need high capacity music player reccomendations

[JazzyJake]

hey folks,
my creative microphoto is finally starting to die, so i need some reccomendations on high-capacity (at least 30gb) mp3 players.
they don't need to be able to play movies, but it would be nice.

the sound quality has to be very high, it has to be durable, and it CANNOT be an ipod. i hate the GUI and too many of my friends have been 'dicked around' with by their customer service, something i won't stand for. (oh yea and i hate the GUI)

i was looking at the zune with some of the available linux distro's for it, but i'm not sure about durability. by durability i mean it has to be something that won't ruin the HDD the first time i drop it, and won't crack/chip either.

if anyone has any ideas, i'm game

[screwballl]

just find a cheap mp3 player that can play mp3s off a USB thumb drive.. then buy a 8GB or bigger thumb drive

[JazzyJake]

Originally Posted by JazzyJake

(at least 30gb)

otherwise i would have already, and i don't plan on waiting for a 30gb usb drive lol

[screwballl]

ah missed that little tidbit... good luck!

[Lead Head]

A Creative Zen?

[[Dr. V]]

just grab a Creative ZEN Vision M 60GB or an iPod Video 80GB and you're on your way!

of course you could go for an Archos...those are sexy.

g'luck!

[garetjax]

Originally Posted by JazzyJake

if anyone has any ideas, i'm game

Well, I have always been very partial to Creative products, and their MP3 players are top of the line. With that said, I would seriously consider a Creative Zen Vision M. They are comparable to an iPod in every way except for size; the Vision M is slightly larger. Also the features of the Vision are more well thought out. Integrated FM tuner, dictation machine and 5-band custom EQ, all of which the iPod does not offer.

[JazzyJake]

the vision M is actually something i was seriously considering, but wanted to know what else people have tried, and how they felt about their purchases.

and i know how you guys feel about creative, it was an AWESOME player for me, and lasted a lot longer, (and is still lasting atm), than i expected it would with the abuse i dish out to my portable electronics. The thing was hit by a plow truck, dropped on stone steps, (and hit every single one) on the way down, as well as being completely submerged in a pond, (while on)

It owes me nothing, and creative definitely has a special place in my heart via the microphoto, and my X-Fi, as well as the many other SB's in family/friend rigs

anybody have experiences with zunes?+/-?

[CodeRed]

I did a little searching for you
Check this out:

http://www.nextag.com/mp3-30gb/search-html

The Philips HDD6330/17 looks quite promising. I'd go with that one. I have a couple friends who have this mp3 player, and I've used it myself. I highly recommend it.