Tracking Tunage.

So I've sorta figured out a way to track all the music in my car. The thing I don't like about it the paper. Not using it. But the ammount of it. It now comes out to a page and change with a an 8 point font. I can get 2 maybe 3 on a page if I use a 4 point font but I think most other people would have difficulty reading that. I want a static or mostly static semi elegant method to figure out what artist/song is on what cd. I have some ideas for more convoluted methods that would require the use of extra technology which normaly I am ok with, but the whole point is make it so passengers and I can find a artist/song and get to it with minimal interaction/training to do so and not needing more overhead or infrastructure like a database or something that plugs in...

My more convoluted ideas so far.

Static HTML pages on a Palm hand held.
Disadvantages: needs power/charging, and screen is small and may not be easy to navigate/use. Possibly not searchable.

Advantages: small, easy to update, free (already have 2 sony clies doing nothing).

Webpage that I point my phone to get the info
Disadvantages:Takes power, Requires I be in service area for internet access, would require teaching to have someone use it, slow to very slow, small, portable, always with me.

Advanages:Easy to update, flexible display methods(by artist, by song, album etc..), searchable, Free,

laptop/table type device with docs?html?pdfs?
Down side: needs external power, Size, Potentialy difficult to use, not easy to just put in glove box, weight.

Advanages: easy to update, flexible display/browse methods, powerful, could be made easy to use, mostly free I already have a toshiba stylistic1200 I would need a power adapter for the car... which woudln't be too dificult.

My list on paper solution:
Down side: easy to damage, need another light source to read it in the dark, could be cumbersome to search through.

Up: easy to replace, while easy to damage still fairly sturdy and resistant to many abuses, easy to store, very cheap, easy to update, no power requirements, little to no work to keep it functioning (other than print of a new one).

Perhaps I should ditch the changer and get a 40gig Ipod and just dump all my damn music to it and then not worry about it anymore at the cost of another $500 or more dollars. But that's too expensive for such a trival problem for now.

Anyone have ideas/suggestions?

For Nathan Choweiler Shepard

Posted by Ben at February 08, 2005 06:53 PM