Best MP3 player?

[maxsick]

I am looking for a portable MP3 player before leaving for college. I was going to buy an iPod mini but I heard that the battery dies and is expensive to replace. Is this player still the best option or is there a better one (I've heard mixed things about Rio's products)?

[TheCroShow]

for money, the rio sport was perfect for me, under 100 bucks, carries a bunch of songs. all depends on how much you are working with. my buddy has an ipod and recommends i get something else when i upgrade.

[eric5148]

iAudio M3. I'll let Patrick elaborate.

[battschr]

I've heard various complaints about iPods...and I'm sure they are true...but just wanted to say that I've been ecstatic with mine since i got it.

[ceyoung]

stay away from iriver. i got the h10 with the free subscription to napster and it's no where near as solid as an ipod. Also, it freezes a lot and i've had to transfer all my songs onto it 3 times because it decided to delete them. any company that releases an mp3 player and then 3 firmware upgrades in the first month does not deserve your money.

[Patrick del Poker Grande]

[ QUOTE ]
iAudio M3. I'll let Patrick elaborate.

[/ QUOTE ]
You are correct, sir. I have already elaborated here, here, and here, as well as a few other places, I'm sure. These links seem to highlight the X5, at least in the pictures. If you don't want the video player and color screen, then you want the M3. I'm not sure what happened to the picture of the M3 in that first one, but there's a link to the M3 there as well as the X5.

[ceyoung]

also the new sony looks pretty cool. smaller than an ipod, battery lasts twice as long. i dont have any hands on experience, it just looks cool.

[bonanz]

I just bought an Iriver H340. It's pretty badass.

[mikeyvegas]

I'm getting the iAUDIO X5L when it comes out in the 60 gig model. It is the nutz.