4GB SanDisk MP3 Player - $49

[MTBMaven]

Just picked one of these up tonight. Great review by some dudes at work. 4GB memory, expansion slot for microSD, FM tuner, plays video, and doesn't use iTunes. $49. Co-worker was telling me to replace the OEM OS with Rockbox; with the new OS you can use up to 4GB microSD.

http:www.woot.com

[BrewMaster]

Woot has some good deals. That's a refurbished unit, but if it works, no problemo.

[el_d00der1n0]

I have the 6GB version.

Positive:
I've been pretty happy with it. I don't have all of the bs involved with iTunes and Apple's DRM. I just drag and drop files like it's a memory stick. No software to install either.

Negative:
I did try to sync it with Media Player once. That was a bad idea. The charger is the usb cable. You can't listen and charge simultaneously except on certain models (like mine) there's a funky workaround.

[MTBMaven]

What's the funky workaround? Can the workaround work on my model?

[el_d00der1n0]

Originally Posted by MTBMaven

What's the funky workaround? Can the workaround work on my model?

A friend of mine has a newer one and it didn't work, but you can try it:

Start a recording by pushing the record button on the left. Then, plug the USB in. It should be charging. You can stop the recording then and erase it or whatever. The player should be in a regular play mode with the battery image in the bottom right looking like it's charging.

[MTBMaven]

Wow that is a weird work around. Kind of lame you'd have to go through all that. I wonder if putting the Rockbox OS changes anything. It seems given your work around it is more of an OS issue rather than a hardware limitation.

[el_d00der1n0]

Originally Posted by MTBMaven

Wow that is a weird work around. Kind of lame you'd have to go through all that. I wonder if putting the Rockbox OS changes anything. It seems given your work around it is more of an OS issue rather than a hardware limitation.

Yeah, I blame the firmware for that one. *

If I don't feel like messing around to get it charged, I just plug the headphones into the computer while it charges.

I'll add one more gripe to the list while we're at it: the record button is too easy to accidently hit it.


*[SIZE=1]That's right. I blame the software guys.[/SIZE]

[nappyt]

Originally Posted by MTBMaven

Wow that is a weird work around. Kind of lame you'd have to go through all that. I wonder if putting the Rockbox OS changes anything. It seems given your work around it is more of an OS issue rather than a hardware limitation.

My buddy put Rockbox on his iPod and likes it. Even the audio is better plus the optional add-on's are cool.

A former student told me about Floola which is a cross platform alternative to iTunes.