All of the bits and pieces for my flash-based Mini finally came in, and I'm happy to say I was quite successful. I used the 32gb A-Data card available for $70 at NewEgg. I also installed a $10 (shipped) replacement battery, and put it all into a green 2nd gen Mini with a weak battery. The Mini was about $30 shipped, but I had to keep an eye out for a few days to find a reasonable price on one.
A few notes:
- The existing 4gb micro drive was enclosed in a rubber boot. I decided to wrap the rubber boot around the new CF card, then used a strip of black tape to secure the boot to the card, as the card was thinner than the microdrive was.
- Be cautious putting the thing back together. I managed to get some kind of gunk on the inside of the screen glass, and I couldn't get it completely wiped off. It's annoying.
- When you get it all back together, if the click wheel doesn't work... REMEMBER TO TURN OFF THE HOLD SWITCH! I was convinced I had screwed up somehow, so I tore the whole thing apart again, and the second time putting it together I got the gunk on the screen as mentioned above. Turns out I just didn't look at the switch. Stupid me.
- Even if your battery is OK, I'd spend the $10 or so to get a replacement one. Since you're going to have it all torn apart, might as well take the opportunity to put a fresh one in.
All in all, it was quite easy. Not counting me needing to take it part a second time due to my stupidity, it took maybe 30 minutes total.