[Hank]

I have the Geek Awesomeifier and have a full-bore Geek Pulse on order, but for more casual, on-the-go listening, like when I'm on the eliptical machine, what's the best portable player available?  I'm sick of the Chinese units that have horrible UI's.  Please give me some options for decent sound with absolute best GUI.  The Geek Wave 32 is tempting at $167, but it will be next year and they have a record of pushing out actul ship dates significantly.

[jtwrace]

I have the Geek Awesomeifier and have a full-bore Geek Pulse on order, but for more casual listening, like when I'm on the eliptical machine, what's the best device available?  I'm sick of the Chinese units that have horrible UI's.  Please give me some options for decent sound with absolute best GUI.

Pono since it will be JRiver.

[Hank]

Thanks - what's the price and current estimated ship date?

[JohnR]

What about just a used iPod Touch?

[BobRex]

Go to anythingbutipod.com and check out some of the alternatives.  I've been using a Cowan for a few years, the sound is superior to the Ipod, and I don't find the UI annoying.

[Hank]

Thanks JohnR, but I don't buy Apple (long story)

Thanks BobRex - never heard of that site - I'll check it out. 

Thanks for all the quick input, guys - AC remains the friendliest site

[JohnR]

Thanks JohnR, but I don't buy Apple (long story)

Hey no worries, getting stuff onto an iGadget is a PITA if you're not in the "ecosystem." But I'd be happy to concede it's a good UI. Will be curious to hear what you find on the anythingbutipod site, my first thought would be for something from Fiio but it depends on what you consider "best" in the GUI.

[roscoeiii]

Sansa Clip has gotten a lot of praise and is a reasonable price. If you want to tweak, I think it can be Rockboxed. And it has a microSD slot.

Great for the money and super for working out and portable use. So light and small (and easy to misplace).

[Gaara]

Sansa Clip has gotten a lot of praise and is a reasonable price. If you want to tweak, I think it can be Rockboxed. And it has a microSD slot.

Great for the money and super for working out and portable use. So light and small (and easy to misplace).

I concur wholeheartedly (as I sit listening to music on my Sansa Clip).

[Hank]

The Sansa Clip is one of the anythingbutipod guy's reference players and it's very inexpensive.  The Cowon J3 is his new favorite and I'm interested:  http://anythingbutipod.com/2010/11/cowon-j3-review/
Fiios units on Amazon look very interesting - haven't read any reviews and I don't know anyone who's bought one.

[jtwrace]

Fiios units on Amazon look very interesting - haven't read any reviews and I don't know anyone who's bought one.

Plenty of Fiio reviews here.

[Hank]

Today I received my Sansa Clip+ and Thinksound ms01in-ear monitors.  In the Sansa box is a card urging me to load Rhapsody: 
"Install the Rhapsody software on your PC and create an account.  Creating an account is the only way to activate all of the features on your new Sansa Clip+MP3 Player."  Then I'm encouraged to try Rhapsody free for 30 days.

I want to rip my CD's to flac files because down the road I will receive my tricked out Geek Pulse and I also have an OPPO BP105, so I want hi-rez files and when I buy from places like HD music, I'll buy flac.  So, do I pass on loading Rhapsody?  And, what's the best program to rip to flac?  Then what do I need to load flacs onto this little Sansa Clip+ puppy?  Should I go to the Discless forum with my questions?
-new to computer/streaming/anything other than physical CD's.  I'm not totally dinosaur - I have a Sonos Five 

[roscoeiii]

Today I received my Sansa Clip+ and Thinksound ms01in-ear monitors.  In the Sansa box is a card urging me to load Rhapsody: 
"Install the Rhapsody software on your PC and create an account.  Creating an account is the only way to activate all of the features on your new Sansa Clip+MP3 Player."  Then I'm encouraged to try Rhapsody free for 30 days.

I want to rip my CD's to flac files because down the road I will receive my tricked out Geek Pulse and I also have an OPPO BP105, so I want hi-rez files and when I buy from places like HD music, I'll buy flac.  So, do I pass on loading Rhapsody?  And, what's the best program to rip to flac?  Then what do I need to load flacs onto this little Sansa Clip+ puppy?  Should I go to the Discless forum with my questions?
-new to computer/streaming/anything other than physical CD's.  I'm not totally dinosaur - I have a Sonos Five 

IIRC, you can just drag and drop onto the Clip. No need for the software that I can remember...

[Hank]

OK thanks.  I'll go to the Discless forum and look for ripper recomendations.