I went looking for this type thing a number of months ago, and did some research just as you did. After some discussion with folks who owned Zune's, I went ahead and forked out the cash for the original - an iPod Classic. It's less expensive than the iPod Touch that has all the features (that I'd never use). The 80gig model runs about $250 all over the place - Circuit City, Best Buy, Wal-Mart, and the military exchange system.

So far I'm finding it fairly easy to use - mostly because I bookmarked the manual, online, and then printed the pages I needed the most!

I haven't tried downloading any music from iTunes yet, but I've transferred more than 40 CD's onto it already. It looks pretty easy to do if you can read and follow written directions.

BTW - get the iPod locally, but then go to eBay for some of the accessories you'll want for it. It only comes with a USB cord and a set of earphones. You'll want the electric charger, you may want a car charger, and depending on your use, you may also want a 1/4" patch cord to plug it into the Audio jack of your stereo system.

DonnaR/CA

Here is a link that might be useful: iPod Classic manual

Sorry - typo - 1/8" patch cord, not 1/4". You take the patch cord from the headphones jack of the iPod to the Audio In jack of your stereo system, which is probably a 1/8" jack.

Another thing you may want - an FM transmitter, so you can use the mp3 player in the car! This may also be the way to go if you want to use it with your stereo shelf system and there is no Audio In jack, providing of course you have an FM radio on your shelf system.

DonnaR/CA