NEW to this, need advice.

[Traveller]

I apologize if my post is inappropriate for the forum. Someone help this old lady (me). I will be stuck on a plane for a total of 60 hours (to and from) and do not want to lug my cd case & walkman! SO
If I walk into a Walmart or go to Amazon.com to buy an ipod nano, will it be a 4th generation, which I can use Rock Box with? (All of my mp3's are independent, not something you can buy online). Or, are all the new mp3 players currently in the stores not yet Rock Box ready? Would I have to track down something old to use Rock Box on? Thank you for any help.

[bluebrother]

If I walk into a Walmart or go to Amazon.com to buy an ipod nano, will it be a 4th generation, which I can use Rock Box with?

Quoting from the front page:

Apple: 1st through 5.5th generation iPod, iPod Mini and 1st generation iPod Nano
(not the Shuffle, 2nd/3rd gen Nano, Classic or Touch)

This includes the 4th gen (which isn't really surprising, but that text could get updated). There are currently no players in the stores Rockbox runs on. You might get a Sansa e200v1 refurbished, but that's it.

[Traveller]

Ahhhhh. Thank you so much. I'll start organizing my cds...

[Chronon]

More of a bit of trivia than a rebuttal: I walked into a Wal-Mart here last week and saw a brand new Gigabeat F40 on sale for $200.00.  Odd, I know. 

[Traveller]

I really would like an ipod Touch but I will DEFINITELY hold out til it's hackable. Otherwise, useless product for me.

[piscator]

Check out the 'Rockbox Ready' Sansa 280e players at FROOBI.COM

Based on recommendations here, I 'Rockboxed' two Sansa 280e's for my daughters and they have worked out extremely well.  My daughters had been using Ipods and made the 'transition' to the Sansas very easily.

The Sansas sound great, have recording capability and an FM radio.  Priced between $60 and $90 they're also a great value.  Froobi delivered in under a week.

Rockbox 3.0 runs perfectly on our Sansas and we like them just as much as the Ipods they replaced.

Good luck!

piscator

[Traveller]

That's a seriously nice price.
I am concerned about this USB problem, tho. http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/SansaE200Port but then I see there's a patch  http://www.rockbox.org/tracker/task/8363 but it makes me queasy...you used this patch and all is well?

***Oh crap, it's sold out anyway!***


****But Wait! I see they have some other ones.****

[LambdaCalculus]

While Rockbox itself may not have a complete USB stack yet on the Sansa, you can still use the OF to transfer files.

[Traveller]

The "OF"?  Did I mention I'm new to this? 

[LambdaCalculus]

OF = Original Firmware. Otherwise known as the firmware that was on your Sansa when it was shipped from SanDisk.

[Traveller]

I thought all firmware that comes with any mp3 player requires you to purchase music online.
Which I don't do. I have unprotected non-DRM mp3s made by myself and friends. Will the OF transfer these from my computer to the player? I really appreciate the help I'm getting here!

[Chronon]

That's certainly not true of many players.  While iPods compel you to use iTunes to transfer music to the player, you are not compelled to buy your music online, or to encumber the files with DRM in order to listen to them on the player.  I have owned a few iPods and never used DRM-encumbered music or bought music from iTunes.  The original firmware for the Toshiba Gigabeat F series would only play encrypted files -- though these do not have to be bought from an online store.

The original Sansa firmware will also play music that doesn't have DRM.  So, this isn't something that's unique to Rockbox.  Still, Rockbox allows you to manage your music any way you like and it gives many more features than your average firmware.

Check out the WhyRockbox page on the wiki.

[Traveller]

Confusion reigns. iPod Touch is out, for my needs, correct? Though email and Skype would be fabulous it won't work for my music. Then.
What would you advise, just pick something, lol! I love all that RockBox offers, and I am a true advocate of open source programs. But for now, I just need to buy a player onto which I can easily load my mp3s and will stay charged for at least 25 hours. It can be most simple and basic, no frills necessary. Can I get three people to suggest and agree on one product and software?

[Llorean]

This forum is for Rockbox. If you're now looking for a non-Rockbox player, you should seek suggestions elsewhere where users of such players are more predominant, and it's actually on-topic.

[Traveller]

I understand.

Can I get three people to suggest and agree on one product that uses RockBox, which I can find to buy!!!!