solid state (flash i assume) is extremely cheap right now. A secure digital card is like $30 for 128mb!, i know 512 and 1gb are espensive, but by the time the next ipod comes out i assume that the price of at least the 512 will drop below $100 dollars for consumers, but apple buys that stuff in bulk, or mass produces it, so they have the ability to drop the price (even thought they never will :) hee...hee...hee)