Can't offer you much advice, but wanted to let you know I'm in pretty much exactly the same boat. Owned a Creative NJB3 for a year plus. When it failed, I sent it back to Creative and was charged $150 for a fix. It suffered another failure just weeks later (out of warranty for the repair, of course), and, frustrated, I bought an iRiver iHP-140, which, like you, I have recently decided just isn't worth it due to the problems you describe (although check out Redchair's iRivium (or Notmad) software for organization). For me, the interface is the biggie, and I just like the Creative UI better. I'm now debating a 60 gig Xtra or a 40 gig Touch. But I am still very hesitant to trust Creative again... When did you have your Xtra(s)? I know that they have made some attempt to fix the headphone problem in more recent batches of the player...
I need seriouse advice between these three audio players.
The Irver Ihp - 120, Creative Nomad Zen Touch, and the Apple Ipod. Let me explain my situation.
I currently own the ihp - 120, and have become increasingly irratated on its performance and satisfaction. First, it doesnt have any program to truely organize the players files. I have found that hte more files that go on it, the slower and less reliable it has become. I find myself taking a good amount of time starting up the player(which takes about 20 seconds) and waiting by scrolling at a set one speed and takingthe same amount of time to find a song i want to hear. i have over 2000 songs on it, and files have become corrupt and lost on itself. While the features are nice, I dont find myself using half of them at all. I am thinking of returning this unit after about 5 months of use, and filing a complaint to iriver on completly neglecting the problems it has.
Previously, i owned the Creative Nomad Zen xtra. however after 2 broken units (first time was a broken volume key that got pushed in. Second was that the earphone jack fell apart inside the player, and became useless) i had to sell it on Ebay to get my money back to buy the iriver.
I am now looking into getting the Nomad Zen Touch, but does it have the same hardware problems? I loved the software, but the lsat players hardware segnificantly was flaud. I am very big on sound quality, and the iriver and nomad both had this very good. I havent found to like the sound that comes off the ipod,or the trendiness it has, even though it is a beautiful machine and doesnt appear to have any software/hardware problems. which would you choose in my situation?

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