new here. hi all.

After months of oggling it I caved in and bought a 20 gb pod.

My previous MP3 player was a Nike PSA Play, back from when Rio made them. 64 MB. Cost me just over $200 back then.

PSA - never really worked right under Win2K
iPod - driverless portable HDD

PSA - Drained battery when off
iPod - charges over firewire

PSA - Software didn't use a good MP3 encoder, created lots of noise in files
iPod - iTunes has given me incredibly clean rips

PSA - crappy headphones that sit sideways and hurt your ears while falling off your head constently, with tinny sound
iPod - best earbuds I've ever used in my life

PSA - came in crappy plastic blister
iPod - slick, very presentational packaging. truly an 'experience'

I have to say, I am really impressed with iTunes and iPod. They're the best 1-2 punch since Hemmingway discovered bourbon. I feel like a sucker for what I paid for the PSA, but that was a few years ago. It'll be relegated to gym duty I guess.

The pod, and apple in general really has the concept of User Secduction down to a tee.