Your kids won't leave the house without a credit-card-size device that holds their entire music collection. How'd they make all those albums fit into such a tiny space?

What you need to know Despite the fact that Apple has sold nearly 90 million iPods since 2001, less than 5% of boomers have bought in, reports Experian Simmons research.Only a few more download jams online. So there's still time to be ahead of your peers.

The cool-boomer solution Before you invest in a player, get comfortable converting CD tracks to MP3s. Download iTunes for free at apple.com (it runs on Macs and Windows PCs). Once it's installed, insert a CD - iTunes will "rip" songs off it. Repeat. Now you can play your collection from your computer.

Next step: Take your music with you. For that you'll need an iPod ($80 to $350). Oh, sure, there are other music players out there, but Apple earned its rep with more than clever marketing. The iPod is a dependable device, low on frustrations. And hip enough to make you feel years younger.