The nomad is cute, but:

- Playlist support isn't a patch on what the empeg provides
- Database facilties nonexistent in the version I saw
- UI not suited to in-car use
- Display is non-backlit & small - not good for in-car
- Audio outputs not suited to in-car use
- Limited storage
- 74Mhz cpu cf 220Mhz

It's great for the price, and as a walkman. The price is lower simply because of volume issues (ie, they make a LOT of these!) and the fact that it's a simpler device; it has many fewer interfaces, less power and less storage.
It does do full-bitrate recording (not encoding) though, which is very cute as a DAT replacement :) (no idea on battery life when in that mode though!)

Hugo