iPod 20GB

Pros:

(i)Synchronizing. Songs transfering in the first time might take longer time, but after that synchronizing is amazingly fast (only with iTunes; MusicMatch is pretty slow compared to iTunes). Songs are screened through and only modified songs are synchronized. take bout 2 seconds per song)

(ii)Useful Playlist. With iPod and iTunes, u can create a wide range of playlists (songs that u rated 5 stars, songs that u never played before, songs that u've recently played, christmas songs..etc)

(iii)Easy navigation. User interface is easy to use. iPod has cascading menus that provide easy navigation. In addition, the touch-sensitive buttons are really 'cool' to use.

(iv)Small. Really small and light. and it's really good looking (See others and u will realize :)

(v)Songs organization. iTunes organizes my songs pretty well according to artist and albums. I only have to name then once in iTunes and iTunes does it all (creating folders for artists/albums, arranging the songs, deleting them when I delete them in iTunes)

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Cons:

(i) Battery life. One of the reason i chose iPod was it can last for 8 hrs (which is the longest in last summer). However, recently more mp3 players could provide up to 16hrs and some PDA can play mp3 up to 35 hrs too.

(ii) File transfering (using iPod as hard drive) is not convenient for Windows user. Calendar, text notes function can only be used with Macs.

(iii) No recording & radio. Most mp3 players today has built in mic for recording and Radio functionality.

(iv) The ear buds provided has pretty good quality but not excellent. Hardly heard low range notes when commute. Would prefer headphones.

(v) Expensive. with the same price u can get another mp3 player for 40Gb or more.

(vi) Couldnt play WMA files (but, do u care?)

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I would still give 5 stars because this is what I want for a mp3 player : Small, Stylish, user friendly and large capacity. Personally, I don't think I would need recording, radio, WMA.. functionality for my mp3 player. Several other mp3 players like Creative Zen NX is pretty good too (from what I heard), with larger capacity and better price, but if u have the money, go for iPod, u'll definitely LOVE it!

P/S:
(i) Don't buy the 10Gb iPod, as it comes without remote, leather case, docking, and docking cover. These things costs about $100 so go for either 20Gb or 40Gb if possible

(ii) Apple.com has FREE laser engraving recently, which costs $19 previously and it's not available at amazon.com

I realized the iPod was so much more when I had disk problems on my Macintosh. Luckily I had a backup copy of my OS on it and used it to boot my machine. I was back in the saddle in a minute, and in fact, I accidentally continued to use the iPod as the startup disk for that whole session while working on huge graphics files!

The iPod can be used to transfer files from work to home and vice versa. Contacts and calenders make it easy to keep track of things without a PDA (even though you can't add anything without using a PC/Mac). I have used both iPods with an old Pentium III PC and the music transfer is smooth as silk. I did a lot of shopping this time around and the other players out there just don't have what it takes. Either the controls are in goofy places or the software isn't intuitive. While you CAN learn to use anything, why should it be a pain?

I now have one of the 20 GB models and can store large presentations on it when I travel, and since they usually have a PC at the other end, I can leave my laptop at home and am much happier not having to lug that around.

PC and Mac users will benefit from this device, especially if you are innovative, or you happen to find innovative software which is widely available and cheap or free. One example is: Before my flight, I can download newsbites and sports scores and quickly transfer it to the iPod for a diversion at the airport or on the flight. For the person visiting family, you can bring along the latest digital pics, long lost recipes, etc. and transfer/print them when you get there. (My parents don't do email that well)

While the iPod isn't a PDA, it has many of those functions and is a lot more fun. Most importantly, the iPod is an AWESOME and versatile music player.

main advantages of the iPod:
small and lightweight,
looks friggin cool,
intuitive and very easy to use menu's,
can sync outlook contacts, appointments, notes, etc...
can be used as a hard drive,
iTunes is a good program (for ripping, burning, playing music and organizing the iPod),
scroll wheel is amazing.

disadvantages:
price,
doesn't come with non firewire cables (if you don't have a firewire card, you need to purchase another cable ($20) to use the iPod (with USB - either 1.1 or 2.0),
"on the go playlists" - you can build a playlist on the iPod while you are out and about, however, you can't save it on the iPod. you can save it with iTunes when you sync, but only if you are using "automatic sync" - which i don't(so no spur of the moment playlists which can be used again for me). note that you can create as many playlists as you want on iTunes and save them to the iPod.

overall i am very happy with the iPod.

compared with the Zen -

Zen is bigger and heavier (while still small overall, compared to the iPod it is significantly larger),
Zen is sooooo much cheaper and for more memory,
Zen has much better "on the go playlist" functionality (i.e. it lets you create a playlist on the unit and save it, create another one, save it, etc...).
Zen has a que of songs that can be added to, changed, etc... on the fly - the iPod does not

i would reccomend the Zen as well, as a much cheaper alternative, with superior mp3 playing functionality (que and "on the go playlists"), though you can't sync outlook information, it doesn't have games, is heavier and larger overall and is certainly not nearly as cool looking.