Customer Reviews
Not for me 
2008-06-11
I bought this wanting an inexpensive (5 stars for that) mp3 player. I'm returning it for a more expensive Creative Muvo, (which this was meant to replace after I broke the Muvo.)
Pros: features; mp3's, voice recordings for lectures (although I didn't try out this feature), fm radio, additional storage capacity with memory card.
Cons: battery runs out when the unit is off, even when the "hold" button is activated. There's also a delay when you press a button before the screen shows your selection, so you don't know if the screen isn't changing because you didn't press the button hard enough, if you press it a second time, the first hit is registered along with the next and you end up passing your desired selection. For a crowded train or walking around town, having to stop, stare at the screen, press the button, wait for it to register, press again and wait again to scroll to your song or folder, is not worth the trouble.
If you're not "on the go", this is a fine product.
A good bargain, with a couple of niggles. 
2008-05-22
This MP3 player is a pretty good deal for the price ($20 in May 2008). It is rather larger than it looks - I expected it to be the size of a typical USB travel drive, but in fact it's around twice as big. It has a good, rubberised outside, and the buttons in general are easy to use and accessible.
I HIGHLY recommend purchasing additional storage. This MP3 player will accept up to 2GB of external memory. I say this for two reasons - 1) 1 GB is fairly limited these days, and 2) the internal memory is very slow to write to (VERY slow - one megabyte every two minutes or so). I don't know if this is because I have a faulty product, or because I'm using it on a Linux system, or this is just the way it is. An extra SD card will set you back ~$5. A worthwhile investment!
The quality of sound is good, the FM radio gets good reception, the earphones are of decent quality, too. The MP3 player comes with a lanyard for hanging around the neck, but doesn't have any clip or attachment for use with a belt or strapping around the arm. In general, a good product, with a couple of little niggles.
Excellent so far two minor flaws 2007-07-28
Exchanged a COBY at $35 for this at at $49.99 at J and R and after a few hitches everything checks out very well. Sound is very good and the phones provided are excellent. The Trekstor 2GB can be booted with an SD Card in the slot provided in the side.
The Trekstor iBeat Extension is a class above the COBY for only $15 more - 2 GB instead of 1GB, SD Card slot, and the mike and voice recording very good. The FM seems good too.
Two tiny problems though. The Mike hole is too small and on the side not front so it does not record the person opposite you very well unless aimed intentionally at them. And, the FM seems so far not to be able to distinguish between 89.9 (WKCR) and 90.0 MHz (WKCR with occasional hisses), though perhaps I will find out how to correct this.
The TrekStor is German but made in China and the pleasing texture of the surface material is suede. Good appearance except for two slightly cheap looking metal controls. The earphones are excellent. They also provide a neck strap.
This is quality for a bargain price if it continues to perform well. Smaller and less liable to be snatched than an iPod. Was going to buy a Sandisk but would have been without a card slot if I had. The mike is muffled if not pointed at the source which is a big drawback since casual recording from it hanging around your neck looks as if it will not work very well.
Update after three months: Works fine as an MP3 player, except for oddity that sometimes it just stops in midstream even with a newish battery, so you just have to take the battery out briefly and replace, then it works OK. Nice surface feel and black satin looks still please. With unlimited expansion through SD cards it seems to be a very good answer to the MP3 expansion problem for a low price. But whether it will mike any good recordings remains unknown, since the menu offers difficulties of navigation and the mike trouble with orientation that I cant be bothered to deal with.
Trekstor i.Beat xtension 2G 
2007-06-14
This is an excellent low-cost MP3 player which will satisfy all "regular" users. The screen is a little small and if, like me, your eyesight isn't what it used to be, it could be a little strain to read it.
The user's guide could go a little more in the details, mainly regarding the explaination for all the -tiny- symbols on screen but if you have been using a tape, cd or whatever of anykind in the last 10 years, you'll figure them out very quickly.
My requirements when searching for a player were:
-Lightweight
-No cable to connect on computer
-Comfortable memory, expandable if possible
-FM radio
-Price max $60.00
It took me a couple of days of search on line but I am not disappointed.
On the service side, JR Electronics (it came from them) sent it the day after in a BIG box with impressive padding. A big ++ for them.
The MP3 power-users will probably want to go with a bigger -more expensive- one but, for myself, I see no need at all to do so and expect to keep this one for a long time.
