i pods for dummies

I would suggest… drum roll please… an ipod. If nothing else, Apple has managed to distill computers down to a cartoony interface even toddlers can use.

I'd look at an ipod nano– http://www.amazon.com/Apple-iPod-nano-Graphite-Generation/dp/B002L6HE9G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332428734&sr=8-1 solid state harddrive, so it's not going to get affected by getting jostled around or bumped into things.

If you are going to use iTunes on your laptop / desktop as the repository of your tunes (and I suggest you do – it's free and it works), you have the least compatibility issues with an Apple product. And a 1-2 year old iPod would be, what? $20-$35 bucks on ebay or Craigslist. The battery might not last as long as when new, but iPods last a LONG time (no disk to spin, no Apps to run) even when many years old, IME.

Note that while you can buy songs for 99 cents each and most albums for $9.99 on iTunes, you can also load for free any CD you physically have. Therefore (and this is the helpful hint), any CDs your friends have or that you check-out at the library.

Borrow a few Rocky soundtracks, Chariots of Fire (Vangelis), etc at the library, load up "Eye of the Tiger", etc, and make your own exercise sound track.

I don't use my iPod on the trail because I see too many grizzly bears when I do, but that's probably not a concern for you. Please don't listen to tunes in traffic – you want all your senses in use to avoid 3-ton SUVs.

david,
what if I am driving that said 3 ton SUV and listening to my iPod?

Yes, get an actual iPod, probably a Nano. You'll need to install the application iTunes on your computer (they have Windows and Mac versions.) Within iTunes you may "rip" your CDs into digital versions, or purchase music from the iTunes Store. Albums are generally ~$10, songs are generally 99 cents. iTunes will let you organize your music and create "playlists" of songs from different albums.

Once you have your songs in iTunes, connect the iPod to the computer with the included USB cable. You may then download your songs to your iPod.

I guess we're all assuming you have a computer, right? If not it's more complicated. Report back….