[Hank Rearden]

Fortunately, if you're not gay, do not have a scraggly goatee or are not a fan of Algore - there are plenty of better-performing, less-expensive alternatives that aren't rigidly locked into just one online music service.

And oh, unlike Apple, many of these support Janus. Google it up; Janus will dump the iPodpeople on their asses.

[corkoman]

I really think the iRiver has a better product.

[SengirV]

Don't you have a virus to clean off of your system?

[July 4th]

better-performing, less-expensive alternatives that aren't rigidly locked into just one online music service.

I won't disagree that there are some better features out there on some MP3 players, but my iPod isn't locked into any online service. I use EphPod and drag and drop whatever the heck I want into it. What the hell good is an MP3 player if you have to buy the music? :)

[SengirV]

And oh, unlike Apple, many of these support Janus. Google it up; Janus will dump the iPodpeople on their asses.

Is this the Janus where you HAVE to send a monthy payment directly to Redmond in order to listen to music? What happens if you are late with one payment? You can't listen to your music anymore. I suppose that if you were just starting out listening to music, you can go that route. But I already have lots of music and I don't feel like HAVING to pay a monthly just to pick up a new song here and there.

Don't forget to mail off that check to Billy G., he has his finger on the delete button of all your music.

[killjoy]

there are plenty of better-performing, less-expensive alternatives that aren't rigidly locked into just one online music service.

You don't have to use their online music service. You can rip your own MP3s or download them from many sources and bypass their DRM.