No, you'll need to use iTunes. In my experience that's a huge benefit rather than a negative. Spend a month using iTunes and you probably will wonder why you ever resisted.

I own an iPhone, and my father-in-law owns an iPod "Touch". While we both are very happy, the best is yet to come. The SDK is in beta now, and in June developers will be coming out with a boatload of applications (downloadable directly to the devices via wireless.) You won't be disappointed with the purchase.