Small Portable MP3 Player w/ Linux compatability

JPMRaptor · Guru Joined: 04 Oct 2002 Posts: 410 Location: Maryland

I'm looking for a small portable MP3 player that's compatable with Linux that's got an arm or wrist band. From my looking around the only possibility looks like the Rio Cali Sport. Anyone got one of these working with Linux? Anyone have other options.

What's needed:
128+ memory
armband
fm radio a plus
expandable memory a plus

pengi · n00b Joined: 03 Apr 2003 Posts: 54 Location: Sweden

Well... I can recommend Apple Ipod, but It does not have a arm-band... look at http://www.apple.com/ipod/... I actually don't have one, but dose I've seen looks great...

JPMRaptor · Guru Joined: 04 Oct 2002 Posts: 410 Location: Maryland

I've thought about the iPod but I'm getting it for jogging and it's a little too big for that.

ronmon · Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2003 3:26 am Post subject:

I have one of these. Mine is an older 32MB model and they make them with up to 224MB on-board memory. Using the Type 1 CF slot you can add another 512MB and it also works as a recorder and USB CF reader/writer for any file types. Hotplug recognizes it and initiates it correctly with current firmware (v2.22 and up I believe).

It doesn't come with an arm band, but it does include a clip-on holder that could hook to an elastic strap. No moving parts means no skipping and it's very lightweight. A single AA battery really does last over 12 hours as they claim.

jamesrt · n00b Joined: 09 Sep 2003 Posts: 47 Location: New Zealand

Lovechild · Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2003 8:23 am Post subject:

I have an Archos Recorder 10 and a RIO 500

The latter is extremely small, it's flash based and very light weight, and it has good Linux support.
(I'm looking to sell mine as I don't need it anymore btw.)

The Archos is HD based, and a tad bigger and heavier but that doesn't bother me, but for jogging I use the RIO since HDs don't take well to shaking.

clattuc · n00b Joined: 19 Apr 2002 Posts: 57

I've got a NEX-II. It's small, light, and solid-state (i.e., no moving parts, which is a great boon when I ride my bike through the bumpy streets of Amsterdam :wink:

)
Mine is just over a year old - I think there are at least 2 newer models now.
Works well with linux - either as a USB storage device (when I plug in the cable), or with the CompactFlash card in a PCMCIA adapter.

JPMRaptor · Guru Joined: 04 Oct 2002 Posts: 410 Location: Maryland

Thanks all. From the looks of things the Rio line is probably the best for me.

xianx · Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2003 3:36 pm Post subject:

i'll suggest the mpio . I bought one and i found drivers for it. very small sleek, (no armband, but comes with case). One of the models comes with a Digital Camera on the back. (Now that's cool!)

128 megs with an expansion for more cards.
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ronmon · Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2003 7:59 pm Post subject:

It looks like there are lots of good options.

Now I'm just waiting for that .ogg player that I read about on slashdot a while back.

miunk · Apprentice Joined: 24 Sep 2002 Posts: 199

The iRiver is cool - not sure how it mounts though...

jwells · n00b Joined: 25 Jul 2003 Posts: 9

shimp999 · Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2004 3:49 pm Post subject:

Hi,
I have a Rio Cali Sport 128 mb (with another 256 SD card) and I absolutely love it. And yeah, the main problem I have with it is the lack of support in Linux. I think support is something you're going to face with the majority of the small mp3 players except the iPod. But just something you may want to consider that might help you decide on what you want to get:

1) I never use the armband for the Rio Cali when I run. Its okay if you dont move around too fast--but once you start running with it, the mp3 player bobs up and down a lot and its kinda distracting. On the plus side, the belt clip for the player is excellent. I just clip the player on the waist band of my gym shorts and I'm ready to go.

2) If you have a Windows partition, I would recommend getting the Cali and booting into Windows to transfer your music. Its kinda annoying, but thats one of the reasons why I use Windows :/

3) It seems that the iPod (or an older Rio 500) might be the only few choices that are compatible with Linux. Like I said earlier, I really dont think the armband is that good for running, even with an mp3 player as small and lightweight as the Cali. My roommate has one as well and we both dont use the armband. If you have the extra cash, and you dont have a Windows partition (or dont want one), you should probably check out the iPod. Go to some store, take a look at one, feel the weight and see if it has a decent belt clip or something. I personally didn't need to store Gigs worth of music with me--I just find the Cali more "on the go".

I hope that helps, or something :p

nunne · Apprentice Joined: 27 May 2004 Posts: 165 Location: Sweden

the ipod mini + http://www.apple.com/ipod/accessories.html (a wristband, for jogging etc etc)...

I would say "hdd" mp3players are better, they tend to be larger.. but more storage space