[GreenAccord]

I have to be honest, apart from the storage capacity of the iPod, I don't envy my brother's iPod over my iRiver.

Just yesterday, he called me asking me for the name of a wma to mp3 converter since he ripped ALL of his CDs (he has about 500) using Media Player, and he wasn't aware you could set it to rip in mp3 format, his mistake. Uh-oh, the iPod doesn't play wma files. So now he has to convert every one of his songs.

Oddly, my silly little (and it IS littler than an iPod) iRiver mp3 player plays wma files, no problemo.

Is it the interface, is that why folks are buying the iPod?

[Spktyr]

The interface of the iPod, plus the seamless integration of iTunes and the iTunes Music Store. AAC is also a good, open format (Pioneer car decks, among others, now support AAC natively), and since the iPod pretty much owns the industry, it's the industry standard now.

Also, anyone who knowingly and voluntarily uses WMA is an *idiot*. The tech specs for that format are awful.