[Hank Rearden]

So, what's that Stevepod battery life? 8 hours, maybe? Awww, too bad. WMA support - no? That's a shame; 1/3 smaller files than equivalent-quality MP3. Nobody cares about AAC format, so that's irrelevent.

I'm about 60% through my 600+/- CDs at 128-bit WMA quality (same as 192-bit MP3). My Zen is about 40% full.

iPods are so yesterday-trendoid; I buy stuff that works well and actually provides value instead of more incense for Steve. Sorry, Martin ol' sport.

[martin_fierro]

Hank. Hank. Hank.

Take a breath.

There, now. Better?

[Swordmaker]

So, what's that Stevepod battery life? 8 hours, maybe?

Apple's specifications specify a battery life of 10 hours for the 1st and 2nd generation iPod, 8 hours for the 3rd generation iPod and 1st generation iPod mini, 12 hours for the 4th and 5th generation iPod and iPod shuffle, 15 hours for iPod photo, and 18 hours for the 2nd generation iPod mini. Many factors can, of course, influence this. Under good conditions, you should indeed get around the specified hours of battery life on a new iPod. This amount varies with age, usage style, and other factors, such as music encoding format, backlight use, etc.

Since you don't own one, I suggest you are not qualified to make such statements...

[avg_freeper]

"iPods are so yesterday-trendoid"

That's why no one is buying them.

[Tribune7]

So, what's that Stevepod battery life? 8 hours, maybe?

The new ones are rated 12 hours according to the link above.

[SunkenCiv]

WMA support - no?

WMA? Speaking of proprietary...

[Theo]

iTunes is integrated well with the iPod.

FWIW, I'm using 256 kbps MP4s (AKA AACs). That's a bit better than your open-source WMAs. Oh, that's not an open source file format?

Use what you want to use. I'll use what I want to use.