Need reccomendations for non-iPod MP3 player

[c.c.r.]

Guys,

A friend of mine is lusting after my iPod. She can't afford to go buy one, though. She's obsessed with having her mp3's with her while on the go, so I'd like to reccomend an alternate mp3 player that's in her price range. Problem is, I have no idea what's out there (I don't pay much attention to the non-hard disk based players).

So, can any of y'all reccomend a music player that's under $100 US? It can't be a CD-based one (that is, "burn your mp3s to CD as data and play 'em with this!) -- she doesn't have a CD burner.

My buddy'd be very appreciative and so would I if some kind loungers could point her in the right direction. Thanks in advance!

c.c.r.

[totallylost]

Originally posted by c.c.r.
Guys,

A friend of mine is lusting after my iPod.


You're #### straight I want an iPod. Lust would be an understatement. Unfortunately, finances being what they are, CC is correct, I can not afford an iPod, especially not a gen3.

Please, I beg of you - the gurus of sound that you are - please if you know any good buys, that would be kick ### awesome.

Oh yeah - and I can go a lil over 100 bones, but the 300+ for a gen3 is a no go.

~totallylost (as always)

[cobra]

It wont hold much, but look at the Creative Nomad Muvo.


It comes in 64mb or 128mb versions, $100 and $150. The 128mb one should hold about 30 tracks, about 2 hours of music. Thats probably about the best you can get for your money at that price range.


It is also about the size of a lighter (cheapo bic kind) and uses USB.

[eustacescrubb]

I have a RIO 600 (http://www.sonicblue.com/shop/_templates/item_main.asp?model=138&cat=6) that came free with my computer which I've never used; I'll sell it to you for $20 and the cost of shipping. It only hold 32 MB without an add-on. But hey - 20 bucks!

[2000NB18T]

my wife has a RioSPORT S30S (http://www.sonicblue.com/shop/_templates/item_main.asp?model=89&cat=33) and loves it.

[Kenny]

Nex II (http://www.frontierlabs.com/).
Highly recommended from a lot of the people in the 'mp3' scene. Personally, I think this is the best flash based player in the market.

[ToddW]

I would recommend the RIO also. Those guys have been making flash based mp3 players since the beginning

[Jackonicko]

Second hand Gen 1 5 GB iPod. Still kicks ###. Still better than any of these suggestions.

[totallylost]

Thanky thanky for all the responses to CC's question. I definitely know where to go when I need help figurin it all out.

I have currently bid on a Gen2 iPod being sold on ebay. Its a 10 gig, and the current bid (which I hold yipee) is like 100 bucks. I'm hoping I can just swipe that up. Then I will have the best of both worlds. Tons o' tunes, and an ipod instead of shiznt.

Now, lets just hope no fools try and steal this pod out from under me *g*

~totallylost (as always)

[tntracy]

Originally posted by Kenny
Nex II (http://www.frontierlabs.com/).
Highly recommended from a lot of the people in the 'mp3' scene. Personally, I think this is the best flash based player in the market.
I concur 100%. I have a NEX II and, with it's removable CompactFlash memory, it is very versatile. I purchased it over a year ago before I bought my first iPod. I paid $99 for it.

The sound quality is quite good, but the firmware is a bit buggy. Fortunately, none of the bugs affect the music playback itself (i.e., the sound quality).

Also, it's tiny (smaller than the iPod!) and light as a feather, even with the 2 AA batteries inserted.

I picked up a 512 MB CF card for it from buy.com a few weeks ago for it for only $92 (after $30 rebate), and I use it instead of my iPod if I'm going jogging to spare my iPod's HDD from the physical jarring.

Tom

[VoodooDaddy]

I have a RCA Lyra, the new model style, 128mb with flash card slot for extra storage. I'd sell it for $55 straight up ($50 for the player, $5 to ship.) Cost me $110.

Its barely used, still have all packaging and everything. I sampled all my songs to 96kbit for cram on as many as I could. Sounded fine to me. I was able to fit 40-44 songs on at 96kb.

Dont know if this link will work, but here is the Lyra at RCAs website.

http://www.rca.com/product/viewdetail/0,2588,PI700503-CI700007,00.html?