A few weeks ago I posted that it was time to replace stereo/CD player
on the boat. Coumbus Day seemed like an auspicious moment to install
thenew C-70 radar, so while I had the overhead console torn apart for
wiring, etc I took the oppty to swap out the stereo.

Got a Kenwood unit with a remote control (no more squaking from Mrs. G
about being unable to reach the controls)

Biggest selling feature is a USB port on the face. No more CD's for
me!

Looked at the Ipods that everybody recommended; but a 4GB unit is
about $150. For $30 (on sale at Office Depot) I got a 4GB thumb drive
that will plug into the USB port on the Kenwood and play through the
normal amp and speakers.

I'll be transferring about 150-200 CD's onto the thumb drive (if they
wll all fit, otherwise will spend another $30). With stowage always at
a premium on any boat, I'm looking forward to recovering a galley
drawer currently stuffed with CD, as well as bringing aboard a greater
variety of music from the collection normally kept at home.

So far tonight I've uploaded albums by:

Bob Dylan
Billie Holiday
Beatles ("The Early Years"- this is the album where they honest to
golly sing "When the Saint's go Marchin' In" and "My Bonnie Lies Over
the Ocean."
Howlin Wolf
Linda Ronstadt
Robert Cray Blues Band
Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt ("Trio II")
The Doors
David Crosby and Graham Nash
Fleetwood Mac
Blood Sweat and Tears

Takes only 3-4 minutes to rip a CD onto the thumb drive.

Nice thing about it, I don't have any guilty conscience about stealing
music somewhere. This is all stuff I paid for, just putting it onto a
different format. :-)

I'll stick this thumb drive in within the next day or so and report
about whether it's easy to use........