Quick HDD MP3 Player Question!

[Unibrow]

Hi guys, I am wondering if a HDD based MP3 player like the Rio Nitrus would skip while running?
I ask because I am in need of an MP3 play for running at the gym and outside. The problem is that I wish to use more than 1GB (the max. of flash memory). However, I certainly do not need a jukebox, ie: 20-40GB. The 5GB seems quite suitable, and is a good price.
Furthermore, I would like to know if HDD players in general skip? In case I pick up a different MP3 player. Also, would buying a flash MP3 player and upgrading it with expansion memory be an option?

Thanks in advance!

[leprechaun_40]

I don't think that it'd skip like an optical drive, however, you could cause a physical head crash with a serious jarring of the player. This would of course ruin the HDD and you'd lose whatever data was in the crashed area and possibly the whole drive if it damaged the head.

[Unibrow]

So what you're saying is that a HDD based MP3 player is no good for running?

[The Lodge]

I'd stick with a flash type player for running. You can fit a lot of songs on a 512-1024MB one. You don't want to put songs with a 320k bit rate anyway, you won't really notice the difference with small headphones.

[BuildItYourself]

Flash would probably be the best for running. However I know the iPod only spins up about every 20-30 min, not sure about other HDD players.

[Tech^salvager]

Originally posted by BuildItYourself
Flash would probably be the best for running. However I know the iPod only spins up about every 20-30 min, not sure about other HDD players.

How can it only spin up every 20-30min unless it was loading songs into a cache? Does it have a cache?

[BuildItYourself]

yes it has a cache, it loads songs you are most likely to hear next (like the next few songs on your playlist) into the cache then turns the drive off.

[Tech^salvager]

Originally posted by BuildItYourself
yes it has a cache, it loads songs you are most likely to hear next (like the next few songs on your playlist) into the cache then turns the drive off.

ahh Good to know. Thanks BuildItYourself.