On a recent train ride back on the New Jersey Transit from Yardley, PA, I chatted with a colleague on what we do to help pass the time when traveling by ourselves. We both agreed that our iPods were great distractions from all the noise around us. My colleague recently bought hers, but I have had mine for at least three years and won’t leave home without it. Of course, there are many different brands and versions of MP3 players, but my first Apple iPod was a gift, and now that I’m a Mac user, I am a loyal customer. I’m sure some of you may say the iPod can be antisocial, but just like a mobile phone it can be turned off,  if and when I want to strike up a conversation. I love my iPod the most when taking certain train trips, such as those on the NJ Transit, when I’m sitting in busy airport terminals, or trying to get work done on the road. It tunes out the noise around me, and conversations I just don’t want nor need to hear. However, I must warn those using their iPods in airport lounges that sometimes I have missed the announcements for my flight and  had to make a mad dash through the terminal once I realized the time! The dilemma that faces me this week is that my iPod broke. I’ve also been using it in Central Park, which helps me keep a steady pace when I attempt to jog and maybe the cold got to it. However, I have to decide now if I want to wait in line at a busy Apple store to get it fixed ,or bite the bullet and buy the new Nano that has recently come out. I am a sucker for a new toy, but at the same time have become fond of my current white Nano. If anyone has some consumer reviews of the new generation of iPods, I’d love to hear your reccommendations. Thanks and happy holidays! -Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher