Never really got to grips with i-pods, or mp3 players at all.
But for this happy, happy chrimbo, I'm gonna get one. The one in question is the new I-Pod Video, 30gig one.

So at 200 quid I wanted to ask a few questions, if anyone would be so kind.

The problem is, I travel a lot, about 4 times a week to London, so most of my time is spent on a train. Thus enters the i-pod. My worry is, however, that the format of video it plays won't actually allow me to put any of my downloaded material on to it (avi, mov, mpeg, etc). I think the i-pod only plays mpeg-4, or something? Does anyone know if any rippers (and which ones?) enables any video file to be put on to the relatively new ipod video players? Or am I doomed to paying 2 quid every time I want a video on it?

That's the main question. The other being - are the ipod videos worth it?

Thanks for any and all help, cheers =)

You can always convert anything to the video format that the i-pod requires.
A quick search resulted in this http://www.videora.com/en-us/Converter/iPod/
... but I'd look around more.

Quicktime pro 7 is supposed to convert them. Haven't tried using it yet though, the iPod even with a bit of hassle in converting movies will likely be leaps and bounds ahead of anything else you'll find for the same price.

Ok, someone's gotta do it...

What's a chrimbo?