I would like to open a discussion on Mp3 players and who has what, whats working for them and what is not working.

I use to have a Iriver H140 and it busted on me a while ago and I need a new one. I LOVED my Iriver due to its large capacity, durability and the fact I didn't need any software with annoying sync options, to use it (such as an Ipod) anyone have any suggestions I would like:

Above 30 gb capacity
Podcast ability
Non-touch screen
Max Durablity
Picture slide show**
AM/FM Radio**
Voice Recorder**

**Not nessicary

Any suggestions?

My price range is $100-$200 but any lower the better. I was looking and nowhere has an Iriver H140 or anything as good it really sucks a virus got my old one or whatever made it stop connecting to any computer.

Anyone heard or reviewed the Zune? Or where to buy Iriver H140?

I've used iPods, Zunes, and other generic sub-$100 players.

For the purposes of listening to music on the go, the iPod wins hands down. Say what you will about DRM, Apple, or it's corporate image, there really is no better mp3 player out there that I have used thus far.

Which is a shame. I wish somebody could actually give Apple some competition. They've been rather stale for the last few years.

That's the thing: DRM notwithstanding, you can convert just about any video file you want to MP4 for free (we ARE in the Google Galaxy, remember?) and thus play it on your iPod that supports video.
Unless it's some high res collectors edition stuff, like hell I'm paying $15 for a crappy Transformers movie to watch on the bus on a 2 inch screen through headphones!

From what i have been reading, this iriver sounds right up my alley. (the first post)

What does one of those run now with 30 gig of storage?

This week Frys (local store) has the 120GB Zune on sale for $250. Seems like a good price.

So far the snartest choice imho. 

Depends on which ones you have, i've gone through a LOT of mp3 players, let me give my 2 cents here as i always do, so uninvitedly

First, my take on an ipod.  I love ipods.  I can identify all the morons in a crowd by who has one.  It's the mac IDUM principle.  If i were ever forced to use a mac for work, i think i'd give it a custom paint job, black and yellow:  Laptop for dummies. 

I wont bore you with my details on comparing mac to pc to others etc... just that my household has mac hardware, and i've used a LOT of products.  Beware getting me started on the suck that is the iphone.

Sandisk players to me are one of the better choices for a long list of reasons:

a> any i've used are usable as flash drives
b> their memory generally is reliable in them (exception:  sansa express, dont let it run out of battery when using sd card)
c> simple, can be used with winamp management, itunes, or as a dump your mp3's into flash drive and it plays em.
d> some have proprietary connectors, look for models that dont.  express has built in usb connector for charging and loading, a lot of their players use a mini usb hole. 
e> look for a micro sd card slot.  Memory is ungodly cheap right now.
f> support a good product.  Sandisk is working right now with record companies on drm free music.  They are working together to package cd's with a micro sd card that contains preripped mp3's that are DRM FREEEEEEEEE.  Fight the power.
g> you wont find 30g sandisk drives.  get 8gb micro sd card, put it in your non icrap phone and put one in your player.  keep one seperate perhaps in a usb reader to help keep from losing the tiny thing, pop it out when you want other music.    SDHC cards keep getting bigger, your HD built in solution of an ipod will still be 30gb for the rest of it's sad existence.  Keep up with the jones's!  Buy a new ipod every year for that bigger capacity!  For the costs, i'll keep an EEE PC full of music and easily load on the go with the simplicity of drag and drop of mp3's to the drive if i really need more than i can load on micro sd's
h> sandisk puts out a wifi capable solution that can connect to yahoo music.  I hate it personally but neet idea, large capacity drives cant match that. 
i> they usually contain fm radio, with the ability to record fm radio in the player.
j> voice recording to take notes when youdont have pen and paper available. 
k> far more reasonable pricing
l> hella rugged compared to ipods...  i dare you, drop your 30gb ipod on concrete from 5 feet, throw it against the wall...  my low end sandisk players survived that.
m> some use aaa batteries, rather good in that you arent stuck without music should the internal battery run dry, and you dont have to buy a new one when the battery just doesnt hold a charge.
n> people target ipods for theft far more than other brands.

long enough list?

ipod accessories are kinda ok, but that's only happened because the sheep of the world bought into an inferior but dummied down product.  As more people buy non ipod, more companies might want to put out non ipod stuff.

For me, i wake up to "Prophets of Doom" by Clutch on my phone, i never rely on hotel alarm clocks, dont need my player to do that for me...  If you want to play it as a stereo, there's a lot of speaker sets out there that will work on non ipod players. 

If it's video, i use my Asus pda/gps for watching movies on flights, bigger screen than any ipod or zune, plays xvid encodes, mpg, etc....  no messy conversion nightmares, just rip dvd and go. 

Many i know like to use a kit with their ipod to watch their movies on tv...   Personally i rather go with a neuros OSD for that, small, lightweight (about same size as the dock for the ipod), and does a hella lot more than an ipod could dream of. 

Sure i have more items in hand than just one with that scheme...  but honestly as a business traveler (my job is 100% travel, never been to my home office)  i laugh as i watch people try to do everything in one and fail at it.  Open up your possibilities, carry a couple things that do what they do well, plan well for their functionality.

I wonder what's next on integrating everything in one device...  a vibrator version of the ipod that works withthe music?!?   So literally, you could shove your DRM and your ipod up your anal cavity....   i love it.