Answer these questions so I have a better Idea what to recomend.  How many songs do you want it to hold?  Do you want it to be abl to play video?  How big of a screen would you like?  Would you like it to have a FM radio built in?  Do you want to have specific accessorys for  your mp3 player such as docks with charging ability and speakers?  Do you want it to have a factory replacable battery or regular AA's?

You would need about 8gigs on one to hold 2000 songs and 16gb to hold 4000.  At that rate a 80gb Ipod might be right for you.  It will hold 20,000 songs and you can get a charger for it that would plug into your wall outlet.  This also has a batery that is factory installed and usualy lasts 8 to 14 months.  These batteries goes for $60 from apple and your turnaround time to getting a new one is 13 weeks.  If you buy your ipod from Radioshack with their replacment plan you can get a free batterie every year for the span of the plan.  Your only other option would be getting a Sansa 8gb then buy another 2gb chip to add to it.  The only prob is your still only getting 10gb which is about 2,500 songs on that for about the same price as an 8gb ipod for $250  if you do not want to spend that price let me know but realize you are dropping storage capacity greatly.

there are but nothing really worth much considering there are endless amounts of accessorys for Ipods compaired to your basic no name stuff. 

i agree fully the zune is the shizzle. oh and btw the new one that they came out with even now has the roller like the ipod when you want to scroll through your songs it is also smaller than the 80gb ipod, the same price as the 80gb ipod. but a bigger screen, thinner, and you can hook it up to your 360. you can exhcange and share music with other Zune users, and the older zunes did not have a roller for browsing but now ont he newer ones they do so it is a huge change, which makes me want one so bad.  battery life is also longer and from what ive seen it is more consistent and stronger, you also get some sick ass headphones with the new 80gb one. so...if you have any more questions and are still looking around check out this link www.zune.net/en-US/products/zune80gb/default.htm

the only bad thing that i have found out about the Zune is that sometimes the accessories are not as easy to find as the Ipods, b/c it has not been out as long, but just the fact that you can hook it up to your 360 and it is fully compatible should be plenty enougf of an incentive to get it. 

i say go with the new 80gb Zune, you get everything you need like the ipod but can hook it up to your 360 you dont have to mess with sketchy Itunes and also you can easily get cooler cases and back grounds for it as well.

you should let us know when you finally decide what your getting

go to radioshack and check out the sony earbuds for $39.99 or the Koss headphones for S49.99 They both sound amazing the sonys are small and comfortable.  The Koss are big but light.  You can also get a replacment plan on them that will cover them for 1 or 2 years.  It does not cover user damage though. 

ohh i dunno when i go to work on thrus I could right down the sku'.  There are 2 models a 39.99 and a 49.99  the 49 is a big cup over the ear style and the 39 is the reg just fit on the ear style.  Both sound great the bigger have a much better response though.  Your store should have a demo up of both of them so u can see.  Dont forget 30 return policie as long as u have the package and reciept in like new condition.  You might wana try the sonys even though they are in the ear they are damn comfortable they stay in well even if u go out running and sound amazing for what they are.