MP3 player with LOTS of storage?

[AndrewBird]

Let me first say, I have not and will NEVER own an Apple product. Don't try to change my mind, it won't happen.

I'm getting really tired of having to use Zune software with my Zune HD. I love the player itself, but the software is so bad, I'm considering switching to a different player because of it. The problem is, there doesn't seem to be anything that has high capacity like older hard drive MP3 players had. I want something with at least 40gb of space, preferably more.

I've seen the Creative Zen X-Fi2 that is 64GB, but they limit you to 8000 songs, regardless of whether they take all 64GB or not, so that's lame.

I used to have a Creative Zen Xtra back in the day and it was awesome. I'm thinking about just buying a used one of these, putting a 160gb hard drive in it (yes, you can do this) and running that. But I worry about how much life it will have. Mine eventually just died after several years of use.

So, cliffs:

Tired of Zune Software
Want high capacity MP3 player (40+GB)
NO APPLE

Suggestions?

[Raxe]

It's a shame you loathe Apple so strongly, you're almost completely limiting yourself to the Archos and Zunes. Have fun with that.

[Deltron Dirty30]

a bit off topic but may I ask why the hate for apple? just curious.

[DatUtahGuy]

May I suggest an Apple Ipod?

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_ipod?afid=p219|GOUS&cid=AOS-US-KWG

They have very good reviews and from what I've heard they are kind of popular.

[GunMetalGrey]

I strongly dislike all apple products. Except Ipods, not gonna lie they are set up the best, great menu styles. Very easy to use. That is the only thing I will use from apple, I would take a second look at one.

[Simon S]

Damn dude - 40 gigs is A LOT of f'ing music !!

[Simon S]

I’m pretty much with you on Apple products. It’s not that I don’t like them – more of a principle thing regarding their hardware/software lock down.

[AndrewBird]

Damn dude - 40 gigs is A LOT of f'ing music !!

I have 38.4GB of music and am downloading new music all the time.

It's not so much that I don't like iPods, it's that I don't like Apple. I will admit they make a decent product, but I will not own anything Apple purely because of who Apple is and what they do.

That's all I'm going to say. I don't want this to turn into a big Apple debate.

[Axxe]

Before you say "FUCK YOU THAT'S APPLE" read everything and then make decision.

Buy a used iPod Video (30 or 60gig), or a 5.5g, and then run Rockbox on it. For under $100 and an hour of fiddling you'll have a pretty damn kick ass media player that is Linux based and allows you to drag and drop music on and off as if it were a hard drive. Cheap parts for it too (battery, plug, etc) if anything goes wrong, everyone and their brother has these for sale for nothing (considering what they can do when rockboxed). That's what I'm running and the combination of amazing sound quality (fully customizable EQ) and ease of drag and drop while maintaining the ease of use of the touch wheel. Also buying used isn't supporting apple at all haha.

[AndrewBird]

Before you say "FUCK YOU THAT'S APPLE" read everything and then make decision.

Buy a used iPod Video (30 or 60gig), or a 5.5g, and then run Rockbox on it. For under $100 and an hour of fiddling you'll have a pretty damn kick ass media player that is Linux based and allows you to drag and drop music on and off as if it were a hard drive. Cheap parts for it too (battery, plug, etc) if anything goes wrong, everyone and their brother has these for sale for nothing (considering what they can do when rockboxed). That's what I'm running and the combination of amazing sound quality (fully customizable EQ) and ease of drag and drop while maintaining the ease of use of the touch wheel. Also buying used isn't supporting apple at all haha.

That doesn't sound bad, but one of my biggest peeves with the iPod is the damn touch wheel. Absolutely hate that thing. I'll look into Rockbox though.

[gearheadE30]

Look into older iRiver players, if you don't mind them being thicker. Specifically, you would be interested in the H140, iHP140 (same as the H140, but they changed names part way through), and the H340, which I own. All are 40 GB. the Toshiba Gigabeat S is a good player as well, although I don't know what sizes are offered.

I know you hate apple products. I understand; I tend to avoid them as well. You might want to look into Rockbox alternate firmware. It is the only reason I can stand owning an iPod.

And 40gb might sound like a lot, but I have almost 70 gigs of music...

EDIT:beat me to the Rockbox thing, haha. I've been using it since I first got my H340 like 7 years ago, haha. Also currently have a 5g and a 5.5g video running it, and I have a 5g 30gig video for sale, with rockbox and in good shape, working battery and everything, although one line is out on the screen backlight. Let me know if you're interested...

[NeoMishMoo]

Damn I've never heard of rockbox, makes me kind of wish I had gotten an ipod after all. Instead I'm rocking my 16gb Zen player with SD expansion which I thought was nice except you can't combine playlists from the sd card and the internal memory.

But damn 40gigs? 16 is plenty for me seeing as how that is like 4000 songs or 9 and half days of music, by the time I listen through 200 hours of music I'm about ready to delete some of the old stuff and make room for the new.

Unless you want to be the guy at the party that is like, "oh hey man you want the friends theme song? I got it on my player, whats that? you want to hear spice world I got that too." I just don't see the necessity of having 40gigs at your fingertips. Even though I guess its cool having your entire library with you, maybe I'm just being a jealous kid with only 16gb on his player...

[Axxe]

That doesn't sound bad, but one of my biggest peeves with the iPod is the damn touch wheel. Absolutely hate that thing. I'll look into Rockbox though.

I really hated it at first too, and I had the exact same mentality as you towards apple products. But my brother bought me my 5g 30gb video used for $50 from a friend as a gift, so I started using it and got used to it sort of, then it broke and I left it in a drawer for a year. A friend of mine mentioned to me one day that he fixes ipods and resells them, and is looking for 5g and 5.5g's because they can be rockboxed, and described to me the process and benefits etc. Needless to say, he fixed mine for cheap (was the circuit board, $45 with new battery too), and then I loaded rockbox and truly fell in love with this thing. Right now I'm listening to FLAC's (that's all I have on it). Not a day goes by that I don't listen to it for 6+ hrs, good cans help that too. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed, and the wide array of accessories available makes it really easy to make it all work for you.

[AndrewBird]

Damn I've never heard of rockbox, makes me kind of wish I had gotten an ipod after all. Instead I'm rocking my 16gb Zen player with SD expansion which I thought was nice except you can't combine playlists from the sd card and the internal memory.

But damn 40gigs? 16 is plenty for me seeing as how that is like 4000 songs or 9 and half days of music, by the time I listen through 200 hours of music I'm about ready to delete some of the old stuff and make room for the new.

Unless you want to be the guy at the party that is like, "oh hey man you want the friends theme song? I got it on my player, whats that? you want to hear spice world I got that too." I just don't see the necessity of having 40gigs at your fingertips. Even though I guess its cool having your entire library with you, maybe I'm just being a jealous kid with only 16gb on his player...

I like being able to put ALL my music on my MP3 player instead of having to decide what not to include. Much easier and this way I have everything with me. It also acts as a backup for all my music as well.

[Axxe]

You guys are wimps with quantity, I have about 250gb of music but it's mostly loss-less. I rip every single CD that I ever get my hands on, as a backup. I hate loosing CD's.