[Iridium]

Here is a quick clarification, I hope :

The issue is BIT versus BYTE. If I remember correctly, 1 byte= 8 bits.
OK, stay with me.

If a chip is stated as having 1gigaBIT (in manufacturer white paper), this is actually = to 128 true mb. 2 gigaBIT=256mb, 3 gigaBIT=384mb, 4 gigaBIT= 512mb, 8 gigaBIT = 1024mb or 1 true gigaBYTE.
So, you buy a 1gb player from honorable Chinese merchant, you load 1 true gigBYTE of data onto it.
A week later you start playing files past about 119mb and BAM!
The dreaded 'Format error' message....
You reformat w/ windoze, which shows true mb info, and you see you only have 128mb -apprx. 9mb for overhead or 119mb. Files placed on chip up to 119mb play fine. After 119mb, 'Format error' !
You cannot get back something you never had to begin with.
But you format, format, and re-re-re format, but oops! Every time windoze will show TRUE MB capacity.
By this time your player is beyond the 7 day warranty given by ' honorable Chinese merchant '. Etc. Etc.
So, go ahead and get the brand new Gazillion GB player ( read gigaBIT ) on ebay from the seller w/ only 10 positive feedback, but read warranty info 1st, and once you receive it, load it to it's capacity, play the last files first, and watch for errors. Reformat, then notify seller that it's really only a 128mb player..... Whew!
I write this to help unsuspecting buyers out there.
If anything I've said here is incorrect, please correct me....

Iridium