Player Choice?

[Twist]

Firstly hello first post found this site while doing research on a SanDisk player and after using the searchhere I become confused on my original choice 


So my 5 year old Iriver T30 512mb has died...I spent 30 bucks on it on Ebay and was the best blind choice I have ever made.

In the process of researching another MP3 player but it seems like 90% of the players anymore and built like crap.

I liked the Sandisk Sansa C240 which lead me to this great site but it seems like there are a lot of problems and a crappy headphone jack and the chance of getting a V2 being I can't use Rockbox. The SanDisk firmware seems very bad from reviews also their support is slow and horrible.

So what is a good player?

I am looking for a simple MP3 player that will let me run ripped MP3 files from my CD collection. 1-2GB will do if it has a SD slot even better.  I am fairly simple but I can't seem to find anything that is even half as solid as my T30 for 30-40 bucks.


This might not be a great place to post this but its all I can see. Thanks for any tips/hints/links/help.

[cool_walking_]

I have a Sansa e200, which I can highly recommend.  I don't know if the purported headphone jack problem is also applicable to the e200, or just the c200, but I haven't experienced it with my e280 refurb in a year or so of ownership (admittedly, it's seen pretty minimal use).  Like the c200, it also has the problem that you have to make sure you get a v1, but I don't think it's that hard to just ask them to check the firmware version for you before you buy.  I found mine on the 3rd go on eBay.  Some places also sell "rockbox-ready" or "rockbox capable" Sansas, so you know they're v1.

Take a look at http://rockbox.org/wiki/BuyersGuide

[yapper]

http://forums.rockbox.org/index.php?topic=19155.0

[Twist]

Thanks cool_walking_

http://forums.rockbox.org/index.php?topic=19155.0

Will never buy Apple...they overcharge on every product they make from Iphone to Mac.
I also hate how they force DRM protected only music down your throat.

Unless they will give me all my music from the 1000+ cds I own free via Itunes which they wont I will not be buying anything from them  .

[LambdaCalculus]

And who says they're going to twist your arm to use iTunes and DRM? I own three iPods that can run Rockbox, and I couldn't be happier. Drag-and-drop, no more need for iTunes, and Vorbis capability were the three biggest draws for me.

You can happily buy an older iPod, knowing full well that it'll run Rockbox, which can cut the Apple umbilical cord off.

[Twist]

I see well after 4-5 days of looking around I have come to the conclusion that 90% of the MP3 players are junk in the price range I want to spend in and lucky enough for me I found a 1GB version of the T30 brand spankin new on Ebay for $25.

Thanks for the help....I fear the day when this one breaks...I really don't EVER see myself spending over $40 for a MP3 player...they add way to much unneeded crap to raise the price tags.

Though no rockbox but T30 doesn't need the support since its stable on its own.


Again thanks for the help.