Meet My New Girlfriend

A couple of months ago my Rio MP3 player I used while working out at the gym crashed and caused me to be in the market for a new player.  I purchased the Rio a couple of years ago and thankfully, also got the protected service plan.  I had to send the Rio back to the factory and wait for my refund.  Since I have to have my music while hitting the weights (treadmill), I immediately considered getting an IPod. I had been using ITunes for about 6 months to purchase songs that other providers didn't have and created some pretty cool playlists to listen to at work.  I settled on getting the 1 gig Nano($149), because it was the same cost of what my refund for the Rio was going to be. Naturally, three weeks later I could have gotten the 2 gig for the same price as I paid for the 1 gig.  Don't you hate when technology does that to you. It almost makes you not want to make the purchase in the first place.,

While at the store the salesman talked me into picking up additional earplugs that were better than what the iPod came with, and boy was he right.  I purchased a pair of Sony Noise reduction plugs ($49( that look just like the IPod version, but they sound ten times better.  Of course a sports arm-band was required and off I entered the new age of electronic music.  Within a couple of hours,  I realized why iPods have received so much hype and couldn't believe how easy my new nano was to use. 

Transferring my playlists from my computer to the iPod was as simple as a drag and release. I have ventured deep into iTunes and purchased a couple of  a dozen more songs to further complete my collection.  I will try to share some of my finds at a later time, but the true test was my recent airline trip for work.  This was the first time I would have to test the noise reduction earplugs on the plane.  I was pretty excited about the opportunity because I already realized from working out at the gym that almost all outside noise is exterminated.  They work so well, that I have to use a cheap pair of headsets when BJ is in the gym's kids club, because I can't hear the overhead announcements if they are paging me.  Now that's a resounding recommendation. 

I was hesitant to pull out the nano while waiting for my flight and wanted to get the full affect while in the air.  Once the pilot turned the seatbelt sign off, I popped my plugs in my ears and set the nano to randomly play my tunes.  What an experience!!!! No air sounds, or engine rumbling could be heard, just Ray Charles belting out his greatest hits…..

If you haven't joined the rest of the world, put this on your holiday shopping list and make sure you go for the upgraded earplugs from Sony.  You won't miss with this one…..

UPDATE: Now you can get an 8 gig nano for the price I paid for my 1 gig.  I'm not mad, this just gives me reason to consider upgrading again and giving the 1 gig to (MB) Mommy Bacchus.