I'm looking for a good portable mp3 player.

Today, my Nomad Jukebox died and I'm pretty upset about it. :( I need my own tunes when I'm driving my car. I'm doing without TV, but I can't do without my own portable music. At least, I don't think I can. Driving without music is boring.

Due to various reasons, I haven't been keeping up with hardware advancements. I'm guessing I want a flavor of iPod that holds between 6 and 10 Gigs. That would be plenty.

Can someone direct me to an article that compares and contrasts various mp3 players so I choose something good that isn't too terribly expensive?

LH

Newsweek story on "iPod Nation"

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5457432/site/newsweek/

A great iPod user site - there will be comparisons there.

http://www.ipodlounge.com

iTunes download - the software front end for iPod -- great jukebox software - terrific even if you don't have an iPod

http://www.apple.com/itunes/

Now as to iPods -- the mini is cool, size of a business card. . .but you are paying a premium for the tiny size of the hard drive etc.

http://www.apple.com/ipodmini/

White iPods are the best value. . .(don't let anyone claim they are "too expensive" - they are the same price as competitor's equivalent technologies)

http://www.apple.com/ipod/

There is a new iPod - flash based, called iPod Shuffle. . .starts at $99.00, but may not be for you. However, I want one BAD!!!

http://www.apple.com/ipodshuffle/

This Week's Best iPod Deals

http://www.lowendmac.com/deals/deals.html

I really can't afford a new mp3 player, but I gotta have my tunes. :( I'm trying to run disk diagnostics, but it keeps hanging. I'll try a re-format next. If that doesn't work, I'll have to buy a new one...sigh.

It says, "Disk Diagnostics Progress." I assume there should be some kind of progress bar, but there is none. I listen and the disk is spinning. It's doing something, but how do I know that it isn't caught in some kind of loop? This is frustrating.

I wish I had more information.

I posted something to the support forum, but who knows if it will be answered before I give up and try something else. :) I should be patient, I suppose, but this is really pissing me off.

What few nice things I have I really hold onto these days because I can't afford to replace them. The Nomad Jukebox is old, but I've really enjoyed it. I had to resort to radio just now when I went out to get bird seed. I found a pop station I didn't like, then a classical station that told me because I was listening, I owed them money for their pledge drive. Gack!

I prefer to listen to an eclectic hodgepodge of songs Ladyhawk likes, including heavy metal, classical, punk, pop, you name it. I know what I like. The radio stations don't.

...having to spend 100-300 bucks.

512 mb and 1 gig. If you can float a little money I suggest a full blown iPod or an iPod mini.

I hope so. I really, really don't want to pay the kind of money a portable mp3 player costs...lucky me! :)