For as down as I am on the iPod family (don't make use of the iPod I have, don't want an iPod Touch because I don't find it to be an acceptable replacement for my NIT), it's not because I think it's an inferior MP3 player. In fact, I think the iPod family (in its physical wheel, or virtual wheel, forms) is about as close to a perfect MP3 player as you can get. (not sure about the Touch on that one ... I haven't used it enough to know how it does as an MP3 player, but either way, the older iPods were just about perfect in their simplicity and optimized experience)

Specialized devices should be expected to be better at their task than a general device. I don't expect the NIT to ever be a better camera than an actual camera. I don't expect the NIT to be a better MP3 player than a dedicated MP3 player.

My reason for not being excited about older iPods is: I don't need a dedicated MP3 player.

My reason for not being up on the Touch is: what I need is something like an UMPC or MID, and the Touch is rather inferior in this capacity, right now. The official SDK might change that, by bringing in an application ecosystem which adds the missing functionality. But, for now, when it comes to the device I need, the Touch just doesn't compare to the N800/N810. I don't need a media player, I need a connectivity and communication device. Even the iPhone is missing a few key pieces that keep it from being a good candidate for me (but, again, the SDK might change that ... then it would just be that I don't want to deal with AT&T, and it doesn't have physical keyboard options (built in, nor external)).