The Nomad Zen seems to be a pretty viable iPod alternative. I haven't used one myself, since I got a classic 20gb iPod instead, but it was one of the serious alternatives I was considering when making my purchase.
I went with an iPod because it seemed to be smaller than the Zen, and size was a major concern. I could have easily gone the other way. Plus, back in the day, the iPod was getting lots of extra points for design (which also justified the Apple tax).
Right now, you can get a
60gb zen for $390.99 at Amazon.com
and a
30gb one costs $235.24.
Alternatively, a
20gb iPod costs $399.00 at apple.com.
Apple is stuck in the past. A few years ago, a 20gb player for such a price was tolerable because of Apple's style. But now, in the age of pennies-per-megabyte storage and sleeker design, Apple's advantage seems less and less clear.