| I have a deep passion for music. I play no instruments, | | | | the average of 800 per year and still going strong. |
| although I have some interest in the lap steel guitar and | | | | Then, for me, came the computer and iPod in 2004 |
| the dobro. I have no musical talent as of this writing. I | | | | and the rest is history.Apple introduced the iPod to |
| would love to learn the craft of writing music. I hope to | | | | America on October 23, 2001. Since then, I have been |
| achieve this before my life has ended.My deep | | | | so happy with the new and improved ideas in |
| passion for music was introduced to me very early in | | | | technology, especially where music is concerned. The |
| life. I had three older brothers and we all | | | | advances have been astonishing.I still have friends that |
| slept in the same bedroom. We were raised in a small | | | | love their vinyl and claim they will never cross over. |
| two-bedroom house. We had little privacy. My oldest | | | | They seem happy baby- sitting their turntable of |
| brother had the control of the hi-fi. The rest of us | | | | smack, crackle and pops and hisses of the sound of |
| listened. It was the 1950s and rock and roll was hot. I | | | | needle to vinyl.I am only 54 years old, a product of the |
| memorized many songs and tried singing them all | | | | baby boom generation, but I remember my aunts and |
| through the night.My brothers and I listened to some 78 | | | | uncles fashioning their stately Victrollas in their living |
| RPM records and later 45 RPM records. Then came | | | | rooms. I had fun winding them up and listening to their |
| the 33 1/3 LP albums. We played mostly 45s on a | | | | breakable, brittle 78 RPM records. I'm sure I broke a |
| stacked, spindled turntable. I believe it was a | | | | few.I, also, remember receiving an exciting gift at |
| Westinghouse phonograph. Electric radios and | | | | Christmastime--a phonograph that folded up like a |
| transistor radios were busy in our household. During the | | | | suitcase. It was a jewel at slumber parties.Also, I'll |
| years, we collected a sizable room of records.It wasn't | | | | never forget the time my mother submitted her name |
| until after I turned 51 in 2004, that I introduced myself to | | | | in a drawing at Montgomery Wards in the early '60s. |
| the computer.. It was then I bought myself a brand | | | | Her gift was a console stereo made by Montgomery |
| new HP. I didn't enroll in any classes. I didn't have a clue. | | | | Wards . The stereo model was an Airline, and bless |
| I taught myself by trial and error.I was impressed how | | | | her heart--she gave it to me. I was floored. I played |
| skillful I became and how quickly I learned. I always had | | | | that stereo cabinet clear up until the '70s. My brothers |
| trouble learning by instruction or by manuals. Hands-on | | | | were insanely jealous. It must have been close to my |
| training was the only way for me.When It came time | | | | birthday. I wasn't use to receiving new things. Being the |
| to set up my music library through Windows Media, I | | | | youngest, I only received hand-me-downs.The iPod is |
| was thrilled to death. I have a collection of about 1500 | | | | the greatest, little invention of my time. It's the greatest |
| CDs. They all needed to be ripped into Windows | | | | way to play music and be organized. The versatility of |
| Media. This was going to take some time and patience. | | | | the iPod is by far the best companion in this |
| I completed the task.A few months later, I introduced | | | | materialistic world. It can go with you anywhere. I play it |
| myself to the iPod. I purchased the iPod for HP version | | | | in my car and connect it to my home stereo. The |
| to coincide Apple with HP for my particular computer. I | | | | sound is crisp and pristine. It's the most perfect sound |
| fell in love immediately with this tiny, thin, smart, hi-tech | | | | you'll ever hear. It's the best gift to buy for a friend or |
| blast of ultimate fun and convenience.Eventually, I | | | | relative. It's the best gift to buy for yourself. You will |
| transferred about 12,000 songs from my iTunes library | | | | have no regrets.I am fortunate to have a job where I |
| onto this amazing invention. I purchased the 40GB that | | | | can strap on the iPod and listen to my favorite music |
| claims it holds 10,000 songs. I pushed it to the limit. I | | | | during my shift at work and never having to attend to |
| selected mostly the hit songs, rather than all album | | | | it. I particularly like the shuffle mode. It's like listening to |
| cuts. At first, a variety of genres of music was applied | | | | non-stop FM radio without the DJs and commercials. I |
| to my iPod. I later bought another identical iPod | | | | like the idea of not knowing what will play next in the |
| because I wanted to divide my music to certain | | | | shuffle mode. It's all a pleasant surprise.In many ways, |
| genres. I now have country and folk music on one iPod | | | | the iPod, I'm sure, has taken away many sales from |
| and another for rock and roll, pop and rhythm and | | | | businesses selling home stereo systems, car stereos, |
| blues on the other.But I didn't stop there. I purchased | | | | CD changers and other audio equipment. Who needs |
| another iPod , a 20GB which claims it holds 5,000 | | | | them if you own a slim, thin, smart and dynamic |
| songs. I needed this one for my jazz and easy listening | | | | instrument, like the iPod? It's all you'll ever need. |
| collection. Now I covered all the bases--I thought. No, I | | | | Consumers deserve the best quality money can |
| didn't buy another iPod . I decided I would have enough | | | | buy--and i Pods are affordable. Even auto makers are |
| room on the 20GB to put on my holiday music. That | | | | installing direct sources, in which iPods are able to |
| would go nice with jazz and easy listening.I still am | | | | connect as their optional equipment. No longer will the |
| amazed at the thought that I now have almost my | | | | consumer fear the theft of their car stereo system. |
| entire library of music on three iPods. Each one | | | | Now they can take it everywhere they go.Music plays |
| represents the listening moods I'm in.Now I look back | | | | a major part in my life. Listening to music is my ultimate |
| and it seems so unusual that I was packing a bulky | | | | hobby. I can't imagine life without music. I play music |
| portable CD player around my waist and having to | | | | daily. And I play lots of it. My shift at work is so much |
| carry around and constantly change CDs. What a | | | | more enjoyable--thanks to the iPod. I can't afford |
| hassle! And to think America, at one time, had no other | | | | another change in how I listen to my music. I hope the |
| alternative other than to baby sit the phonograph | | | | availability will always be there. I love you, iPod , happy |
| every two or three minutes in the '50s and '60s. How | | | | birthday #5 and many, many more birthdays to come. I |
| times have changed.All this new technology reminds | | | | sincerely wish you continuing success. You have made |
| me of the time I went from vinyl to cassettes many | | | | my life so much better. Thanks again, iPod. Take |
| years ago--in the '70s and '80s. I somehow never | | | | care.Earl D. Erickson, loves his music and takes his |
| made the switch from vinyl to 8-tracks in the late '60s. | | | | hobby very serious. He has taken it to another level by |
| My older brother did. I held out until the mid '70s when | | | | introducing his love of music on-line. His on-line store, |
| cassettes were available. I had no problem with | | | | Videos, Music & More, sells |
| staying with vinyl--pops, crackles and all.I have always | | | | DVDs, VHS, CDs, cassettes and vinyl. He also sells |
| been slow to convert or change the course from old | | | | iPods, walkmans, MP3s, stereo systems, |
| ideas to new. I inherited this trait from my mom and | | | | car stereos, audio equipment, musical instruments and |
| dad. It wasn't until 1988, that I owned an answering | | | | more. |
| machine and a VCR. It wasn't until 1989, that I owned | | | | Mr. Erickson loves to write and persue photography. |
| an automatic dishwasher. It wasn't until 1991, that I | | | | He owns and manages five websites. Two of them |
| owned a microwave oven. I didn't own a cell phone | | | | are: and |
| until 1998. I didn't own a CD player and began buying | | | | He is a native and lifelong resident of Tacoma, |
| CDs until 1999. Since then I have been buying CDs on | | | | Washington. |