When I was a little kid, records were still all the rage, cassette tapes were becoming available and CDs were still a couple years away. Today, it's an entirely different world full of quick digital downloadable music. We download and consume this new music media voraciously like fast food and never really seem to fully appreciate it anymore. I just don't feel like I own anything when it's digital. It's just buy, play, skip ahead and repeat. For this reason, I actually kind of miss those old real tangible records, artwork and liner notes. Don't get me wrong, I love my MP3 player, it would be pretty hard to carry around a record player while working out, but I think vinyl is definitely going to make some kind of a retro comeback in some way. I found the perfect solution for those who still remember the glory days of vinyl and want to preserve it and the new generation who will eventually get back to it, the Ion iTTUSB USB Turntable ($124).

The Ion iTTUSB USB Turntable is an ingenious compact record player that not only plays your old 33 1/3 and 45 RPMs, but it also converts them directly to MP3 or CD. You simply connect it via a USB cable into your PC or Mac, install the included recording software and voila, an instant preserved digital archive of your old favorites. I can't wait to go through my dusty old record collection again. I know I have a copy of Michael Jackson's Thriller, the Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom soundtrack and a breakdance album hiding somewhere in there.

• Converts vinyl record collections to CD or MP3 formats
• Plug & Play USB - no drivers needed!
• Adjustable Anti-Skate control for increased stereo balancing
• 33 1/3 and 45 RPM and supports the recording of 78 RPM records through the included software
• Includes Audacity PC/Mac recording software and trial version of Bias Soundsoap 2
• Switchable Phono/Line level RCA outputs (with built-in pre-amp)
• 1/8" stereo line input; digitize music from cassettes or other sources

Thriller (Full Version) Part 1

Thriller (Full Version) Part 2