[phreak]

The time has come and my old trusty 64MB MP3 player needs to be replaced.  Which means I'm in the market for an MP3 player.  I have high standards for what I'd like to get so here goes.  I have some reservations about the durability of hard drive players, as I often used my old MP3 player when doing stuff like yard work where the chance of damage was much higher than just walking around, so I'm probably going to be looking at a flash player.  Also, i'm rather clumsy at times (ie, drunk) and would like a player that could survive multiple falls off a table.

Some stuff i'd like as features

• At least 1GB of memory
• Ability to play different formats audio MP3 CBR, MP3 VBR, WMA, OGG (optional)
• Capability to fit additional memory - I currently have a 128MB MMC card
• Not an iPod derivative

if I get a hard drive player, I'd like these additional features

• At least 10GB storage
• Ability to store non-audio files such as FS2 ISOs
• Full color display
• Ability to play certain videos and display still images
• Not an iPod

[Mefustae]

Get an iPod! You're not really person if you don't own an iPod!

[Fineus]

What about a PSP? Unless I'm mistaken they're hard drive based and can store pretty much anything, as well as having a full color display.

Edit: I am mistaken, they can hold 1GB duo cards. Perhaps they're not as suitable for music storage as I thought, although they can diversify into a load of other stuff.

[Taristin]

Your HD-based preferences will be veeeeeeery difficult to find. I was going to recommend the creative zen microphoto, but I dont think they come in 40GB sizes.

[Colonol Dekker]

Creative RIO, or PSP, or Moto KRZR. All work very well dependant on budget.
I prefer my KRZR.

[phreak]

I changed my HD size preferences, I didn't know most of them were under 20gb yet.

[Dark Hunter]

I was going to suggest an iRiver (despite its name, it has absolutely no connection to iPods), as that's what I use, but... it doesn't have full color display, and my model has 512 MB's of memory. I think they have larger versions available now, but, what the hell, I don't need that much memory.  

[Ghostavo]

Just out of curiosity, what is the cheapest (and I mean cheapest) mp3 player around? I want to see if I can find one for €20 or something. 

Seriously. 

[Ulala]

I got a 512MB usb flash drive for $20, seems like you could find an mp3 player for not too much more if you shopped around/found a good sale or deal/possibly went for a rebate.

[Polpolion]

The only reason I don't like IPods is because they are made by apple. And they only play AIFs.

[Ashrak]

i have a gigabyte muvo

[Prophet]

I got a 512MB usb flash drive for $20, seems like you could find an mp3 player for not too much more if you shopped around/found a good sale or deal/possibly went for a rebate.

I got a Lenco 128MB player, I think it was little bit under 20€... So they're not too expensive.

[Scuddie]

Try a SanDisk Sansa C250.  I purchased one as suggested by Sandwich (I think), and I've never had to look for another solution yet.  They're not exactly rugged, but they are decently built.  A fall off a table probably wont kill it .  It might not be what you're looking for, but it's an option to consider .

[Nix]

Snag an Axim X50 off of Ebay, a cheap 2 gig SD card, a cheap 2 gig CF card, and you have nearly 4GB of flash memory at your disposal.  Grab GSPlayer, and you have MP3, WAV, OGG, WMA,  and with a plugin provided from the GSPlayer site, MIDI playback. You'll also have WiFi/Bluetooth connectivity, be able to access emails and such, etc etc. I've seen used X50's go for bout the same price as Creative's 4-6 gig flash players or the ickpuke nano 4gb models.  Add a really cheap card reader, and you can store anything on the cards you want.  If you like to listen to MIDI's, the PPC platform is the only one that I've seen be able to play them back.  No flash player can do this to my knowledge.

Of course, this will be much more complicated than just a flash player, but it provides flexibility beyond compare. 

[BlackDove]

You're not really person if you don't own an iPod!

[Colonol Dekker]

SOd that.........

[jr2]

Snag an Axim X50 off of Ebay, a cheap 2 gig SD card, a cheap 2 gig CF card, and you have nearly 4GB of flash memory at your disposal.  Grab GSPlayer, and you have MP3, WAV, OGG, WMA,  and with a plugin provided from the GSPlayer site, MIDI playback. You'll also have WiFi/Bluetooth connectivity, be able to access emails and such, etc etc. I've seen used X50's go for bout the same price as Creative's 4-6 gig flash players or the ickpuke nano 4gb models.  Add a really cheap card reader, and you can store anything on the cards you want.  If you like to listen to MIDI's, the PPC platform is the only one that I've seen be able to play them back.  No flash player can do this to my knowledge.

Of course, this will be much more complicated than just a flash player, but it provides flexibility beyond compare. 

Is there anything that has that flexibility without the $200 price tag?  I mean, one with less storage or something...  I was going to get an 2 to 4 gig MP3 player + SD slot for expansion, but they only have a limited format compatibility. (MP3, WMA, not OGG or WAV... any of them play FLAC?)  I don't need a mini PC, just an MP3 player.  (Although a mini PC + Linux would be kewl!)

[WMCoolmon]

http://www.iriveramerica.com/prod/ultra/t10/

Worth looking at, but probably a bit pricey. The most recent firmware updates will also allow it to function as a UMS, ie works like a memory stick.

[IceFire]

I really like my Zen Micro.  They don't sell them anymore but it was a good product.  Not sure what Creative's lineup is like this time but they are number 2 to Apple so they are at least worth a look.

[ZmaN]

I had a creative Zen Sleek photo.  It was totally awesome..



Then it got stolen.  I was sad