http://www.apple.com/ipodmini/
http://a1600.g.akamai.net/7/1600/51/3608c373ef3157/www.apple.com/ipodmini/images/index_headerfamily01062004.jpg

4 gigs for $250. Another $50 and you can get the 15 gig original iPod; that's Apple for you. BTW it's mini because its slightly larger then a business card but a 1/2 inch thick.

FYI, Rio's Nitrus will be also be available in a 4GB configuration this month. It's also a bit smaller.

Other than the lack of direct iTunes support (of course), I find the Nitrus a better deal. The firmware for the Nitrus and Karma is being developed by the empeg folks and is very nice ... and both of them match the color scheme of my NBP E quite nicely! :)

I borrowed my sister's Karma last week to check out the new cross-fade* feature on the Karma. very cool...

-brendan

* which is now available in the v3alpha5 empeg software as well, but I'm holding off upgrading until they are at least at beta release...rebooting my car stereo regularly while driving isn't my idea of safe...

I was kind of excited about these until I saw the price and the colors. Thats only $50 less than the 15gig and it has no special features. The colors make me kinda ill. I would have to go with silver if at all.
Overall I think they really fell short with these they need to be under $200 and make one in black then I could take it seriously.

I like the sound quality of the HD Rio's as well. Karma owner here. From what I've read, there can be some bass distortion in the new Ipods. I believe the Nitrus has the same parametric EQ that the Karma does, and it really does wonders for the sound. Many reviews have confirmed this, and in a few head to heads with the Ipod on some of the forums the results were the same.

Honda really needs to do some cross marketing with Rio or another MP3 player manufacturer. They could get a manufacturer to issue out limited edition color matched MP3 players, give them away with the purchase of an Element, and sell them to current owners. They could cross market the MP3 player/Element on each other's website. Then tour the country promoting the player/car.

My Karma is grey and black. Perfect for the black on grey interior. Plus it has a dock that has a blue glow to it. Would definitely compliment the interior, and probably fit well on that little shelf. The dock has RCA outs on it as well so you wouldn't be limited to the headphone jack thus giving you better sound quality.

Rio would do well to do a little marketing. Their new product line backed by DNNA is top notch.

Creative recently announced that they were releasing new colors for their Nomad MuVo flash MP3 players.
The colors are strikingly similar to some of our Es.
http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=3&subcategory=22&product=9217#
And they are offering a 512mb version soon.
8)

I need at least 4Gs. With that said, the MuVo2 in the blue/silver color looks to be a great match with my EBP interior.

If you need 4GB's then you'll love the new Rio Nitrus that comes out in a couple months. The Nitrus is already one of the best sellers on the market, and I'm sure will be street priced about $50 less than the mini Ipod. Though to quote Henry Ford, "you can have any color you want as long as it's black."

Though for $290 give or take a few dollars you can get the 20GB Karma. I think you'll be able to get the 4GB Nitrus for around $200. Both of which should go well with the E interiors.