[HPFGU-OTChatter] Buying an MP3 Player (Help!)

[Laura Ingalls Huntley]

Okay, well, my iPod has finally kicked the proverbial bucket.  Granted, 
it had a pretty long life for an iPod -- three and a half years -- but 
I'm still kind of upset that something I paid several hundred dollars 
for didn't even last me through college.

So now I'm looking for a new MP3 player, and I'm not sure I want 
another iPod, but the other choices are simply dizzying, so I've come 
to the HPFGUers, the most well-informed group of people I know. ^_~

Please, please give me some recommendations.  I'm not even sure what 
size/capabilities I'm looking for.  The LOML has a 60 GB video iPod, 
and I'm pretty enamored with the idea of being able to watch Veronica 
Mars while on the elliptical machine at the gym.  However, video 
players may be a little rich for my blood -- and really, all I used my 
old iPod for was the couple hundred songs I listened to the most and a 
bit of external HD space (it was a 40 GB).  So, anything you've tried 
and liked -- be it a 1 GB MP3 player or a 60 GB multimedia player -- 
tell me about it.

Some factors that matter to me, in rough order of decreasing importance:
* Price per GB and/or extra features (like video playback).
* Price, period.
* Lifetime.
* Hours of playback.
* Durability.
* I like pretty, but I can deal with homely but functional.

Rules:
* Nothing less than 1 GB.
* Nothing more than $300.
* Needs to be Mac-compatible.

And if any one knows of any promotional offers or coupons they could 
point me toward, that would be great.

Laura