I waited a long time before buying my mp3 player.  I first wanted one right when the first-generation iPods became popular, since carrying all of my music around in my pocket was instantly attractive.  I held back for awhile, first because they were expensive and later because it seemed like everyone had an iPod; I didn’t want to just be a sheep and get an mp3 player because everybody else was doing it.  Finally, after a couple of Christmases and birthdays without any sign of an mp3 player I broke down and got myself an iPod, a 3rd generation 10 gigabyte mp3 player and started feeding my music into it.

I rode the bus back and forth to campus every day, and though sometimes I brought my CD player along for the ride it was cumbersome to bring along my CDs.  I tried an mp3 CD player which could store more songs on a CD, up to 200, but its interface was cumbersome to use and I couldn’t find the music I wanted when I wanted it.  Eventually I just rode the bus without music, but once I picked up my iPod that all changed.  All of my music was at my fingertips, easily accessed and in a handheld package.  The mp3 player was a boon to my bus rides; I used it every day.   

Today’s iPods are quite a bit classier than my old 3rd generation mp3 player; they’ve got more storage and now have video and photo capabilities.  I’ve stuck with my older model though, as it has no moving parts on the outside I don’t have to worry about getting sand or grime in the controls while kayaking or rock climbing.  I did have to replace the battery after two years of use; it was a simple procedure I did at home.  Instead of sending it in to Apple for a $60 replacement I was able to order the battery for $20 and do it myself.   

There are lots of good mp3 players on the market, from Nomad to Dell it seems like most major electronics manufacturers are trying to catch up to Apple’s lead with the iPod.  If you need information on company or the brand, you can check the internet and find the latest trend. Many of the other mp3 players are probably quality devices, and some of them are definitely cheaper than the iPod, but so far I’ve been nothing but happy with my iPod.  In fact, I don’t think I know anyone who’s gotten an iPod who’s been unhappy with it.  It’s something to take with a grain of salt, but something to consider nonetheless.