Please can someone explain to me why there are endless arguments in here about the relative merits of Zune and iPod and why anyone actually cares?

Does it actually matter? Really, in the context of the universe, is there nothing more important to discuss? Why sit here and fight about what we use to listen to music on the go?

Can we not simply get along?

Maybe it does, maybe it doesn't but that is what digital spy forums are here for, I'm not adding my opinion on mp3 players and portable audio players but it is a developing technology and is of interest to music fans and hardware fans alike, along with all the DRM issues. There's more to mp3 players than mp3.

I'm not too fussed what everybody else uses, but it does annoy me a bit when some people i know buy 30gb+ music players and store about 1gig of music, and no videos on them.
But, as long as i have a mp3 player that i like, & it suits my needs, i'm not really bothered what everybody else uses.

Many people value the opinion of others on a discussion forum. If I was going to spend £200 on a product, I'd like to hear from the users of it.

That's the reasoned discussion bit - I'm asking why on Earth people bitch at people who have different players. What is the point in it? Why does it happen?

Must admit, I'm guilty there. I bouhght a 30GB iPod earlier in the year because I felt that 2Gb would not be enough, but I have only just broken the 2GB barrier. I would have bought a 4Gb Nano but there were only 2GB ones available at the time.

It's all well and good getting the opinion of others before making your own choice - in regards to anything. What I never understand is people who don't use something because it's popular. If something's good, it's good simple as. If you really need to be seen not using an iPod in order to make yourself stand out then you must have a pretty dull personality. Most people couldn't care less what you use, if they saw you using a zen, an iPod, whatever, it would barely register with them.