Right now, the word "iPod" has become synonymous with "mp3 player". Maybe because Macintosh revolutionized the world of portable music files, maybe because Apple products are the preferred and more recognizable brand name, or maybe it's just because the bi-syllabic moniker rolls off the tongue pretty easily. But let me tell you right now, it is NOT because the Ipod is the superior product on the market.

I had an iPod for about two years. For a PC user, it was not easy. I had to download the software that accompanied the product, and when I got a computer of my own, my files were not transferred from my parents' PC downstairs to mine in my room. It wasn't as easy as plugging in my Ipod and voila there was my music; I had to re-install the software, and then I kept getting this message that my Ipod was connected to another computer. Duh. And getting my music files into iTunes was no picnic, either. I had to convert the files to an iTunes file, which is not just an mp3, no siree.

So, after a lengthy search, I decided to get an inexpensive and easy-to-use Sansa Express. The Sansa plugged directly into my USB port, and immediately a window popped up with a list of my files. If I wanted to transfer music from one place to another, it was as easy as opening a second window, clicking and dragging. Then, one day at my friend's house, I decided to plug in my Sansa for a little music to liven the mood, and (again) the window immediately popped up with a list of my files; all I did was click, and the songs would play in order (none of this "your Sansa is connected to another computer" nonsense). And to top it all off, my beloved Sansa came in the most desirable of colors-- pink.

Of course there are some reasons the iPod has worked its way into the vernacular: My sister dropped mine in the tub, and it still worked (this was unfortunately not so with my Sansa--but more on that later....), and because it's so popular, a lot of people know how to fix them, and I hear their customer service isn't half bad. And I'm sure if you have a Mac, they're a lot easier to program. But I am not technologically inclined, I do not have an Apple computer, and I am definitely not willing to bend to the point of breaking for a "designer" mp3 player. I would be much happier with the super user-friendly Sansa Express over the complicated iPod any day.