Boyz with their toyz

I'm a modest guy when it comes to an audio in my auto. Sure, I like a stereo system with nice sound. I've never really needed those amplifiers that boost volume. And I decided to have children in the back seat rather than a rack of speakers built to rattle the teeth of the folks in the vehicle waiting next to me at the red light. But I like decent sound.

I remember when I was a kid and AM radio was all a car could offer. Then there were those clunky 8-tracks (truly baffling). FM with a cassette player served everyone's purposes for years. And then there were CD players. Which revolutionised sound and storage.

BUT… the CD player can now be officially tossed in the 'has-been' bin. The day of the CD car stereo is done because I have a new gadget that makes CDs as archaic as the 8-track. Drumroll please…

For a couple years now, stereo systems have been putting USB ports on the face of stereo systems of all price ranges. Some people hook in their MP3 players or iPods with cumbersome cables. Fugeddaboutit. Leave those clumsy devices at home. Not only do you always have to worry about theft, but every time you take a corner or pothole, your player can shift all over the place.

Nope. What you need to do is go out an buy a USB drive just for your car stereo. Yes, those little devices you carry around with you — storing Microsoft Word files and a few family photos. Go out and buy one and dedicate it to your music collection. The price for these USB drives have come way down. In fact, you can pick one up with a 1GB capacity for the price of a single CD. That's right. For the price of a CD (15 songs) you can pick up a USB drive that will hold — wait for it — more than 200 songs. I don't even have to remind you that it's smaller than your baby finger. And the best part is, once you have grown tired of the collection, wipe it clean and replace it with new music. Or better still, load up a couple and swap them out if the mood fits.

Are you a big music fan, don't have a lot of money and want to get a fellow music fan the most amazing birthday gift? Simple: buy a 1GB USB drive, load 16 hours of his (and your) favourite music, tape it to the inside of a birthday card and BAM! Its the best gift a music lover could ever hope for. Have fun with it, throw in some funny quotes from your favourite comedians or TV shows. It is the evolution of the mix tape.

If you are in the market for purchasing a stereo unit with a USB port, there are some things to consider. Because it is basically a computer, cheaper units can suffer on Antigua's bumpy roads. Pioneer and other brands are available here in Antigua. Townhouse Megastore and Super Power stock stereo units with USB ports. Prices start at $795EC.

BTW... my birthday isn't until July, so that gives you loads of time to prepare. Until then, if you see me driving in my Subaru, note the smile on my face as I sing along. Drive safe.