-fits-all type. They do not have pads or plastic cones to adapt to different ear sizes. I have listened to the Joybee through headphones, and find the bass much more present, as sound loss occurs less often when using full-sized headphones.
The Joybee sounds great at all volume levels, and doesn't get distorted or tinny at high volumes (although speaking as someone's mother, you should not be listening at those volumes anyway!).
Battery life is important, and the Joybee will not let you down. The built-in battery charges while connected to your computer with the included USB cable, and when fully charged, will easily last 8 to 10 hours if not longer. It seems like I rarely need to charge this thing, and have only had it run out of life on me once.
EASE OF USE
Whether a newbie or an experienced computer user, the BenQ Joybee is easy to set-up, has simple icons when ripping your CDs, and has drag-and-dump capabilities for loading your music onto the player. The software is limited in that it is simplistic, but if you are looking for a MP3 player that does the basics and does them well, you won't be bothered by the lack of options. The Joybee player itself is super-simple! One side has a volume button and the other side has a play/and skip button. The Joybee can only be powered on when the earphones are plugged-in, and this is a great way to ensure that battery life is prolonged. A basic round light on the front of the Joybee will indicate whether the player is on (green light), downloading (flashing red light), or about to turn off (red light).
THE BOTTOM LINE
This cute and simple MP3 player will be music to your ears. It is quite affordable, and is a reliable source of music. The Joybee is a tough little number, as even my 4 year-old hasn't destroyed it. Simple controls and functions make it fairly foolproof, and it's funky-cool look will have your friends wondering what that pendulum shaped thing is doing hanging around your neck. A good buy for those looking for something basic with quality manufacturing and style.