VK, James
If you look at the recent reviews of MP3 players, the iPod is not up there with the leaders w.r.t features, usability, etc. Therefore, to make a hardware port for an iPod, based on today's design of iPod is surely asking for redundancy in 3-5 years (or next 10 mins at the rate iPod designs come out). I think it's far better to leave it as a plug-in....immune from hardware shape changes.

Keep it Simple..

It's probably the statements of 'fact' that seem to get me going this week. M make the iPod dock but you don't see an ounce of hikers raving over that to get them bought do you ? Why's that? It's got an M badge on it....we're all exploited aren't we?

To use your Sony example one more time - I know that Sony release 100's of new hardware products each year. Meridian release one and there's a bunch of bitching and moaning about it.

If you feel so exploited that they have done that....simply vote with your feet...don't buy it. That was my point that you seemed to miss.

Rgds,
Nick