Suggestions for a new device (Rockbox compatible)

[westcoastflava]

Hello everyone!

First of all, I'd like to thank the developers for the past 3 years of my enjoyment of using my Gigabeat F40S 40GB Player.  Rockbox has been great to me.  Unfortunately, my Gigabeat is starting to die.

I would like purchase another player with increased capacity (80GB at least, 100GB preferred) and I was wondering if there were any suggestions you guys could give me. 

I would like to continue to use rockbox with the new device.  I really enjoy the ability to drag and drop my mp3's and manage them through a folder hierarchy.  If I can no longer do this with a larger capacity device, I suppose it will mean buying another ipod and a huge tagging project.

Thanks!!
Billy

[karashata]

Unless you're willing to replace the hard drive yourself, the only Rockbox-capable device you'll be able to find with an 80 GB hard drive would be the 5.5G iPod Video. You will have to be very careful and make sure you get a used 5.5G and not a Classic, as the iPod Classic is not compatible with Rockbox.

If, on the other hand, you are willing to replace the hard drive yourself with one of a larger capacity, I can't personally make any recommendations but I've heard a lot of good things about the Toshiba Gigabeat players and the iriver H300 series as well.

As for file and folder management, I'm fairly sure all Rockboxable devices currently can be connected to the computer in a UMS or MSC mode, and most (if not all currently) can be connected and used in UMS mode while Rockbox is running.

[evilnick]

What about your gigabeat is starting to die? If it's the hard drive, then it might be cheaper to upgrade that instead of buying a whole new player.

The maximum possible (AFAIK) for your player is an 80GB drive, although these are still very expensive in comparison to other drives as they use the IDE interface rather than ZIF (like on newer players like the iPod/Gigabeat S). Further to that, it *may* be possible to fit both a ZIF drive + the necessary adaptor inside your gigabeat F.

[keeegan]

I'd suggest looking around on ebay for upgraded players. I got an ipod video 5.5 refurbished and upgraded with a 120gig drive for $150 and it works great.

[krazykit]

The maximum possible (AFAIK) for your player is an 80GB drive, although these are still very expensive in comparison to other drives as they use the IDE interface rather than ZIF (like on newer players like the iPod/Gigabeat S). Further to that, it *may* be possible to fit both a ZIF drive + the necessary adaptor inside your gigabeat F.

80GB ZIF drives are actually not unreasonably priced (around 60USD).  You can fit the dealextreme zif->ata adapter and 8mm drive into an F40 with little trouble.