So I got myself one of these small Samsung U3 music players that looks like a simple flash stick.  Small, cute, black, and complete with earphones, an earphone reel and software, I thought this the perfect little music player.  To steal a phrase and mangle it, I’m not totally lovin’ it.

It is a cute player barely bigger than a standard USB stick.  The connector retracts into the player (breakage protection) and the small but slick display screen has easily read sections.  It was fun to explore and no manual is required as it is so intuitive.

Getting my CDs on it proved a hurdle.  The provided software does not work and I had to beg use of husband’s program for his Creative Zen player.  I knew without the native software I probably could not use the “mood” functionality but wanted my music.  No worries – worked a charm.

Obscure Japanese animation music locked and loaded (BGC 2, Escaflone (all), Lodoss Wars (1,2,3) ), I tried to get the earphones in to my ears and had some trouble.  I have to admit I am more used to the soft earphones from my Sony Erikson phone so these hard sticks were more of a challenge.

Playing with the new toy, I explored all the different sections it offered and got the radio working both in the US and in the UK.  I found ways to change how I selected my music tracks and the settings for the stick to sleep and the like.

The battery lasted at least 10 hours though I believe Samsung says it should last for 15.  I was asleep for some of that playback time ;)  The touch sensitive controls were too sensitive and I found myself moving around menus needlessly.  Still, they aren’t buttons which is a huge plus.

You can record voice messages, get it to sleep after a period of time, preset radio stations, select music by album or artist or theme and lots more.  What I haven’t figured out how to do is stop the music without turning the player off.

I have lived with this and while I can lock it, the buttons make “beep” noises when it is in my pocket for a minute until it sleeps.  I can’t hook it on anywhere so can’t take it to the gym.  The USB connector keeps popping out.  The flashing blue light is a bit distracting.  But hey – it’s small and cute!

Overall it has many positives and negatives.  A big plus is the cuteness factor – I’m overlooking a lot because of it.  Maybe I’ll buy those Swarovski earphones.  But in summary, would I use it?  Every day - it lives in my handbag!

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I’m sitting in a cafe, its 4th of January 2008. Working from a cafe as the wireless connection in my office is not working. A little bit of a ironic start to the new year, an interactive department without internet access lol. But I’m not complaining as it gives me time to plan, ehm well when I say plan, I mean go out and spend money. I just spent £200 ($400) on a ASUS eee PC(bargain!). It’s tiny, and sooo cute. Like a hobbit PC, the only problem is that it has hobbit keyboard as well, which means that even my tiny thin fingers seems like giant hands and i keep on feckin typing the wrong thing in. But hey, I’m the Shires answer to Carry Bradshaw, sitting here in the cafe typing away looking out on the very busy shopping street of Kingston upon Shite, ehm I mean Kingston upon Thames.

Oh god I love gadgets =) The smaller the cuter, but before you ask, NO its not feckin Pink. I hate that, every flipping gadget targeted at women are pink. WTF? Pink is my cryptonite and I would be dead if you saw me wearing it. And imagine the pain I feel when going shopping for my 3 year old daughter, its all PIIIIIIIINK. Why oh why?

Anyway, back to my BLACK Asus eee PC, I know you are jealous Andrew This gorgeous little PC only has 512 RAM and a 2GB hardrive, run on Linux. Ok I see you flinching, but hear me out. It has wireless, built in web cam, open office (documents, spreadsheets and presentations), LCD screen and not bad speakers for a little diddy thing. But it also have slot for a memory card, 3 USB ports, display monitor output AND you can install Windows XP on it. But maybe most exciting is that it has a solid state hard drive (SSD), no booting up just 10 seconds and you’re in. SWEET! You can also get this baby with a 4GB hard drive, and upgrade the RAM quite easily. My boyfriend (Steve, yeah he has a name, he’s real! I am Cyber Bridget no more lol) bought the 4GB one as he’s an ultra geek and want to pimp it up like an old escort

Ehm….slight edit, I just changed my 2GB for a 4GB one, turns out I want a pimped up Escort as well

This hobbit PC has received quite the cult following on the net and loads of eee forums have popped up for how to upgrade, hack and otherwise improve your gorgeous Asus eee.

And lastly how can you not love a PC with the cheesiest tagline EVER

Asus - Rock solid – heart touhing

You got to LOVE it =)

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