Portable media players! Suggestions?

[skalogre]

Ok, so I have an iRiver H320 that has been an absolute gem. Has the Korean firmware which means I get video, has good battery life and it is UMS compliant - no software required to hook it up on ANY USB-supporting computer. But I have some problems: Space. The H320 has only 20 GB. I need minimum 40, ideally 60 (or 100). I was hoping that Toshiba would get off their arses and release to the market the MK4004GAL single platter drive that would fit in the iRiver. Has never been released. Ideally I would just upgrade the hard drive. Primary use with be in vehicle and plane trips (at other times I use my Nokia 6630 with some decent headphones). High-capacity; video; UMS-compliant; preferably directory-structure browsing; relatively reasonable price. Decent battery life and portability would be good. Toshiba GigaBeat S60 is drop dead gorgeous, beautiful screen, BUT requires specialised software. Ditto on 60 GB iPod photo ALTHOUGH removing the Apple firmware and using Rockbox would work - well, except for Rockbox not supporting video

Zen Vision M 30 GB. Pretty but 30 GB is NOT enough for anybody. Archos 60 and 100 GB players. DAMN nice but their gorgeous large screen comes at a price - size (plus they are half a k $s!) iRiver PMP/PMCs are unfortunately not that good. Does anyone have any suggestions? Slim? Edit: Forgot to mention the Cowon iAudio X5 and other Cowons. WHile good they are not an improvement in functionality over the H320 I have.

 

[Tokyo Slim]

I'm currently very fond of the Gigabeat. I think that realistically you are going to find proprietary software with whatever new toy you decide on, in the range you are looking for. Its just a matter of what you find least offensive. I know some people who can't stand Sony's Sonicstage. I personally hate (big suprise here!) anything with that forces me to associate with apple. I haven't heard anything really frustrating about Toshiba's yet. I'll check around later on tonight and see if there's anything that has slipped through the cracks in my short term memory.

 

[DNW]

I had a Creative Zen Sleek and was quite happy with it. If weight wasn't a problem, I'd buy another Creative. But, given that I use my mp3 player mostly when I work out, I had to trade it in for an Ipod Mini.

 

[skalogre]

Originally Posted by Tokyo Slim

I'm currently very fond of the Gigabeat. I think that realistically you are going to find proprietary software with whatever new toy you decide on, in the range you are looking for. Its just a matter of what you find least offensive. I know some people who can't stand Sony's Sonicstage. I personally hate (big suprise here!) anything with that forces me to associate with apple. I haven't heard anything really frustrating about Toshiba's yet. I'll check around later on tonight and see if there's anything that has slipped through the cracks in my short term memory.
Thanks Slim. I am rather hoping that they crack through and get it to use UMS but I am not that optimistic - at least not based on the little I found out on one of the Gigabeat forums. Darknworn: I saw a special for the 20GB Zen Sleek Photo at 150.00 - I wonder if I can hack a new drive in to it. Did it support video?

 

[DNW]

Originally Posted by skalogre

I saw a special for the 20GB Zen Sleek Photo at 150.00 - I wonder if I can hack a new drive in to it. Did it support video?

I'm not sure, I never had the need, nor the desire to watch The Matrix through the little screen. It'd no doubt drive me insane.

 

[imageWIS]

Originally Posted by Tokyo Slim

I'm currently very fond of the Gigabeat. I think that realistically you are going to find proprietary software with whatever new toy you decide on, in the range you are looking for. Its just a matter of what you find least offensive. I know some people who can't stand Sony's Sonicstage. I personally hate (big suprise here!) anything with that forces me to associate with apple. I haven't heard anything really frustrating about Toshiba's yet. I'll check around later on tonight and see if there's anything that has slipped through the cracks in my short term memory.
I have a 4th Gen iPod.

Jon.