[noguilt]

http://www.clubiclick.com/swurv5.htm

the prices are very attractive: $80 for the 512mb at Costco, $100 for the 1gb at Amazon. The WMP feature is what sets it apart, i guess, but i've not used WMP beyond just playing individual video or audio files, so i don't know how valuable that could be.

i'm mainly interested in the sound quality, navigation, and usability (particularly of FM and voice recording). For those reasons, i just ordered the iAudio U2 1gb for $162 at Amazon (having researched it extensively at head-fi and elsewhere, comparing it with similar products from iRiver, Creative, Apple, Sandisk, etc.), but i'm wondering if that was a $62 mistake.

 

[PDream]

Yeah, the WMP feature sets it apart - NOT!

Any flash player that works without software can sync up with WMP, all it must do is comply to the standards and not need any special software.

 

[noguilt]

Is there anyone who has tried the Swerv5, and could compare it with similar iAudio and Creative models regarding the sound quality, navigation, and usability?

fwiw, i did call iClick and learned, with some probing, that the power output is 10mw per channel, S/N ratio is 90db. That compares with the iAudio U2's 13mw per channel, S/N ratio 95db. Of course, as always in audio, one has to approach these specs with some skepticism.

(I only mentioned the WMP "feature" because they emphasize it in their marketing; i myself have no interest in it.)

(BTW, the Swerv5 1gb version is now available at Costco for $100, so the price is certainly attractive.)