I want to buy a 20GB MP 3 player but not impressed with ipod as it copywrites the tracks you put on it so you can't share them. Don't like Sony's effort as it's characteristically overpriced and only uses some obscure format for music.

I've heard that the iriver h320 is the best thing since sliced bread, and wondered if any Briskodians had sampled this electronic delight at all?

I recieved an iriver 256mb player as my x-mas gift and it is very good, however isn't faultless, for example my player will not play ogg files despite it saying it supports them in both the manual and the box. Not fussed about it just a bit of extra work changing them into WMA files but it's a good player.

I have been using an H120 for the past 9 months and have been very impressed with its sound quality and usability and also how robust the unit is. Like you I didnt like the idea of the Ipod as although the interface is very nice the sound quality of the Iriver seems to be noticeably better and it also has a lot of features which the Ipod has as extras you have to buy. Depending on what you want to use it for then it may be worth looking at the H140 as its cheaper than the H320 with twice the capacity, it loses out on not having a colour screen (which i wouldnt think has major implications for listening to music!) and doesnt come with direct connection to backup files from your digital camera as standard (although another box to sit between the 2 is available for

Thanks for the advice, comrades. I am now investigating the H140.

I have the H140 and can reccomend it. Just dont expect iriver to upgrade the firmware anytime soon. If you buy it do buy some good earphones as well.

Plus

- sound quality

- battery life (its so good that I often dont bother with the car power adaptor)

- LCD remote

- can be powered from car lighter socket (with an adaptor) or you can even make up an external battery pack for VERY long flights for a few pounds

- analogue / digital line in/out

- when on external power you can set the LCD backlight to be always on - go for night driving

- easy to mount in a car (got an adjustable mobile holder from the link)

Downsides

- if you want to navigate by genre then the startup time is extended (Igenerally just navigate by file)

- navigation by file can be fiddly as the scroll speed is constant

- no sync software / not compatable with itunes playlists - to autosync with a PC your need something like mediamonkey (free) and use m3u playlists

- no on the fly playlists

Bought from www.advancedmp3players.co.uk.

See http://www.misticriver.net/ for more info on iriver stuff

I've got one of these

http://www.advancedmp3players.co.uk/shop/product_info.php?products_id=69&usersessid=e9834140ccfdd68c2412331bf4545ee8

Brand new, in the box

I've got one of these and I'm lovin' it

Wot about the Creative Zen or Zen Mini... they are very ipod-like but cheaper