iRiver Clix 2 Red Line 8GB review

iRiver Clix 2 Red Line 8GB Review

Reviewed by: Nate Lanxon

Reviewed on: 12 September 2007

The Clix 2 -- officially called Clix 2nd Generation -- is the younger brother to the hugely successful and highly rated Clix. Even now, the Clix sits in CNET.co.uk's MP3 channel with one of the highest ever scores.

The navigation system of the original Clix was almost as revolutionary as the iPod's Click Wheel, and it sat upon a feature-packed device that worked incredibly well. Now this second-gen model has a special 'Red Line' edition that also boasts an 8GB capacity. It's pricey, though, at around £180.

Design
The new Clix is so attractive, it actually looks slightly edible.

There are no visible buttons on the front -- instead, the front itself acts as a four-way button. Pushing the screen in any of four directions allows you to navigate through the various menus of the Clix, and it's incredibly easy to use. It's also very refreshing not to be fiddling around with small buttons or poor Click Wheel imitations. The red 'go-faster' stripe that now runs around the edge of the player adds an extra stylish touch to an otherwise all-black device.

Are there any downsides to the design of the new Clix? Only a couple. It's slightly difficult to see the buttons on the side, and the player feels distinctly breakable. The gap between the body of the player and the screen gives the feeling that the screen is breaking off. It's not though, so it just takes a little getting used to.

The Clix 2's glossy finish complements a stylish menu design

Features
The 56mm (2.2-inch) screen on the new Clix is sharper than Paul Merton's wit, and menus, photos and videos are crisp and rendered with vivid colour. There's an option to change the main menu's background to one of several attractive themes, the most seductive of which on the original second-gen Clix was a beautiful, brightly coloured and animated rendition of what could be mistaken for a close-up of Saturn's rings. A new metallic theme is included with the 8GB Red Line edition that looks arguably more professional than any other theme included with the player.

The menu system itself is completely foolproof and simple to browse. Clicking the screen in the direction you wish to travel is all you need to do. It's intuitive and simple enough for a child or an ageing grandparent to master in seconds.