When you buy an iPod in Japan, you MUST install the iTunes software in order to use it. Then, when you install the iTunes software, it slows your computer down about 50% because the heavy load of software is extremely slow and not built to run on Windows machines. When I bought an iPod 3 years ago and noticed the decline in speed on my PC, I took it back the next day. Then I looked for another MP3 player in Japan that doesn't have the same software problem and bought a Toshiba. The Toshiba had a slightly smaller software package, but it encrypts all the files the are put into the MP3 player. So, once the files are added to the MP3 player, they cannot be moved back to your PC because there is no decryption function for the files. After that, I went to the electronics store and asked if they had any MP3 players that DON'T require special software and they said “NO”. I couldn’t believe it. Why do all Japanese electronics companies force you to use special software to use their MP3 players? It could be because they are trying to force you to use their file format, or it could be for some legal reason. In any case, I gave up looking in Japan and went to the States where I found this MP3 player that requires NO SOFTWARE. AND, it will even play MP3 files in their native MP3 format, so the files CAN be copied BACK to your PC. The MP3 file format is considered standard in the music industry, so keeping files in this format will ensure maximum compatability with other MP3 players and allow you to use the player as storage to free up space on your PC.