I currently use the Creative Nomad Jukebox Zen NX, and I recommend it highly.
Some of the features *I* think are important--by no means all of them--are:
- Large capacity, small price. I still haven't reached the half-full mark on my 30GB model. I find that realistically nobody listens to their entire music collection at one time, so unless you plan to use the unit as storage you may never have need for its entire capacity. I paid ~$250 for mine (total).
- Non-proprietary hardware or protocols, format restrictions, or ill-conceived Digital Rights Protection measures. You can interface with any number of computers, and store any type of data on it.
- Support for multiple formats: MP3 CBR (Constant Bitrate), VBR (Variable Bitrate), up to 320 Kbps (the maximum), WMA, I don't remember others.
- Fast download speed (~ 5 secs/4 MB file with USB 1.1. 2.0 I presume is even faster), acceptable upload.
- User-servicable battery. While in the course of your ownership you may likely only *see* the battery twice--one of theose times being when you first get the thing, it's nice to know the feature is there.
- Good quality packaged earphones. I don't use them with the player because of their similarity to the iPod 'phones and for fear of feeling like a fraud. But if that is not a concern, then their likeness is a dirty little plus. Facsimilie considerations aside, I do use the earphones with other things, and they are comfortable and sound commendably clear.
- Lightweight, good dimensions. Though bigger than the iPod, it still fits in a standard shirt pocket (without case). It is also thin (flat) which makes it ideally portable.
- Live playlist editing. As I understand it the iPod cannot play and edit the playlist at the same time. Granted this is (or may already have been) easily fixed with an upgrade to the firmware, but this may be a limiting factor for the non-technical.
As for some people's concerns about unsuitability for high impact activity, I have taken it snowboarding, and while I am still a relative beginner and not prone to huge body-rocking stunts it has held up with no ill effects. It has even fallen into the snow and continues to play. However, do not take this as licence to beat the ever-loving sh*t out of it. I may have just been lucky and the worst jostles happen to coincide with periods of harddisk inactivity. A micro-harddisk is most susceptible to irreparable damage from impact shock while reading, which on HD-based players happens only sporadically.
Frankly, I feel the buzz around the iPod is mainly that: buzz. I agree that it is aestheically superior and the firmware may well be more stable, But I can't help but feel that all the beaming praise the iPod receives is at least in part owners trying to validate the inflated price they paid.
Out of fairness here are some of the intangible benefits of the iPod.
- Smugness. Let's admit it, the iPod is a status symbol and membership in what is tantamount to an elite club.
- Component quality and product support. Apple does not make crap.
- Huge user community for advice and discussion, large body of 3rd-party utilities, enhancements and accessories.
- Ergomonics. Certainly compared to the Zen NX's uncomfortable side-mounted pseudo-thumb-wheel the iPod's input controls are easier to use and more accomodating for left-handers.
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