Recording for the podcast

I know, I know. I just gotta get the thing finished and published. I've got a lot to do in the next few days before vacation... stuff for classes... stuff for korea... x-mas stuff... and ofcourse the podcast. I've been wasting my time trying to figure out how I'm going to conduct field recordings, like interviews. My damn R-1 keeps giving me the "Low Battery" warning and dies during recording, even when I have new batteries in the thing! I'm using the factory supplied memory card and I don't want to go out to by yet another card just to find out that my R-1 doesn't work. What a pain in the ass. I paid over $300 for the R-1 and it's been unreliable at best! Don't buy one. The unit is made of flimsy plastic and the control knob pops off entirely. Don't buy one!