The iPod has something like 2 hours of anti skip. I've used mine for years and never had it miss a beat. As for battery life, the newer model does have slightly less battery life, like 8 hours. If you set up the iPod to have the backlighting on yes, you can get down to 4 hours....but then again, why do you have the backlighting on so much??? The batteries are replacable in the iPod, though not easy, it can be done. My iPods are 2 and t3 years old, and have never needed the batteries to be replaced yet.
I can't compare them as I've had iPods and always have been happy with them, for FWIW I vote in favor of the iPod, and refute several of the isssues you report.....now the price difference......
I can't compare them as I've had iPods and always have been happy with them, for FWIW I vote in favor of the iPod, and refute several of the isssues you report.....now the price difference......