Top 3 Alternatives to iTunes

We can either wait for iTunes to catch up with the rest of the world, which will probably be long. I've already tolerated it for two years. Instead, I'd recommend using one of these. I've been searching around a lot and these three have consistently keep turning up with very high recommendations and reviews.

1. Sharepod
   One popular alternative that is very lightweight and portable is Sharepod. Its just an executable file that you can keep it on the iPod itself, so you can use it on any computer. Any computer with .Net Framework 2 that is... Unfortunately, I'm using version 4 and it doesn't work with it. You'll run into a runtime error and I've yet to find any solutions to it.
   
   Download it here.
   
   
2. foobar2000
   The one I'm using now. You have to set it up once when you run it the first time. After that initial hassle, your life is trouble free. Because I only use WMP (and iTunes) asides this, I can only compare this to WMP.
   I use WMP to rip and burn CDs because the interface is easy to learn and intuitive. I'm not sure what foobar2000 has to offer but I'm lazy to dig and learn if they can even do that. Foobar2000 on the other hand have iPod support (requires a plugin).
   As for general listening to music, I'd prefer foobar2000 because sometimes I rename the filename of songs that are of other languages or put them into directories that I named myself. These aren't picked up by WMP but they can be searched out by Foobar2000. The interface looks boring but I'd face it any day compare to the headaches iTunes have to offer.
   
   
   
   
   Download it here.
   Then download the plugin for ipod support.
   
   
3. Winamp
   I used this long ago. Pretty ok for a mp3 player but has additional iPod support now. Feel free to try this out. Quite a few people gave it a thumbs up though I haven't tried it personally. If ever foobar2000 fails me, this is the next thing I'd try and only because the feedback from users are overwhelming.
   
   Download it here.

If there's anybody still stuck in .Net framework version 2, and not planning to upgrade for some reason, I'd say go with Sharepod. I like the idea of it being lightweight and portable. I may switch if they ever decide to support the newer framework versions. Else, I'm sticking with foobar2000. iTunes is a thing of the past for me. Doubt I'll ever look back or regret it.