For a long time I thought that iPod's were overpriced and didn't offer much in terms of a unique experience.  Why would I buy an mp3 player for 350 to 400 dollars when the others did the same thing?  All it had going for it was a smooth UI.  Along with that came a bloated iTunes app with DRM infested music.  Oh, but not to mention there iTunes Plus by overcharging for DRM free. OUCH.  Ever hear of Amazon music people?!? Hello??  Heck, lets be honest here. .. what they had (or have) is a monopoly on music.  So I kept using cheaper alternatives.  Screw Apple.  I am not that stupid.

First I had a Cowon X5 (30 gig?) which had many features iPod did not, such as FM radio, voice recorder, FLAC support, drag n drop music updates (imagine using just windows explorer to copy music over), and videos! Price?  Around $300, which was the same price as an iPod.

Second came the original Zune around 2 years ago.  It came out as the music player that looked like "poop" because it was brown.  Okay, so what?  It basically did the same stuff iPod's did but was much cheaper in 6 months time.  I'd be a fool not to get it. 

Then the iTouch came out.  Wow I thought.  If only they made a version that was closer to 30 gig instead of the measly 8gig.  So i waited for the next version of it.  Meanwhile, Apple fanboys were thinking: GASP!!!!  What is this waiting nonsense you speak of?  I WANT IT NOW.  I'M IMPATIENT AND NEEEEED IT.

About a month ago I bought the 16 gig 2nd gen iTouch for $280 at Amazon.  Why did I get it?  Well, I have wifi now and iTouch has Wifi support.  I really need to keep tabs on my email now too.  I have the ability to check my mail and browse the web where ever I want to.  How cool is that?  Turns out that it is much cooler and more convenient than I initially thought.  This I could get used to.

Then I discovered that the hoopla surrounding the applications are true.  I got the Pandora app, the last.fm app, financial app,clicky app, facebook, etc etc.  Not only could I check work related emails now, but I can check my site traffic stats whenever I wanted with a cool app as well.  Surely nothing can top this?  Or so I thought.

For awhile I avoided buying applications because well, are they really worth it?  Then I got a game or two which I thought were fun and cheap.  Not too shabby.  Then I found the motherload, an application that can stream my 100+ gigs of music over wifi to the iTouch.  I thought to myself you have to be shitting me.  This is totally unlike Apple to allow something to undermine device capacity and potential legal issues. 

Guess what though?  My 16 gig mp3 player is now unlimited.   Of course I do need to have wifi to utlitize it but you'd be surprised how often you can sneak on someone's free wifi.  I can share just my mp3 folder and don't even need to use iTunes to do it.  Insanity.  I know.  Not to mention I can invite friends to stream my music as well.

This is why I waited so long to buy an iPod.  The iPod has finally surpassed what I thought was possible.  Congratulations