If I were to purchase an MP3 player today I’d purchase an iPod. The support for the device is incredible, but as great as it is, it’s a one trick pony. (It can function as a portable hard disk too, but who needs that with high-speed internet everywhere?)
I’m trying to reduce the number of devices I carry, so I can’t justify replacing my Minidisc player with another audio player. I already carry some combination of Palm, PocketPC, Blackberry, minidisc player, Gameboy Advance SP, usb keyfob, cellphone, pager, and laptop everywhere. I want a device that consolidates everything but the laptop into one.
The Blackberry is great if you want email - nothing comes close at this point - and the phone and PIM features are getting better, but other applications are virtually non-existent. The Palm has tonnes of applications, but wireless features are still immature. I’m still playing with the Pocket PC, and haven’t found good replacements for everything I had on the Palm yet, but it does play video and audio.
Bill Gates’ recent prediction that the iPod (or any MP3-only player) will eventually lose out to a mobile phone/MP3 device is right - almost everyone carries a cellphone, and I think would more likely chose less MP3 features before they’d chose less phone capabilities. But don’t let it stop there, I want a device that has: a good phone; push email; plays audio and video (with and without DRM, so I can chose to buy content or load my own); the ability to play games; plenty of storage; a small form factor; and, support for third-party software.
I’m sure just such a device is coming.
