I on the other hand love i-products. I have owned a first generation iPod, 3 iPod shuffles, bought an unlocked iPhone from the US almost immediately as soon as someone proved it worked on Rogers, currently have an iPhone 3GS and have an iPad.
I don't know what is "backwards" about iTunes. It works for what I need... I've not had a problem with it.
As for pictures and subfolders. that probably is a feature that iTunes should incorporate. But for only $2 (
http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/photo...369610590?mt=8) you can do exactly what you want plus much, much more.
Yes, Apple doesn't support flash on iDevices. And here is why:
http://www.apple.com/hotnews/thoughts-on-flash/
Makes perfect sense to me. Flash is dying and Adobe only have themselves to blame.
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I'd suggest going into an Apple store and playing with an iPad/iPod touch. Some people just fall in love with the device using it in the store .... others don't like it. But you can get a feel for what the experience is like without having to pay for one.