maisany, all the other HD players do the same as what you have stated and some like the IRiver do much more! It's not that its a hunk of junk or not, or whether its the best value for money.

The iPod works great as a Windows external HD.

I'm not a Mac guy, but I really like my iPod. The user experience with it is much better than any comparable player that I have used.

I have had mine for most of a year (40 gig) and it is grand. Easy to use, ALL my music with me. I too have had no trouble using itunes. I have not used the others so have no comparison to offer but it is hard to imagine anything working as smoothly as the ipod. Certainly nothing ever built by Microsoft, Dell, Intel etc.

If the mini comes out with just a bit more capacity I will switch to that
bbkenney

I have both a 20GB iPod, and an iPod Mini and I love them both. iTunes is (in my opinion) the nicest jukebox/music management software I've ever used, the iTunes music store is great (for music and audiobooks), and the integreation with the iPod is seamless.

I am (unfortunately) by no means a "price sensisitve" gadget shopper ("it's cool! I want it, and I want it NOW!"), so I am willing to pay a premium for small size, and a superior user interface. I think that is one aspect the iPod really shines in, its user interface. It's pleasant and brainless to use.

Chris

My only complaint about my Ipod is Itunes... you can only buy/download if you are from the US! What about Europe or even Canada?
I love my Ipod, have had no problem with battery power, but always keep the adapter with me for when we arrive to recharge it.
Until Itunes lets me in I'll just have to manage with my collection of CDs - I've downloaded almost the limit at 10,000 songs.

Not that it helps you in Sweden, but iTunes music store is available in France, Germany, and the U.K.

I have also heard they are launching the music store in Denmark this fall.

I bought a Dell when it first came out. When the IPOD mini came out I bought one of those. I havent used the Dell since. I think the sound is better (marginally) on the IPOD, mainly volume-wise. I have both Macs and PCs. I use the Dell software on a PC and the IPOD software on a Mac. With those caveats, I find the iTunes software and iTunes music store (again, on the Mac) to be very, very much superior to the software that comes with the Dell. It is the main reason I dont use the Dell.

In Italy isn't aviable too, but the lanching is imminent (in the end of 2004 )
It's a very good site with a lot of songs !
I'm waiting for it......

Actually, one thing was brought up that I hadn't considered as a unique feature before, and that's audiobooks. Can other players play Audible's format like the iPod can? Also, do other players pick up where you last left off in the audiobook like the iPod -- and iTunes -- does?

This is such a small feature, but it really is quite nice. I don't know if any of you have had to fast-forward through an audiobook to find your last stopping place. That is a big hassle that you eliminate with the iPod and iTunes.

Also, it's worth mentioning that because the iPod is the most popular option, there's some nifty options for accessories that aren't available -- or aren't available in the same variety/quality/whatever -- for other players. The Altec Lansing InMotion speakers come to mind.

I think what it comes down to the most, like others have mentioned, is if you're a geek who likes to tinker, you might be bothered by the limitations of the iPod and iTunes. If your first requirement is to organize and listen to your music anywhere you go, and you like sleek solutions but maybe less ability to mess with the stuff under the hood, the iPod should satisfy you.

Here's a good litmus test...

Ogg Vorbis.
1. I need to go to the mall. Where are my Manolos?
2. Is that a character from Star Wars or something?
3. Makes my eyes glaze over. Do you want to play DDR?
4. That's what the hardcore kids are doing these days.
5. Ugh. That's so 6 months ago. I've encoded all my music in <some other, more obscure format> now. Get with the program, you valley girl.

If you scored 1-3, an iPod is for you. If you scored 4, you will find an iPod to be like nails on a chalkboard. 5+: You glare at anyone you see with white earphones, further ensuring your dateless status and participation in the next several years' worth of LAN parties in your metropolitain area.

You can get perfectly decent speakers for any other MP3 player, their only difference is that they are $100 cheaper...

As for OGG Vorbis, I can understand Apple not being much of a supporter of it, as they prefer to push their own format, but in the audio world Vorbis is considered one of the best formats there is, plus it's an open source format, for the regular user that just wants his Kenny G collection in a pocket format I can understand Vorbis isn't important, but a serious geek doesn't listen to Kenny G

Plus you can buy them through the iTunes store, and it's seamless, and it just works.

Yikes... hopefully we won't get into an Ogg Vorbis religious war. It's starting to sound like Slashdot

Ahh, that's a trick question. No one is from Canada!

*ducking for cover*

oh, but the Altec Lansing InMotions are really cool:

1. It's really compact.
2. Good sound
3. The iPod docks into it
4. It's also an alarm clock
5. Better sound than anything $100 cheaper (These are $150)
6. The iPod charges in it.
7. You can plug the thing into your Firewire port to sync the iPod
8. Has audio in for other devices
9. AC adapter or battery powered (4 AAs)

...and that's the point I was going for. Sure, you can find accessories for everything that'll do anything. But because the iPod is so dominant, you can find some really cool accessories for it.

I think this makes you a 6.

uhm, that would be /. Get it right next time, ok?

Well, I've gone through 2 Archos players (both died and were returned to Amazon), and I'm now expecting my third Dell DJ (first two both developed headphone jack problems). I really liked using the DJ with MusicMatch as my ripper/burner/organizer, and transferring files using Dudebox. Dell also has a great no questions advance exchange warranty, but I am sick of returning the thing. When the new one arrives tomorrow it's going up on ebay.

I had bought my partner (an Apple freak) a 15gb 3G iPod a few months ago. But he never used it and has now given it to me. I like the size better than the DJ, but the interface is, frankly, klunkier. Battery life is shockingly poor compared to the DJ. Also, I still don't like iTunes. I had tried it out a few months ago and uninstalled it. I reinstalled it to make my initial transfer to the iPod, but have now bought Anapod Explorer and will use that with MusicMatch, and will probably uninstall iTunes once again.

I probably still wouldn't pick the iPod as my first choice, but I have it, it's paid for, and so far it works. So I'm stuck with it.

What else would I try? Probably not the Creative Zen Touch since it's likely to replicate any build problems with the Dell DJ (both made by Creative and very similar). Probably not the Rio Karma because, although it sounds really cool, it also sounds like there are vastly more reliability problems than any other player and it has a rotten warranty. Maybe the iRiver IHP-120, though it has its share of detractors as well as fans.

Personally, I think that HD-based MP3 players are really cool, but the technology is still not quite ready for prime time.