ken wrote: > As a confirmed Linux guy, I'd want to offload the audio files in some > format that Linux can read/play natively. I've read a sketchy > suggestion that there's a Linux app or utility to do a translation from > WMA, <http://www.linux.com/archive/feature/127583>, but I always like to > keep things as simple as possible and so would much prefer avoiding the > hassle and possible failure of conversion apps and Windows-format crap > generally. To those that replied with WMV/MP3 formats: Please READ the post CAREFULLY before you jump the gun. NATIVE Linux format is for example .ogg, because Fedora/RHEL and few other distributions only use *OSS* codecs. MP3 and WMV are proprietary codecs, so they are not natively supported on LInux. Many players can play FLAC Vorbis/OGG, but I can not see any that can record in FLAC or Vorbis. Please visit http://wiki.xiph.org/PortablePlayers and to see what can fit your needs. Also, try googling with: "vorbis" +portable +voice +recorder -software and try to find detailed info or write to manufacturers. You could also google for Vorbis encoding chips/processor and see who makes them and who buys them. I think that is the most important feature for portable encoder/recorder. MP3 encoder chips already exist for a long time. Ljubomir