...and got a new iPod Classic. My old Frankensteined (made from two broken iPods) 30GB iPod's headphone output stopped working on the left side, and I couldn't fix it. Both channels still work from the dock connector but I got tired of figuring out what to remove every time I wanted to put new music on it. That, and I heard a rumor this is the last year for HDD-based iPods. I currently have 10,120 songs on it (Lame V0 mp3) and have room for about 12,000 more songs! I briefly considered putting all Apple Lossless songs on it but since I mostly use it in my car, or with $30 JVC headphones I can't hear a difference. I can hear a difference when connected to a good stereo when I take it to friends' houses, but even so Lame V0 is still pretty damn good, especially for casual listening. I may use Apple Lossless for my favorite, well-recorded albums since I have so much capacity now. Probably not worth doing though given how I use it.

I did consider the 64GB Touch, but it's $400 vs. $250 for the 160GB Classic, plus I would still have to be choosy about what I put on it. I bet in the not too distant future there will be TB+ flash players, then I'll be able to use lossless for everything.