The hardware on the player is OK other than that the buttons are basically unlabeled. There's tiny lettering, white on white, that can only be read under a microscope. The display isn't much better.

So much for the good news. The bad news is that the software is among the worst I've ever seen anywhere on any product. For the most part, this is NOT an mp3 player. It ignores the track number tag on mp3, and insists that you name all your tracks ###name.mp3 or else it'll play them out of order.

Once an mp3 is playing, you can't fastforward or rewind. I've haven't seen anything so primitive in the last twenty years of personal electronics.

This is an adequate player, but it skips easily and the control buttons are tiny with illegible markings. A big disappointment.

I an very satisfied with this CD player.The best I ever had for a lon time. Thank you.

Just got it for my mom. It is a nice product. It plays regular as well as mp3 CDs just fine. The sound is very good for my taste even with the headphones that come with the product. My only complaint is that it is very hard to read the button labels. If they were marked with a different color they would be more distinguishable. Other than that it works really well.

Panasonic SL-SV590 good points:

- Reliable even when bumped or reading scratched CDs
- Can play standard CDs more than 30 hours on two AA cells
- 4 pre-set bass equalization settings (2 work with FM) and 2 pre-set "surround" settings (neither works with FM) may amuse restless youngsters
- Pause and resume setting is retained when powered off
- Station pre-sets are retained when battery is changed
- Relatively straightforward and self-evident control layout
- Plays MP3
- Good FM radio with stereo/mono and normal/city settings stores 20 frequencies in memory
- Hold switch

Possible deficiencies for some users:

- Typically mediocre headphones included
- "Flat" response claimed is +0.5, -7 dB @ 20-20kHz!! (Is this Panasonic's idea of a joke?)
- Raspy distortion of voice and brass (typical McDigital sound) is evident even with best ("flat") settings when using excellent Sony MDR-V6 headphones
- No AM radio
- No MP3 encoding software is included (but thankfully none of Sony's buggy proprietary ATRAC spyware is included either)
- Can't play WMA despite Amazon description
- No power or line jacks
- Battery change is awkward
- Controls and screen are tiny and nearly illegible
- Lid opens very easily when edge is bumped
- Button volume controls (typical of today's products but inconvenient compared to wheel)
- Looks and feels cheap

In summary, this is a good modern product of its type for the price [under forty dollars], and there may currently be none better at its price, but its deficiencies may lead some buyers to seek older better machines.