[ILUG] Advice on a digital music player

[Michael Watterson]

Josh Glover wrote:
> This may be slightly off-topic, but I'm looking to buy a portable
> digital music player (i.e. an "iPod", in the unfortunate vernacular)
> with a hard drive that I can use with Linux. I prefer a model that
> simply interfaces as a USB Mass Storage device, so I don't have to
> deal with any silly software for transferring tunes.
>
> It has to be able to play both MP3 and Ogg Vorbis. Other formats would
> be nice, but not required.
>
> Does anyone in ILUG have something like this that they've had good
> luck with and would recommend to me? For bonus points, I'm heading up
> to Belfast this weekend, so if you know a place in Belfast that would
> probably carry the aforementioned music player, that would be great.
>
> For an additional incentive beyond helping your fellow Linux user, I'm
> happy to buy a pint for anyone with helpful advice at the next PotD.
> :)
>
>   
I'm very happy with my Archos 605 WiFi 160Gbyte.
Works as USB drive on Linux and Windows.
via add-on battery pack has USB host socket that reads SD cards via USB 
reader, hard drives and Camera Images from Camera and copies to it's own 
disk without PC.
I got it 1/2 price 2weeks old and have it a year.
No idea if it does Ogg.
Web browser, vTuner TV/Radio app cost extra.
No access to onboard Linux for hacking since around 1.7xx firmware.

It depends how much storage you want and how much money.
250Gbyte models cost as much as a NetBook.
search gizmodo.com and engadget and slashgear

-- 
Mike