The other companies just don't seem to equate to the simplicity of an iPod. I've used iPods since the beginning, so I'm pretty hard to sway, the only other player I've seen is the Philps GoGear, which doesn't have enough storage for all of my music.
I've got a Fujifilm Z1, and have no regrets whatsoever about buying it. Though there is nothing insane about the battery life, it has 5.1 MP, but with a protective glass case over the screen so it doesn't scratch, I haven't even gotten a scratch on the glass....there is also a slide feature in front of the lens so there is no way it can get damaged. I think the camera was about $300, maybe $400, with the charger, computer plugins, etc, but as with any camera the extras are what made it cost more.
A bunch of friends brought me back a Sacher Torte from Austria over the summer...that, heated in the micro with Ice Cream and Caramel did it for me...yumm
I thought the listening in on conversations one was kind of cool, I tried that at dinner tonight in the cafeteria and was suprised to find out it actually worked.
As for the hyperventilating things, I don't think I'll be trying it very soon...
Very entertaining.
As long as you grab a good emulator, you should be able to get on Limewire and find a .rar or .zip with tons of games in it...
There are definitely better players out there, just none so simple and aesthetically stimulating as the iPod.
Empires could be one of the best albums I have.
As for the hyperventilating things, I don't think I'll be trying it very soon...