mp3 player questions

[cold_cash]

Hey all.

My sister is considering buying a Dell mp3 player, and since both she and I are both pretty ignorant about them I figured I would turn to you for help.

My main question is this: Can you use your mp3 player as a portable hard drive for storing misc. files, much like you would use one of those "thumbstick" drives?

Do all mp3 players have this capability, or is it available only on some? (Or none, if the answer is 'no'.) If the answer is 'yes', this would kick ass, IMO.

I heard something about iPod batteries and how they sucked and blah, blah, blah, so we were exploring some alternatives. I don't think she wants to spend more than $250 though, so the choices may be limited. If you have any recommendations on the tip of your tongue please feel free to share them.

Thanks.

[blaze666]

i think the zen micro is awesome. pretty cheap now as well. i think most mp3 players do, and they will say that it doubles as a flash drive.

[cold_cash]

I'll check it out. Thanks.

[Bukem_]

I believe IAudio X5 just came out.

Anyone have one or recommend one? (Patrick?)

Seems really nice, and it is a portable hard drive, I don't think all mp3s are.

X5 (http://www.cowonamerica.com/products/iaudio/x5/)

http://www.cowonamerica.com/images/products/x5/x5_01.jpg

[thatpfunk]

[ QUOTE ]
I heard something about iPod batteries and how they sucked and blah, blah, blah

[/ QUOTE ]

I've heard this rumor as well. My Ipod is now 22 months old. It has gone through a ton of abuse (traveling Europe for 6 months, very hard snowboarding falls) and almost daily use. The battery still lasts about 6 hours when I leave it playing.

[daveymck]

I got a Zen Xtra from a US seller on Ebay, 40gig and was less than $250, that would be my choice, can drag and drop onto it in file manager so a touch easier than itunes imho, is a bit bigger and heavier than an ipod but still gois in your pocket easily.

[Patrick del Poker Grande]

[ QUOTE ]
The battery still lasts about 6 hours when I leave it playing.

[/ QUOTE ]
This is not good.

To the OP, get an iAudio (http://eng.iaudio.com/zeroboard/product_M3_over.php?bmenu=p&id=cw5000) something. It'll be everything you want and it'll do it better than most anything else out there, including an iPod.

[bonanz]

I was thinking about getting an Iriver 300 series

newegg link (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16855150034)

anyone have any experience with these?

http://images10.newegg.com/productimage/55-150-034-06.JPG

[Soul Daddy]

[ QUOTE ]
I got a Zen Xtra from a US seller on Ebay, 40gig and was less than $250, that would be my choice, can drag and drop onto it in file manager so a touch easier than itunes imho, is a bit bigger and heavier than an ipod but still gois in your pocket easily.

[/ QUOTE ]
My Zen Xtra has a short in it after 6 months of fairly heavy use. Basically if the headphones are fully plugged in, only the right side functions properly. If plugged in halfway, I can get both to work, but it's a pain when working out. I have no clue how to fix. Anybody?

Also, the fact that you need proprietary software on the computer to transfer files is a big downside.