I’m on my third iPod in ten months.

I’m not sure if I’m cursed or just unusually demanding of my portable player, but the little guys keep croaking after what feels like only moderate to moderately-heavy use. First two go-arounds, I was able to take it back to Best Buy and they simply replaced it with a brand new iPod. When I got sad-mac’d this time around, I took it back to the Geek Squad, and after being alternatively ignored and patronized for the better part of an hour, finally I was informed that Apple had changed their policy regarding the 80 gig iPod.

OH, REALLY?

Evidently, there are now two options: exchange the current fucked up iPod for a refurbished one (ie someone else’s fucked up iPod), or send it away for servicing. The Geek Squad attendent strongly suggested the latter, even though it would take up to 8 times longer.

So if this screen shot looks familiar to you:

…then you know I’ve got about three weeks more of tune-less commutes, and since music isn’t just my livelihood, it’s my life, you know that its not just beyond unacceptable…it’s fucking plain crazy.

Enter the pinch hitter:

1GB mp3 flash player with an FM tuner and a mic for digital voice recording. It’s powered by a single AAA battery that I can swap anytime I like and the whole doodad is about the size of a super absorbent tampon - the kind you insert with your finger (really small!). Not pictured is the little ring from where I can string my player and wear it like an awesome nerd-necklace (which I am so planning on doing) and the whole she-bang set me back a cool $37.

While I’m looking forward to getting my video iPod back, I’m not sure if she’ll go back into regular commute rotation. Rarely do I use the video feature, and I don’t really need to carry my entire music collection on a daily basis - just the 10 or 20 new albums I’m currently obsessed with. After all, if some dirty hipster wants to swipe my super portable, way more practical Coby, sure, it’ll suck - but it definitely won’t sting like the iPod (at ten times the price).