I had a feeling The Boyfriend winced when I told him I wanted a gadget for a Christmas gift, something like the Asus Eee (and yes) the Touch! He probably expected me to ask for a Kate Spade bag or a Shu Uemura eyelash curler or a simple email that read "please just go home in one piece!" I most wanted the last, but I have to admit it was even more captivating to see him and his handsome frame holding the beribboned Touch box.

I think that there’s nothing more romantic than this iPod gift. A music player is a gift for all seasons, and he can even now even save himself the trouble of getting me a rose for Valentine’s Day. I am crazy about the Touch, as I am about him. I like the fact that this has even made us closer in the sense that we get to share our favorite songs or choose those which are perfect for us. Thank God for iTunes!

Some people do say that this a pared-down iPhone and I can’t complain. My Sony Ericsson K800i is not Wi-Fi enabled, the Touch is. Now I can access my email on the go, view YouTube videos, listen to music and download from the iTunes store. It helps that this iPod has a 3.5 inch diagonal widescreen and web-browsing is even made more of a breeze with the multi-touch feature. My Sweet also got me a software update which adds mail applications, GoogleMaps, notes, weather forecasts and such. Needless to say, I can’t have enough of this wonder and am looking forward to exploring more of its abilities.

Just downloaded "A Night At The Museum" on it, though I still have to watch. Mr. Z did say I can also blog in it and I have to try that as well. So far, I’ve been successful in sending short emails but haven’t tried long ones, more so a blog post! My mind still has to warm up to the idea. I have to admit I find it hard tapping on the electronic keyboard with my finger, I wonder how hard it must be for those with stubby ones. I now wish the Touch has a stylus, came preloaded with some games, or had a slot for additional storage. But Apple being the smartie, they’d want us to take their lean and mean machines as they are, knowing how we’d fall hook, line and sinker for its wonders.

MR. Z SAYS: Given a choice between an Asus EEE and an iPod Touch, the iPod had to win - love Apple’s products, and couldn’t bear to support Windoze :) The fact that I REALLY wanted to see one myself had nothing to do with my choice, I assure you. The hardest part in selecting an iPod Touch was choosing a size, and an inscription. Some selfish part of me couldn’t let you have an iPod with double the storage of my iPhone, but I broke down and bought the most iPod I could afford. Lucky you.

The inscription was more difficult. Had to be memorable, and personal, yet something you could show others, as well. I obsessed over it, a bit. Mostly because it was free, and this one little detail made it impossible to resist. Who can resist free, after all? I was incredibly worried at this point - I needed lead time to order an iPod; if our relationship soured before Christmas, would I be left with an iPod I couldn’t return? Would I keep it for myself, with an inscription from the woman who kicked me to the curb and be reminded with every time I turned on the iPod? What a dilemma. Damn Apple and their free engraving.

When the iPod arrived, it was already in gift packaging from Apple - clever origami folds in white, surrounding the black iPod package itself. Reminiscent of Chinese take-out cartons, a nice touch of whimsy. Glad the ribbon was elastic, so evidence of my tampering ("personalizing") wouldn’t show too obviously.

After handling an iPod Touch, where the entire glass is your interface, it’s difficult to return to the click wheel. I’ve actually come to appreciate the iPod Touch more than my iPhone, at this point. I get all that screen real estate to play with - Youtube, internet, maps, without anyone INTERRUPTING me with their prosaic texts and inane phone calls. Who needs the outside world? Let it be invisible, like my wi-fi tether to whatever I want on the interwebz.

The genius of the Touch's multi-touch display has to be experienced - words are simply inadequate.  a flick of your finger, and the page slides and scrolls in response to your whim.  Tilt the iPod, and watch the video rotate to keep pace.  Zoom in and out with a simple pinch of the screen.  Cover flow is genius with this screen.  One of the most impressive features is the lack of pixelation as you zoom in and out..the screen blurs briefly, a transitional effect borrowed from cameras and binoculars, to accentuate the zooming feature as the screen focus shifts in response.

Browsing is simple, with the ability to save multiple browser windows easily, and switch between them with a flick of your finger.  Input text with an onscreen QWERTY keyboard.  iTunes will import and transfer your contacts and bookmarks if you like, for use on the iPod.  Text input is fairly intuitive, with an thoughtful magnifying glass effect as you run your finger over text, for cursor movement in text windows.

Things to be concerned about with the Touch - protection is key. Get a case to keep it in one piece. Lose that beautiful display to damage, it can be a bit pricey to replace.

Columnist's Note: Okay, okay..pardon the gadget review. I  was not able to get a Blog-O-Rama subject this week and was hard-pressed in composing paragraphs that would make for a decent article. Read: writer's block! Props to Teh Boyfriend for helping me "lengthen this column"  and coming to the rescue. Thank you Mr. Z.... I'll treat you to ice cream :)

(For comments and inquiries, email anna.lyn@mac.com)