Well it looks like Apple indeed did drop their prices. When I bought my iRiver for $250 the iPod was 20 gig was around $400. Now they are quite close in price, but when shopping around, an iRiver still has the edge in price for around $275 in a quick search whereas I couldnt find an iPod for under $300. I'm sure its out there somewhere though.
Also dont forget the radio on the iRiver, wma support, better windows support, no extra purchases (docks etc)
iPod does, IIRC have firewire support which makes copying a but faster so thats a plus for them. They are both great Mp3 players. If I was in the market now, with Apples price drop, it would be a tough choice, but I still would probly go with the iRiver to save money. Its a toss up though.

iRiver owns. iPod has to convert files...can't play wma's.

But the iRivers can biggrin:

imwithstupid:

iriver is great all around, so is are the creative "Zen" models... both better than iPOD

not that ipod isnt a nice choice, plus.. most newb people are impressed by "ipod" just like they are "intel pentium" so you should be able to do some showing off rolleyes:

the ipod kicks ass, have had mine for over a year and everyone else in my family has one too. so simple to use, it comes with a program to do everything you need to be done, and a very nice design. ipod > all

jujumantb: since when is the 20gig ipod $400?? i have a 30gb and it cost less then $350 last october. wow you shop at horrible stores sleeping:

Im probably going to be getting the IPOD mini soon. Birthdays coming up oOo:

it has an OK design, that many dont like including me... also the interface is much easier on other mp3 players, the iriver is better in every way, but i wouldnt put it in the same catergory as the ipod due to price.

i would compare the ipod to the creative ZEN which some prefer. theyre really about equal IMO

imo...the ipod interface is damn easy, when i got it i didnt have to look at anything twice. hooked it up to my computer and in about 2 minutes i already had 100 songs on it. the style of it rocks, the size is perfect. i wouldnt want it any smaller.

some people like it, i dont, i especially dont like the buttons, its not a bad player by any means and for most people is the best choice. but the battery life is annoying, so my $$$ is going for the iriver.

its all preference really, as far as interface, shape goes, the iriver has raised buttons which i like much more than the ipod ones.

damn i wish i had money to burn on this shit

ipod battery extended life hazards. after a year or so a lot of owners complain of battery death. Note they end up paying an arm and a leg for a new one. I beleive apple fixed this by offering a half discount on the fix/ or something along the lines of an actaul new battery, im still not sure. Personally, ill just buy one of those stupid Rio's or what ever i get my hands on, if i ever do.

I said around $400 rolleyes:
http://www.x10.com/products3/ipod_20gb.htm
iPod is like Sony to the car audio world or an alienware computer to the gaming world. Its a big mainstream product that is not the best for the money, not the best for anything except for noobs to mp3 players that dont know any better. Sorry you and your family got screwed into buying such a shitty player. No I really am. I'm glad you are happy with it though. And thats all that matters right?

they dont have a 30 gig on the iPod site. =/ where did you get it?

Sony MP 80 Car Deck > All other in its class, including anything alpine makes. Ive gone threw hundreds of decks as well.

+ they have the best priced 1000 + watt amps out on the market. best bang for your buck type thing. So this is not a good comparision to use, you would have been beter off using Pioneer :).

Sony MP 80 Car Deck > All other in its class, including anything alpine makes. Ive gone threw hundreds of decks as well.

+ they have the best priced 1000 + watt amps out on the market. best bang for your buck type thing. So this is not a good comparision to use, you would have been beter off using Pioneer :).[/quote:afc4d]
Ok SOME of sonys old decks are nice... but you can do much better. And they have only VERY recently made amps that do close to their rated power. I would never own a Sony amp though. Known to overheat constantly.
Pioneer? Their higher end decks are some of the best decks you will find under $400. Fine, I'll change it from Sony to BOSE :) Happy?

nope. My amp over heats after about 1 hour of use in hot weather in my trunk while its pumping out its full rated power. (1200 peak) = 800 mono 4ohm on mine. To me for a block amp with no fans that is pretty danm good. + give it 5 mins to kool and its good to go again, or i just keep my ac/windows down and the thing is fine.


The point is Sony's First gen of car equipement was complete garbage, the subs and amps did what the title claimed, xplod. But their newer gen stuff is fantastic, (except speakers), even there 15 inch polygon sub gives out great bass for its rather cheap price, of course the mainstream store shit is no wear near that of a kicker Square panal sub, or a Rackmount Audiobahn amp, but it is still some of the best in its class, or at least to me a lot better then pioneer, JVC/Panasonic, Rockford, kenwood etc. Their current entry level decks are fantastic, while i find the mid range sony decks complete shit, and Higher range, such as the MP 80 & 70 have fantastic performance. The only thing i would avoid is their speakers. Sony just has a stupid flag over it ever since their first gen stuff was complete crap, well I say do you blame them ? It was their first year of stuff. Since then it has been nothing but great performance.(Note their amps have just recently become more suitable. Their speakers are still shit.) Ill also say this, Pioneer's is always crap, their top end decks audio quality is poor as shit and the pre outs are pitiful. Its all fucking pizaa with the Organic LEd screen. thats all.

If I had a choice and money wasn o object , Blaupunkt + Clarion would be my choice.