25 Products We Can't Live Without

Anyone who takes public transportation will likely agree that an iPod is a must. My 80GB Apple iPod with video--which I've nicknamed "Ducky"--helps drown out crying babies, overexcited shoppers, rowdy teenagers, and unrepentant cell-phone abusers on multiple city buses. Between the 10,000-plus songs, scattered videos, and Spanish-language podcasts I've loaded onto Ducky, I'm assured of a ride home listening to my own personal soundtrack. The shuffle setting saves me from having to make mix CDs, and since the iPod is ubiquitous among my friends, I've never had a problem finding a docking station for impromptu dance parties or for playing songs in the presence of other audiophiles.

--Amber Bouman, On Your Side columnist