Has anyone ever tried to make one?

I have an idea for a new novelty item... I want to see how much itd cost to make one and what the time and effort would be in making one.

Basically thinking of having a smallish 30GB hard drive and then be able to read MP3s and play them...

Id also like an LCD panel too

Advice appreciated

Take the ipod.  Its all about software.

Its all well and good sticking some parts together.

Dont waste your time.

Like Cypher said, get a colour screen ipod, create a linux driven interface and do what you want. A number of colour systems for said ipods are around now and actually look quite cool, people even been able to replicate cover flow flor you ipod on home brew stuff.

Screen wise I do not know if you can replace it with bigger say but things like this seem to be the next big thing
http://www.gadling.com/2007/04/10/portable-big-screen-goggles-for-your-ipod/

http://www.techdesign.be/projects/020/020.htm

Quote from: neXusLike Cypher said, get a colour screen ipod, create a linux driven interface and do what you want.

Thats not what I meant, but why not.  

id say the main concern, as said before, would be keeping it compact enough to transport around

another option would be to make it a standalone mp3 player, just to stash in your room... sync stuff from your pc so you dont need to leave it on to play your mp3s?

obviously you would then need a speaker system as part of it... bit of a problem

the software would be the important thing (also already mentioned)... and something simple would do, C+ or Java could do the job, with a database of tracks on your HDD to pull up.... but im not too sure if this would require a form of operating system to communicate with the hardware/user

You wont be able to make one cheaper than buying one

I was planning on having one at home... Not somthing for transporting about

Still not worth it. Either use your compy or buy an audio system with a USB memory port.

What would you gain by making one?  And do you have any idea of the work necessary?

Seriously, of all the pointless schemes this is one of the worst youve had.

If its for home use just use your computer, invest in a hifi or buy a cheapie, you honestly will not produce something good from Maplin parts for less cost.

Ive said it before in other threads, value your time more. Go shag that missus of yours, youll soon forget about building iPods from Maplin parts.

Definitely need to value your own time more. I wish to god I had that kind of time free. If you devoted the time and effort into a career that you put into get rich quick schemes and DIY atmsophere processors and such youd probably be very successful by now.

Personally I love the idea, the for it!