Podcasters - Digital Voice Recorder?

[OmahaStar]

What would you suggest as a good handheld/portable recording device? I'm looking for something that records in a digital file (so no tapes). mp3 or wma, either way is fine, but has to have USB connection (cord or direct, doesn't matter) to copy the file to computer.

I'd like to be able to record files when I'm out and about, at conventions, during meetings, etc. Currently, I'm doing recordings in a studio, and I'd like to try to open my options.

Any suggestions?

 

[Hitman]

Although I use my mobile for that, my girlfriend uses a Sony ICD-MX20.

 

[JustAFriend]

Never had experience with one, but the Zoom H4 is getting good comments on the audio boards.

Here's a review with clips: http://digitalmedia.oreilly.com/2007/02/01/review-zoom-h4-handy-recorder.html

 

[Sean Aaron]

I looked into the Zoom H2 and it seems quality with the ability to do both .wav and various MP3 bitrates. But I came up with a cheap solution that works with my iPod Nano 3G: the Belkin Tunetalk Stereo. Has a built-in stereo mic with pretty good sensitivity and records to 44.1KHz 16-bit .wav audio in 1.xGB chunks. I can get close to 3hrs. of recording time with my nano 3G's battery. Also has line-in and auto-gain reduction. Best of all you can get them on Ebay for only US$40 or so.

I'm using it for recording of my daughter's singing and such as well as uploading Minidisc recordings of radio shows I've recorded.