I currently have a Creative Zen MP3 player, which I'm finding increasingly painful to use. I have to use the (shoddy) Windows based software to transfer files, I cannot mount it under Linux as a USB disk, and I've tried mtp-fuse but sometimes the files wont index properly. I think the Zen software does some sort of processing as it transfers files.
So, any body got recommendations of an MP3 player that works well with their Linux machine?
My ideal candidate would have the following attributes:
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Mount as a USB disk for file transfer (probably use rsync and maintain a mirror).
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Doesn't lose it's place in the current sound file if turned off for a long while.
I listen to a lot of podcasts in the car, and I have to remember to bookmark because it will lose its place in the time between getting to work and leaving for home. Turning off for a short time seems okay, picks up where it left off, but for a long time it goes back to the start of the current file.
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Available and reasonably inexpensive to purchase in Australia.
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Not an iPod.
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Uses memory and not a mini-hard disk (I had an iRiver H10 that got dropped one too many times.)
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Nice if it played ogg files as well.
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Playing (appropriately resized) video would be a nice to have, but not a deal breaker.
I'm already aware of Rockbox, however most of the models it supports seem to be either hard to find in Aus, cannot buy new any more, or contain a hard disk.
Best Answer
I've been very happy with my little Sansa c250. There's a USB connector which Linux is pretty good about recognizing as a filesystem, and there's a microSD slot for adding more memory. I didn't like the original firmware which has no bookmarks, so I installed Rockbox and was much happier as it can save my place in up to 10 different playlists. I think the only point in your list that it doesn't cover is the video.
It is small, simple, inexpensive, and easy to connect to your computer. They've been around for a while so you should be able to find one used if you can't find a new one.