Got me one of them new fangled MP3 players that are all the rage. Creative Labs MuVo v100 (1GB). Filled up with angry music and funny music. I forgot what a good mood I got listening to angry music.

Thinking about getting me one of them cellular phones that everyone always talks about. And I hear there's this thing called the InterNet that I might check out.

I can't think of a way to justify getting myself an mp3 player. I listen to music at home and in the car, both places I have either mp3s or CDs and a way to listen to them already. I don't jog or listen to music at work, so when would I use it?

I also don't understand text messaging instead of calling, or other odd things the under-25 set do these days. Yet, I'm an IT professional, not a Luddite, so I should be all over this stuff.

I had two justifications.

1) It's basically a glorified Flash-Stick, so I can use it to move files between computers, which makes more sense the the DVD burning method I've been using up until now.
2) I'm going to be moving next month and have a 9-10 plane ride (plus security protocol crap before that), so I'm going to need something to occupy my attention. Figure that and a crappy paperback novel bought in the airport will do it up nicely.

Reason #2 is the same reason I plan on buying a cell phone.

You're insane.

Does this board have an Ignore list? I'm putting you on it.

Insane!


At home and in the car. What the hell do you need to cart around CDs for when you can have thousands of CDs with you at all times? You don't need to! Put everything you can onto yer new gadget and bring it all with you wherever you go.

I had to get one. (I actually own several now.) My record collection is pretty massive, and I got tired of 2) picking out what I wanted to listen to for the day before leaving the house each day - how should I know what I'd get the urge to hear eight hours from now? - and W) losing, misplacing, scratching, whatever, CDs. Our household now has three mp3 players, and the moment Apple releases a 100GB iPod, I'll get that, too.

Now, when some random songs comes into my head, click, it's playing in seconds. That's great.

And shuffle mode? My 60Gb iPod is stuffed to the gills with music I like. Click shuffle on that and you have the best radio station ever, with no repeats likely for weeks. That's great.

And podcasts. Listening to interviews with comic creators, or news shows on specific topics, or Discovery Channel productions, or eight billion other things is WAY better than most talk radio. That's great.

I have you on my ignore list.

I hate cell phones, though.

MP3 player: easier to carry than a bunch of CDs, no reception worries while driving, usable at work where radios don't work.

Cell phone: don't own one, reluctantly take my wife's with me when on long drives. I hate the phone, so by extension, I hate the cell phone.

I hate phones myself, but I figure a cell phone will come in handy during the move when I will have no other form of phone available.

I hate headphones. Does that make it better? Also, I hadn't seen a 60 GB player. Biggest I saw was 40, I didn't even know they made a larger one. My mp3 collection is nearly 50 GB, and I'd want the whole thing with me if I had any of it. How about sending me one of your several and I'll see if I like it?

I have no idea about - and therefore, no need for - an MP3 player.

I have a cell phone, which I despise. I have it for work purposes, and only four people actually have my number, so I don't get driven insane with phone calls. Trust me, if you get one, guard that damned number with your very life. You don't want it falling into the wrong hands.

NO!

I don't like headphones, either, and don't use them. I plug my iPod into the car stereo via one of those cheap tape deck adapters, works like a charm. At work, I have a small set of $20 speakers that work swell. Been using them for years. Computer speakers work as well, if you have a spare set lying around. Get a $3 cable from Radio Shack and plug it into the Aux jack on your home stereo, too. I also do that. Plug it into your computer with USB or Firewire and use your computer sound sustem. TONS of non-headphone options.

THERE ARE NO EXCUSES!


I would, but I can't see your post since you're on ignore, so I'll never know about your request.

But I already have all my MP3s on my computer, and good speakers! I also stream them to a wireless laptop downstairs in our family room which is connected to my home theater. My car stereo features a CD player, but no cassette player. So, tell me again how and where I'm going to use this thing after you send it to me?

Considering in my lifetime, I bought less than 10 casettes and less than 10 CDs, and never ever listen to music unless I am driving, it would be a waste for me

Thinking about getting an IPod for my wife for Christmas. Seems expensive though.

Wow, music is much more important to me than it is to you, Rob. I'm still not getting an MP3 player anytime soon (unless "Eric" sends me one), but I can't live without my music. Radio doesn't cut it.

Depends on the amount of usage. If your wife really loves listening to music, then it's probably a pretty good investment to pick up one of the more expensive iPod style players.

If it's more casual usage, then a Flash player would probably be better. Mine cost $50 for a gig of storage, although they'd more likely run you in the $70-100 range for that size.

You never listen to music unless you're driving?

I've lost all respect for you. Welcome to my ignore list.

I still like my wax cylinders.

I'm still dreaming of an all-in-one device that takes care of everything.

-30GB MP3/Video player
-Cell phone with Windows Mobile, bluetooth, wi-fi, and highspeed wireless internet access
-GPS navigation

My Treo is nice, but lack of space has me using a 4GB SD card. And since GPS has all it's maps on a 1GB card, I have to swap out the cards periodically. No imbedded wi-fi is a nuisance, too.

It's called a computer.

Sounds like my friend's phone. It's some absurd $600 thing that does, like, everything. It was even a better digital camera than the one he owned. (It's a 4.5 Mp or something.)

With the next gen of iPods set to support decent casual gaming, I'm thinking about another upgrade. I skipped the video iPods because I'm just not interested in that feature - especially not at that size.

The Internet stuff is nice in new phones, but I'm too connected as it is. I want AWAY from the 'Net, not MORE.

Biggest problem with all-in-one devices is that they are rarely, rarely all that elegant, doing lots of stuff, but none of it all that well.

Well, or it's in the background on a tv or movie.

Like Rocky IV "Heart's on firrrree, sotrng deee-siiiireeee"

Or Rocky III "It's the eye of the tiger it's the thrill of the punch"

or Rocky "Take me back, do-do-do-do take me back"

Seriously, I never listen to music while doing anything else. I keep the tv on in the background, but never music.

Yeah, but I'd like to avoid expensive hip surgery, if possible.


See, I'm just the opposite. I'd love to get an automated page from the office saying one of my servers is down, remotely connect and take control of it over my internet phone, reboot it if necessary, e-mail any necessary contacts, etc. It would make my on-call weeks a hell of a lot easier than lugging my laptop around everywhere.