About those mp3 players

Burtletoy

Up until yesterday I had been using an Apple 3G 30GB Touch-Wheel iPod, but it hit the sidewalk yesterday while I was entering my apartment and it looks like it finally kicked the bucket. Running Diagonistic mode tells me "HDD FAIL" and I took it apart and made sure all the connectors were still in place. Pretty sure it died. The HDD is a MK3004GAH, which seems to be running somewhere between $100-160 on all the sites I've found it on. Assuming that just replacing the HDD makes it work again, is it worth it to get a new machine? eBay has these drves on it also, but they come from sellers with either 2 or 4 ratings and after getting burned on a Xbox360, I'm weary espically since the bidding starts at $3.00.

Now I loved this machine, but it looks like I might be in the market for a new mp3 player.

I don't care about video, I don't care about a color screen, I don't care about the size of the screen. In fact all I want is something that can navigate and play mp3 files. It should be atleast 30GB in size again and hopefully have ~5 hours of battery life. I know new iPods just came out, does this mean that the last gen stuff comes at a discount? Is there an alternative I should be searching for instead?

ArcSyn

As sad as it is that i'm suggesting this, Zune. I know you don't care about color or video, but the ability to subscribe and download all the music you want to listen to is absolutely awesome. I cannot do this with my iPod. Zune is 30GB too.
The smallest HDD iPod now is 80GB unless you find last-gen 30 still in retail. So take that as you will.

If you want to go non-mainstream, Creative makes great players and Toshiba has the gigabeat players that are good as well.

Most non-video/non-color players are flash-based with 8GB max, so you are probably going to get color and video capability with a HDD player with the size you want.

Burtletoy

I was actually looking at a Zune, with their new $200 price point plus I'd have a 20% off coupon if I bought it online at Meijer, but I've found a replacement HDD for $75 which means I'm either paying $180 for a 30gb mp3 player or $75 for one. I was mainly making this to see if there were any barebones mp3 players with Harddrives that might be reasonably priced in compairison to new iPods. I'd love to upgrade to large than 30gb so I don't have to keep deleting old music.

Any opinions on a Creative Zen Touch? There is a 40GB model on amazon from a new seller for $85. Does amazon protect you from fake sellers better than eBay? I read a review that said it wasn't possible to change the battery on the Zen Touch, seeing as I've hard to replace my iPod battery once has anyone had any expirence with the Zen Touch?

Edit: does anyone know if an iPod work properly if you replace the HDD? Is there a certain format to the HDD or will it download/install any formating it needs when you plug it in?

finalflight89

The Creative Zen touch's battery is pretty easy to replace, all it takes is four screws. And I doubt you'd have to replace it, given that it has somewhere around 24 hours of battery life. You'd be hard pressed to notice a difference in the battery charge.

I used to have one, but then I upgraded to a Zen Vision M, pretty much the same thing, but with a color screen and video playback. Creative's players are pretty solid, in my opinion.

Burtletoy

The reason I was asking about battery replacement isn't because of the battery life. Just because it is a pretty old mp3 player and all rechargable batteries lose their ability to hold a charge as they age. If I'm buying a used one, there is a very good chance its battery will last no where near the 24 hours it is claimed to last.