I realize that HDs and physical shock don't get along too well, but is running with a Karma a concern? I read a post at another forum <Michael hangs his head in shame> where some said running with a Karma was a good way to kill it. I find that hard to believe since my empeg was jarred around in an SUV for a year and a half and I had no HD problems. Comments?

The empeg also uses laptop hard drives and shock trays. I have heard of people running with the karma without problem, but I have also heard about people that have had trouble. I would recommend against it as a safety precaution, especially if it is bouncing around somewhere in a pocket or pack.

...and whatever you do don't go running with an empeg clipped to your belt, you'll end up with big bruises

You know if you took one of those framed infant back packs you could install an empeg, speakers, and a motorcycle battery.... hmmm....

Just pick up a Cali. Even the 128MB with expandable SD memory is more than enough for jogging.

Just don't drop it. It took all of once to kill my wife's Karma, voiding the warranty in the process . . .

It really doesn't take abuse like the empeg does.

FWIW I took mine skiing all season long. Many many days.
No problemo. But then I don't faceplant much any more.

I wouldn't take it boarding, though, because I'd end up with
a Karma-shaped indentation somewhere on my body, and a $200 hole
in my wallet. But if I sucked less at snowboarding, I'd probably
consider it.

I actually like the little felt bag that has received so much
criticism. I just stuff it in the bag to prevent scratching,
and stuff the bag in an inner pocket. Then I wear a ski-helmet with
built-in headphones and clip the mute button on my lapel.
The inner pocket allows body heat to help prevent possible cold
temperature issues with the drive.

The real issue is with safety in regards to noise, and why skiing
with headphones is banned in some places.
With the Karma buried deep in my pockets, volume adjustment is impossible.
I have the choice of (1) muted, or (2) not muted.

So I just set the volume to a very quiet level. I can't hear it at all when I'm
boarding the lift next to the loud engines they always have there.
And I can't hear it when the wind is whizzing past my ears at 45 mph.

But when I slow down, or when I stop and view the scenery, I think
"Where is all that cool music coming from? Oh right, that's me. Rock on."

I can even use the joystick to skip a song (when I'm not moving), although
with gloves on I accidentally end up pausing the song instead about 50% of the time.

Your mileage may vary. Don't blame me if you have a close encounter with a
mogul or a rogue tree jumps into the trail in front of you and you trash
your sweet little player. Don't consider this an endorsement of this
type of behavior. DEFINITELY don't be like those boneheads that crank
their jams and swerve all over the slopes oblivous to all around them.

/music

P.S. Did I just say "crank their jams"? Damn, what decade is this again?

Well I can't speak for the Karma, but Rio definitly do not recommend running with the Nitrus.
This is based on my experience when RMA'ing my wife dead Nitrus.
http://empegbbs.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/203421/an//page//vc/1

Unllike others, I don't run for enjoyment. My motivation is to get back in shape for backpacking now that my weekends are free. I've decided to walk with a small pack. This allows me to use my karma, but it takes a lot longer. I average about 4 miles an hour and and like to get in 6 to 8 miles a walk.The time spent is a little more than I wanted but its better than running in silence.

My Karma has go the drive heads stuck twice now. Both times I had the player in the pocket of my trousers rather than the pocket of my jacket so it must have been banging against my thigh. I wouldn't go running with it.

A support approved thwack on the back dislodged the heads both times

Yeah. I've had mine lock up quite a few minutes just from me walking around with it my pocket. A reset has fixed it every time though.

ive run several miles (or several times 1.6 kilometres) with mine and have never had any problems. maybe its saving up the problems to dump them all on me at once

As posted previously I hike with mine now at a good clip. I think the issue may actually be more about how you carry it than what you're doing. I carry mine in a pocket of my pack, which greatly absorbs most of the motion and it never comes in contact with anything directly (that would jar it) like it would if I were running with it in my pocket.