The menu and database systems are excellent, and as I’d later learn, they’re a product of engineers who really seem to be proud of their work. It shows. Unlike the iRiver, the Karma doesn’t show up as an MSC device. It has to be accessed through an intermediary software layer, much like Creative players. I used to deplore this approach, but after seeing the alternative, I’ve got to say that this is better. However, where Creative drops the ball with horrendous (read: MusicMatch) software, and Windows-only compatibility, the folks at Rio have thought this one through a little better.
The Karma ships with a Windows-only software suite called Rio Music Manager (RMM). I booted into Windows to give it a spin, and it’s actually a pretty good setup. However, one of my conditions for buying a player is that I not have to do that, and that’s where RMMLite comes in. Continued...