I did end up buying an iPod last Sunday. During my not-so-ample spare time, while I was preparing for my San Jose trip, I busted a move over to the Apple Store and picked up the 20GB model. I had already started ripping CDs onto my Mac a couple of days before, so just a few (bunch) more hours of ripping, and I had about 80 CDs on the little guy. I fully enjoyed using the iPod on my flight to San Jose. I used my Aiwa sound-cancelling headphones, and was in listening bliss throughout the flight.

I used the iPod at work today for a short (and rare) period of non-interruption. I navigated to Artist->Echo & The Bunnyment->All, and listened to all the E&tB tunes I'd ripped, in alphabetical order. That was as good as "random" to me, and reminded me how much I really still like E&tB.