[NeonKnight]

The i-pod is extraordinarily propriatary. The battery can't be changed without sending it back to the factory. The firmware is designed to block music from Rhapsody, Napster, Wal-Mart, Buy.com and just about every other online music store except i-tunes. The latest scheme is to sell the ipod without accessories. You have to buy the adapter separetly etc. "Think Different" seems to signify apple thinking up new ways to screw the i-pod owner.

Creative, Rio and I-River players don't have the same conflicts of interest as Apple as they don't have their own music store. They are cheaper and more flexible.

The reverse is true as well, I spent a lot of money downloading music from i-tunes before realizing they would not play on my Sandisk...(i-tunes is in a proprietary M4P format.)

BTW...I went with the Sandisk because it is smaller than an I-Pod shuffle and sports an FM Radio and Voice Recorder. It only holds 1Meg though.

[nickcarraway]

Do you have Nero? You might be able to covert the AAC format using that.