Recommendation for mp3 player

[steerpike]

I've used MP3 on my laptop for a long time, and also have a small memorex 'metro' player. I'd now like to buy a better flash (non-hard drive) player. here are some criteria I have:

1) use external/expandable storage - preferably Compact Flash, since I have a lot of 256 MByte cards from my old cameras, but SD would be OK I guess.

This player looks promising, does anyone have experience with it? http://www.store.yahoo.com/frontiers...adigaudp1.html
If it's ok, does anyone know - are the CF cards easy to interchange?

2) For any player with expandable storage, it must not use proprietary encoding ... I came across a post about the RCA Lyra that talked about the fact that you must use their software to 'load' the cards.

http://web.mit.edu/lxs/www/soapbox/lyra.html

I'm assuming this is unique to RCA ... is it still their practice on the latest models? Do other removable storage players do likewise?

3) must use standard batteries - AAA, AA, etc.

4) Preferably no radio, no microphone, no line in recording - just don't need it, so want to keep it simple.

5) Must have basic 'folder' navigation - ability to move from folder to folder, then track to track (my old memorex metro does not provide this feature and it drives me nuts!).

6) Must operate as a standard 'windows storage device' - that is, show up as a removable drive when plugged in - with NO requirement for proprietary software loaded on my PC (does this rule out iRiver devices?).

Don't care about headphones - got plenty already!

Don't care about formats - just good old MP3 is fine!

Thanks!

[LtData]

Re: Recommendation for mp3 player

MP3 players that use CF cards are few-and-far between now. You'd be better off switching to SD-cards.

Also, the Creative MuVo players are nice. Some models have a removable USB key that you just plug into a USB port like a USB "thumbdrive" people have. To use it as a player, you put it in the player-portion and turn it on. However, they don't support memory cards.

[steerpike]

Re: Recommendation for mp3 player

Yes, I can see that I'll have to give up on CompactFlash!

So if I go with SD storage - specifically the Rio players - can anyone confirm that I can simply remove the card from the device, and load it into a standard 'SD Card Reader' on my PC, and copy MP3 files to the card, then put the card back into the player?

[LtData]

Re: Recommendation for mp3 player

I seem to remember that SD cards are particular about audio files on them, but I'm not sure. Try googling and see what you find.