Technical Forum

I'm finally entering the age of the MP3 player. I've held off long enough, but with a family reunion coming up next week and I'm a tad concerned that if we don't bring our own music, age specific, only the younger ones will have the music on their MP3 players and what they play Won't Be Pretty.

Any assistance or ideas on what to get and how to purchase a docking station as well.

I figure I'd like a very small player (I will use it post-family reunion for gym workouts) that holds about 500 tunes.

The Docking Station needs to be something mobil enough and non-bulky to pack as we are flying to the reunion. Would like it to be ac/dc compliant, if possible because post-reunion, we can use it on the tractor's trailer to listen to tunes while doing farm chores!

Any recommendations? What to have? What's not necessary? Brands to avoid?

Would love to purchase both for about $150 give/take.

THANKS!

Hi Patty, I have an iPod Nano, which is the smallest iPod you can buy. It holds about 500 songs. There are many different docking station options you can get, some small and portable, others larger with bigger speakers. They are all sold online http://www.apple.com/itunes, at apple stores--which I'm thinking you don't have in Hickory, NC--as well as places like WalMart, Radio Shack, Target, etc. I like the iPod because it's easy to use and put music onto, etc. One thing though, if you decide to buy one make sure that you get a WALL CHARGER, otherwise it just comes with a charger that you must plug into your computer, which you can't do if you're traveling. A tip about that--you don't have to buy an apple brand wall charger. Places like Radio Shack make them for a fraction of the cost. Hope this helps. Put some Gap Band tunes on there for me!!

Good to know. I'm excited about buying it, but need tips ... like the wall charger unit. Wouldn't have known and would have been BUMMED!

Steve will be in charge of music and he'll do a great job. Long as he stays heavy on the Motown & Funk (Gap Band included, natch!) and light on his ancient rock sensibilities, we'll shut down the young one's Rick Ross and Lil Wayne, etc... Oy!

Reunion is in Braintree by the way!

Where in Braintree? How long will you be here? I gotta come and see you! :) Oh--about the docking station, you don't necessarily need to buy an Apple brand one of those either. There are other compatible brands that are less money. I just bought a portable (small, for the car) docking station for my daughter at Sears for like $20.

We fly in Friday around 2pm, wait for Sis and her hubby... drive the rental to Sheraton Braintree (directly across from the South Shore Mall). Friday night my sister and I are buying food / decorating, etc... we have a small meeting room we will use as Hospitality suite.

Saturday a cousin charted a bus and we are going to the Cape for the day. Don't know where / time... Saturday night dinner I think at TGIF at the Sheraton. And Sunday brunch and then we visit an aging uncle at the VA hospital in the area. Our flight leaves Sunday at 6:30pm.

Crazy busy and I'm the "co-host" to boot... but you know I want to see you! HEY - I want to hit Kelly's on Revere Beach, before I leave on Sunday. Even if that means a quick "Hi / Bye" to aging uncle on Sunday! ; ) You up for that?!

We will work something out!!! Sunday or Friday / Saturday night, k?

I think Sunday will be the best for me. I have a kids b-day thing on Sat. Maybe Kelly's in Revere! That place is awesome!

Seeing Steve eat his first Full Belly Clam will be priceless! I'll keep in touch, plus I have your cell #...

I'm darting out at lunch and gonna buy an Ipod Nano at Sam's Club but will take time on the docking station purchase.

I saw one online that looked pretty good.
http://www.amazon.com/JBL-Stage-Micro-Portable-Speaker/dp/B0017XMN6I/ref=dp_ob_title

It works off of 4 AAA batteries or in plug or attached to computer.

Seems to be a newer model and only read 3 customer reviews but I'm digging it. Might buy it online if I can get it by next Thursday!

That sounds like a good docking station. They're much more versatile when they can do all of that stuff. He's never eaten a clam? I eat them by the trainload. Don't let him get the clam "strips" whatever you do. It's just wrong!

I ordered that JBL docking station online via amazon cuz I'd just be pissing gas away trying to figure out which store sells it around here... Can't wait to buy my Nano. Seems like there is a 4G Nano and a 8G Nano and the 4G Nano is more my price range!

I probably will still have to buy the plug-in adaptor. Doesn't appear to come with the docking station. BUt it does use batteries for when we are doing the yard stuff!

(Steve's had strips - never fully belly. He'll love 'em, I tell ya!)

Mine's a 4G and it's plenty big enough for me. I think that will be fine for what you want. I had to get my wall charger separately from everything else. They should sell them at the same place they sell the iPod though.

Well, wanted to cap purchase of both mp3 player and docking station at $150. Ended up spending $99 for the docking station and $187 for the Nano 8GB.

So I went over budget by a bit. Geez...

Oh well... it's okay. I never did properly spend my $400 stimulous check. I did today! ; )