i just don't have any confidence in any of the others and i think maybe, just maybe, if I get a new ipod it will work swimmingly. i have never messed w/ any other mp3 player other than the ipod. so this is how they rope you in. crap!

iriver hp120, or whatever's new.

go to www.cnet.com & look up top reviewed mp3 players, if you need research material.

I've had a Creative Zen for about 8 months now and never had any problems with it. Even withstood a couple of drops onto the pavement completely unscathed.

MRobe

<$100, 5 GB, stable, good battery, easy to use

I'll have had my 20gb for 2 years next month...Great little player..Playa....
If I do it again..Same thing only bigger....

Creative makes a nice little product....

Yall hear that Rio is pulling out of the market alltogether? They were the first in.

Yup same here. Mine has worked fabulously for a year now with no probs.

Josh liked it so much he bought the smaller Zen touch for himself a couple weeks ago. He's in happy land with it.

[ignorant question] But non-apple products will not play iTunes-downloaded songs, correct?[/ignorance]

i will also throw my suport behind the creative zen, good little (though actually big) product

My Rio Riot broke.
I broke my first iPod.
I have stayed loyal and am very happy with my second one.

ipod dude. accessory selection is better. the player itself is cool looking. my first one sucked but my replacement for that one and the wife's newer one are flawless. they are without flaw.

Before I even attempt to recommend anything I need to know what you're looking for in an mp3 player.

What do you want it to do? What formats do you use? Do you use an online music service? Would you use an FM tumer? Would you like to be able to record (either through a mic or line-in)? Do you mind having to use software to add music to your player, or would you prefer to just be able to "drag-and-drop" it? Is gapless playback important? Do you care how your player looks?

Personally, if I ever have to replace my beloved iRiver H140 I think I'm going to get an iAudio X5L. It has all the features I want and has up to 35 hours for battery life.

do not fight the force, luke.

The new Ipod can record audio in full-stereo wav files. Supply your own mic.

What do you want it to do? play music
What formats do you use? mp3, AAC
Do you use an online music service? sometimes
Would you use an FM tumer? nope
Would you like to be able to record (either through a mic or line-in)? nope
Do you mind having to use software to add music to your player, or would you prefer to just be able to "drag-and-drop" it? no pref
Is gapless playback important? doesn't matter either way
Do you care how your player looks? image is everything, my friend.


i know i'm just gonna end up getting another ipod. why do i try to fight it

what am I missing here?

Just ordered the 5th generation ipod, yesterday.... in black, with 60 gigs. Up until now, I've been mp3playerless.

Like you, I did tons of research and will end up with my first apple product - the newest ipod.

I'll let you know when it arrives.

I found the other hard-disc players, other than the Samsung, to be rather bulky.

Cheers,

audiobill

so true. i love my zen. and if i want to listen to the radio, i have that option. i'm not sure ipods have that yet.

You know, if you wait long enough, they'll make one that you can just inject in your bloodstream.

But that proprietary battery change is going to be a bitch.

That's for the X5. The X5L model is the same except for a better battery. I don't think it's listed on their site.

Sounds like you'll be very happy with your purchase.

I also have a Zen - 40 gigs. Never had a problem. I think at the time it was a hundred bucks cheaper for more space.

It's a strange world when an 1/8 here or there defines "bulky." Ipod definitely has the status thing cornered, and it seems wrong buying one for exactly that reason...