I agree with most of the negatives/CONS posted already. (e.g. the packaging IS DECEPTIVE, i.e. it APPEARS you are getting a unit the exact size and SHAPE of a 7-stick gum pack, but it's really quite a bit thicker, and triangular in cross-section.)
Also, I can see the *potential* for the USB cap to become loose-fitting, but after 24 months, mine's still snug. Knock on plastic.
OTOH, karma swung my way: i.e. agreed to pay $75 (incl. tax, May 2007) only because $40 mail-in rebate included from Office ____. Months go by, no rebate, visit customer website, clickety-click-click... then TWO $40 rebate checks show up! So they PAID ME $5 to take it off their hands, nyuk-nyuk-nyuk.
Later on, I would need that fiver to buy new Philips-Magnavox (ChiCom) earbuds, as the wire for first one channel, then the other, eventually broke inside the original plug's strain-relief. No violent bending involved, just normal use. Perhaps a right-angle plug would prove more durable?
PROS: 1) EASY (albeit slow) to load files on--it's ALPHABETICAL! (Wish my bloody Nokia phone were so straightforward!) If you want the folder called 'Xray Death Metal' to be first, just prefix a zero or 'a' to the title. For what you wish to be last, place a small 'z' in front of the name. Similarly inside the folders, simply prefix numerals to change the "natural" order to the desired sequence. Duh-simple. I like it.
2) Nice nuanced assortment of equalizers.
3) Handles several NON-MP3 formats, including some very compact versions of WMA. Kudos.
4) Voice memo function handy, voice quality very good, even in vehicle; more than adequate for dictation. (Have NOT tested it in high-din situation, e.g. lecture hall.)
5) Fits securely in the excellent and affordable Tunebelt AB3 armband.
6) Accurate and linear battery meter.
Pro/con: *does* remember exactly where you were in which file during battery swapout, but ONLY IF: a) you manually shutdown before battery dies completely; and b) you swap the battery quickly, say less than 20 secs. empty-bay time... as if it uses a small capacitor to keep "pointers" alive in a volatile memory...? Anyway, that's how it behaves.
CONS: 1) Agonizingly SLOW FF/REW function! This is the only REAL DEAL KILLER: It's only 4x normal speed! So to jump (crawl) to minute 30 of an hour-long podcast/language lesson/lecture, you're holding down the FF button for 7.5 minutes! Holy thumb-cramp, Batman! And with NO audio feedback (you know, that screechy accelerated sample-stream), so now you have to WATCH the timer to avoid overshoot... on an AUDIO device... oh, the cruel IRONY... Bloody HELL!
This could easily be remedied in firmware, but Philips has NEVER issued a single firmware update for this product, AFAICT. You know, like maybe after holding the FF/REW down for more than 30 seconds, it *accelerates* to perhaps 10x, or better yet, 16x!... HELLO Dutch persons!!!... ;')
2) Awkward ergonomics. Whereas w/ iPod you can activate anything/everything with a single hand/thumb, this SA1110 unit requires 2 thumbs plus 2 index fingers! I call it the "crab-pincer" interface, LOL.
3) Klugey, stilted menu navigation. e.g. the FF/REW button doubles as the folder-skip button, but there's WAY too many pushes of THREE separate buttons required to make this function-swap! Ridiculous. Annoying, actually. Not to mention AVOIDABLE... a little thinkin' and designin' next time 'round, eh?
RE: Battery life--I get about 4 hrs. per hybrid re-chargeable AAA. Since I rarely use it more than 2 hrs./day, no problem keeping it ready by rotating a pair of batteries dedicated for this purpose.Get more detail about Philips SA1110/37 1 GB Flash MP3 Player (Black).
