My main question is whether there is a maximum record time on iRivers. I've read a number of recommendations that an iRiver would be an acceptable recorder for groom. I'm leaning towards the e150. I guess my secondary question would be, is there a way to lock the key controls so that the recording doesn't get bumped accidentally in his pocket and stop the recording?

Edit: Just found a manual online for the e150, which apparently has a Hold button for locking it down.

Careful what you get. Only the 700/800 series can accept an external mic (the others only have line level input). Unless some new models can do it, I don't know.

Search the forums for iRiver. You'll get tons of info.

Also search for Olympus. Lots of guys are using those since the iRiver models that work are discontinued.

I tried the e100, since it does have an input - terribly noisy, useless for anything serious. I would expect the same of the 150. The record function is a "secondary feature" they just happened to get right on certain earlier models.

It's the 700/800 series that are the "good" ones for audio quality, and yes there is a limit based on internal memory size, Even the 128Mb (yes, M...) are more than adequate for an average day.

There is a "hold" slider on the side so once you strat them, you can lock any further actions.

I dug up a few of these (7 and 8 series iRivers, all either 128 or 256) the other day and was going to put them on eBay... trying to reduce my overly redundant backup equipment... if you're interested.