Tired of iTunes, what other options?

[bort]

I've never particularly been a fan of iTunes, and tonight I really got to thinking if it's really worth it. I've never liked the whole one-way-street in putting files onto my iPod and maintaining a library without sync-ing the iPod to my files (I prefer to maintain control over my separate mp3 files as I've already got them organized too). One big problem is that I have 30+ gigs of music and only an 8 gig iPod. It's a hassle for me to reconnect and constantly load different stuff, so I really just don't do it that often. Tonight, I rediscovered a TON of great stuff I hadn't heard in years and realized how unacceptable that is for me.

So, a few options:
1) Get a bigger iPod
2) Get a non-iPod mp3 player (Zune?)
3) Use my iPod without iTunes? (Is this possible?)
4) Shut up and live with it.

Right now, I'm exploring #2 the most. With the growth of non-iTunes mp3 download sites (DRM-free!), I don't feel like I *have* to be stuck with iTunes anymore. In short, I want less "stuff" done automatically, and for me to have more control over the player, like a hard drive.

Any thoughts out there? Is the Zune any better? Sorry for the rambling post, but I hope it gets the point across.

Thanks!

[TexTuba]

I've never particularly been a fan of iTunes, and tonight I really got to thinking if it's really worth it. I've never liked the whole one-way-street in putting files onto my iPod and maintaining a library without sync-ing the iPod to my files (I prefer to maintain control over my separate mp3 files as I've already got them organized too). One big problem is that I have 30+ gigs of music and only an 8 gig iPod. It's a hassle for me to reconnect and constantly load different stuff, so I really just don't do it that often. Tonight, I rediscovered a TON of great stuff I hadn't heard in years and realized how unacceptable that is for me.

So, a few options:
1) Get a bigger iPod
2) Get a non-iPod mp3 player (Zune?)
3) Use my iPod without iTunes? (Is this possible?)
4) Shut up and live with it.

Right now, I'm exploring #2 the most. With the growth of non-iTunes mp3 download sites (DRM-free!), I don't feel like I *have* to be stuck with iTunes anymore. In short, I want less "stuff" done automatically, and for me to have more control over the player, like a hard drive.

Any thoughts out there? Is the Zune any better? Sorry for the rambling post, but I hope it gets the point across.

Thanks!

1. Get the bigger iPod. Trust me, they're worth it.
2. Yes, you can use your iPod without iTunes. There's a program called Sharepod. Totally legal and, correct me if I'm wrong, you can't run it while iTunes is up.

I use SharePod because I like to add the music of friends' iPods and this is the best way. That is how I found out you can use it sans iTunes.

You can get an older, larger iPod for crazy cheap. All you have to do is look. My friend got one of the old 60 gig ones for about $70 online.

Hope this helps!

[Søren]

I like WinAmp. Also has great tools for using it together with my iPod

[Tubaryan12]

Ipods are cool.

That being said, get yourself a Sandisk Sansa. You can drag and drop files directly onto it using windows explorer, or use Windows media player to manage the files. I have an Ipod and a Sansa and I only use the Ipod (30 gig) to listen to podcasts. I use the Sansa for music.

[The Jackson]

With the MS Zune, you also have to use extremely bloated software to add data. I turned off all the "crap" ("Social", "Marketplace", whatever) and only use the program to download my podcasts and sync stuff to my Zune 30. It's not that bad, and the Zune is a great device.

I think the newer ones are slimmer, but the Zune 30 is bigger than any iPod and even bigger for me, as I have a Belkin hard case on. I throw it around in my bag, so I want it to be completely safe (the scratches all over the case indicate that I made a good choice) and it also has a belt clip (I don't use) and a stand which is useful for watching videos more comfortably.

I believe you can get a Zune 30 pretty cheap today. My mom got me a new one for X-Mas 2008 for $100 even, I believe. The size, though, would depend on how much/what kind of stuff you want to have access to (you should know that by now with how your iPod is faring capacity-wise).

[bort]

Thanks for all the comments so far, guys!

I'll have to check out Sharepod, sounds interesting! Not having to bother with iTunes would be so nice.