Apple is more arrogant than Porsche even and it drives me nuts--there are so many simple software features missing from the iPod that amaze me.
But they're still the best out there, design-wise and (now) audio quality-wise. Sucks but it's true.
I've had a mini and now a nano and they've never given me problems, but I hear problems from people all the time so it's no surprise to me that you've had such bad luck.
Try the iRiver products, like the U10, or whatever its most recent incarnation is. Sony's also coming out with some uber-player soon, it's already released overseas.
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