Thinking about getting an ipod

I'm a complete noob with ipods and I'd like to get one so I can play my mp3s with it in the car. My question is, what kind of storage media the ipod uses? I'm guessing a 2.5" laptop hard drive? If so, then is it possible to put in your own hard drive or they made it so you won't be able to modify it? The reason I ask, is 'cause I checked ebay and the cheapest ipods run for at least $300 with a 60gb storage. I know if I can get the ipod housing without the storage, and then put in my own hard drive, it will come out much cheaper in the end. So if anyone can enlighten me on all this ipod stuff, I will greatly appreciate it.

this short answer is you cant, of course it is possible but the amount of time and money it would consume isnt worth the effort. The old ipods used 2.5" disks i dont think the new ones do, at least its not a regular 2.5" disk, the casing is too small for that, and where are you going to get the ipod housing from?

here is some more info if you are really keen http://www.macuser.co.uk/macuser/features/67347/replacing-your-ipods-hard-disk.html (note this wont work with the latest generation of ipod, the video one)

check out ilounge.com great ipod forum.

I don't know if they sell ipod housings without the hard drive. I was only thinking if they do sell them, then it's an option. I know with portable hard drives (laptop or pc) you can do that, so I thought maybe it's the same with ipod. From that article posted by NicP, it looks like 3rd and 4th generation ipods work this way, so this is exactly what I need. And it'd be also cheaper to get an older one, because all I need is the ability to play mp3, then hook it up to an Alpine hu with that adapter to control it from the hu. By the way, what is the current generation of ipods? 5? And how do I distinguish 3 from 4, and 4 from 5 or whatever is out now?

the current generation is 5, they play video. i cant remember the differances between the others 1->2 added the click wheel i think, most of the 4's were in color. You cant buy the housing seperately, but you might find some on ebay with broken hard drives, more often than not its broken screens though.

http://www.scoutingaround.com/computers/ipod/ipod_generations_old.html

Why?It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."

I was just going to mention you, auex, seeing how you are such fan of i-pods. How many have you got now? like 4 or 5 and every accessory made for them?