I Obtain The Object of My Lust

Last year at CES I saw this. And wanted it. Badly.

Of course when they hit the street three months later - at $400 a pop - my ardor had cooled somewhat.

However, this year XM was running a "show special" on the very same device. $180! With 3 months service included! In a moment of weakness/clarity (you choose) I bought it.

I've been using it for a week or so now and I really like it. The built-in antenna is pretty good, even inside buildings, although that probably has more to do with living in a major metro area with lots of terrestrial repeaters. The programming is great - music, news, talk, and sports - and the Tivo-like functions of the Helix make it easy to have what I want to listen to waiting for me when I'm on the train.

I haven't loaded up the bundled XM+Napster software so I can't comment on the "buy/transfer music" functionality yet, but so far I'm very happy with what this device can do.