A vote for the Sansa Clip -- the 1GB is $35, the 2GB $50. Tiny, flash drive driver, decent headphone amp, small display, 15hr RT, AM/FM, voice recorder. Winner!

eliya wrote:ironyengine, what's with this link you sent as a reply to what I said about the iPod running only with iTunes. Is it possible to just connect it to the computer and drag and drop the files into it? or it can work with other software? It applies to Macs or to PCs as well?

You can drag and drop songs onto an iPod (like you would with a hard drive) to store them, but you won't be able to play them on the iPod unless you add them using iTunes or some other 3rd party application. There are quite a few of these available.

I run Linux most of the time, so I mostly use a Linux application called "gtkpod". There are also a few commercially available Windows apps that can add and remove songs to/from an iPod, and there are even a few reasonably good free ones. The one I use for transferring songs to and from Windows boxes is called "Yamipod". Check it out.

The next time I buy an mp3 player, I think I'm going to get an Archos or something like that which doesn't require an additional software layer to make it work.

Just bought a 2GB Sandisk Sansa Express for $50, and it seems like a good deal for what I need. I would like to drag iTunes playlists onto it (not just individual songs) , and I haven't sorted that yet, but I just played with it a little, so I hope to decipher that part soon.

One problem though, and maybe you computer whizzes can help; my son bought some songs from the iTunes Store, and they show up in iTunes, but we can't get them onto the Sansa.

I can drag iTunes songs I've ripped from CD's onto it, but not the new downloads. Any suggestions?

Frank

FWIW, the latest generation ipods (touch and classic) have a different logic board that no longer uses the Wolfson output chip. This results in a tinny, fatiguing and IMO downright painful sound.

I've a/b'ed them for less discrimnating listeners and they agree that the difference is noticeable.

If you decide on ipod I would recommend going with a refurbished prior generation.

I am not familiar with any other players but if my current ipod dies and they don't improve the next gen I'm taking my money elsewhere.

Oh, here's some dork shit.

eliya wrote:Now im on a hunt for a mp3 player too. Two of my coworkers have the Zen, which does look cool, but I can't find it anywhere. Other two coworkers have iPod, one is ok with it, the other doesn't like it.

I just bought a Zune a couple weeks ago. I like it for the following reasons:
-On the cheaper side- 30GB was 189.
-Has WIFI
-Has FM Tuner
-Matte Finish that doesn't scratch
-Big Screen
-Big Text
-Uses buttons, not annoying touch wheel
-Loud enough
-Software is better than iTunes.

I dislike it for the following reason:
-Very few companies make cheapo accessories for it

Recommend it if you want a good cheap one.
Yeah, Microsoft is a shitty company, but not as bad as Apple.

Tom wrote:Yeah, Microsoft is a shitty company, but not as bad as Apple.

Really?

REALLY?

ironyengine wrote:

Tom wrote:Yeah, Microsoft is a shitty company, but not as bad as Apple.

Really?

REALLY?

I have two problems with Apple:
-Their closed system approach with nearly everything.
If you want to use an Ipod, you have to use I-tunes.
If you want to use a Mac OS, you have to use a Mac, MS will work on pretty much any computer you want. I'm not saying that Windows is an open source program or anything, but its a hell of a lot more open than Mac.

-Their ad and marketing needs to be curbed. I rarely see Microsoft commercials anywhere. I'd rather the money I pay for my shit to go towards the shit I want, rather than more advertising, which I don't want.