Need Music Player/Boombox advice

[The Mighty Gerbil]

After almost ten years my cassette/cd player boombox has died. Now I require a replacement. Sorting though the choices none seem to be well made and most look like plastic modern art rejects. I don't need all the cheesy accessories they load on just something that plays cassettes/cds, around $80 (or under) and a remote would be nice but not necessary. The main thing is I want something that won't die in a year. If that means spending a little more ok, but not for a bunch of accessories or volume levels I will never use ( I use it to exercise in my room so I don't need to shake the house down with it =P ) If anyone has any good suggestions please post them. Also I have considered the new Ipod Shuffle as a substitute. My exercising is quite intense so I am unsure how it would hold up being sweat soaked and bounced around a lot. If anyone has any experience with the Shuffle please post that as well. Thank you and SQWEAK!

P.S. I may not respond to forum posts as I have been having problems loging into the forums.

 

[Taliesin]

The shuffle is pretty much designed for that use, so it should hold up pretty well. There is also splashproof mp3 players made by Sony and Ultra, in case you are looking for outdoor use as well. For the money, I'd probably go with the Cowan (Jetaudio) iAudio U2. Everything I've ever read on this one says it has great battery life, great sound quality, and it's small enough to go anywhere.

 

[tjguitarz]

If you're going to be jumping around and whatever, you aren't going to want headphones dangling from your ears. I'd go with a boombox thingamajig. Go to www.cnet.com for reviews.