I used to be a mobile-DJ. My CD collection exceeds 5000 CDs. I got tired of lugging the whole collection around with me. So since Sept 2002, I've embarked on a project to rip the best stuff from every CD I've got, one letter of the artist/group alphabet at a time. (just passed 30,000 songs) I'm using the AAC format (MP-4). I've got half of B, C and S to finish and I'm done! (was working on Jackson Browne and James Brown tonight) Next time I do a gig I can leave the CDs at home.
oops, I meant Sept 2003... expect to finish S at the end of May
Man that's awesome. The Hardrive based Mp3 player is surely the product of the decade.