ipod does so well because it was designed to be simple. The majority of the population that wants a portable music player want something simple and nice looking. They are not audiophiles, and apple didn't market their product to audiphiles. Why? because they make up a very small percentage, and are much more demanding. I don't blame apple at all, I would have done the same thing. I'd much rather have a product with mass appeal enough to become a household name rather than satisfy a handful of perfectionist, because mass appeal is always gonna be where the money is. Very simple. And to the ones that find so much joy in pointing out what this product DOESN'T have: As a consumer, I look for the best bang for my buck, with the most like-ability I can find. Then I spend my money. If the ipod doesn't fit your needs, look the other way. Do you actually search out forums for other products you don't like just to name features and functions that the designer decided not to put in? seems like a waste of most or our time. Oh and by the way, the Zune (yes, I said it) is a very nice player for some of us, I love the way the alphabet is displayed on the side when I'm scrolling fast, makes it easy to find what I'm looking for. The audio is better than ipod, and the stock headphones are leaps and bound above what came with my 3G ipod. Thing is, it will never be an ipod killer because it came too late to the party. Like it or not, ipod is here to stay as the average joe's PMP de facto.