I've decided that being able to run off of AAs or AAAs is the top feature I'd want in a portable rig. I think i's sad that they stopped making the Creative Labs Muvo TX FM at 1GB...it was such a bad ass design. Another sad thing is that the Cowon G3 is the best thing available, IMO, really...and it only goes up to 2GB, which is unacceptable to me. I chose to purchase the Sansa e280 (w/ proprietary but replaceable battery) just for the 8 gigs @ $145, whereas Cowon G3 was $110. . . .
But I'm definitely all for encouraging the production & purchasing of players that use more conventional, and obviously replaceable, batteries. Lemme know if there's more I need to add to this list.
Have a good day!
+++++++++
FLASH BASED DAPs
+++++++++
1GB & Under
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Cowon iAudio 5
**Creative Labs Muvo TX FM
**Creative Labs Muvo V100
Creative Labs Zen Nano Plus
iRiver T50,T60
Meizu E3
Sandisk Sansa m230,m240...
+Sandisk Sansa e130,e140
Sony NW-E107
2GB
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Cowon iAudio 5
Cowon iAudio G3
**Creative Labs Muvo V100
iRiver TX
iRiver T10,T60
Sandisk Sansa c150
Sandisk Sansa m250
4+GB
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iRiver T60
Sandisk Sansa m260
+++++++++
HARD DRIVE DAPs
+++++++++
Archos Jukebox Recorder 10,20,40
+++++++++
NO BUILT-IN MEMORY
+++++++++
Compact Flash Cards or MicroDrive
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+Frontier Labs NEXBlack
SD/MMC Cards
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+Some cheapo brand prolly from China (only $30 -
http://www.pigpony.com/ProShow.aspx?id=286 )
**: Direct, built-in usb adapter (so you don't need to carry the cable around)
+: Expandable memory