Holiday Gift Guide: Plugggg Review

Electronics are undoubtedly one of the top items on many people’s shopping list this holiday season. But with many families on a tight budget, you may be wondering how you can stay on budget if your teen, gadget-loving husband, or musician aunt have asked for an MP3 player this year. Well, I have an intriguing little device to introduce you to: Plugggg!

Plugggg is a new, lightweight MP3 player the size of a business card that uses an 8GB solid state drive to hold your music as well as other data. The device has simple controls on the front, along with a built-in speaker, and comes with earbuds, a USB adapter, and a 2.5mm to 3.5mm adapter. This device supports a number of music formats, including MP3, WMA, WAV, ASF, and OGG, and boasts a 10 – 12 hour play time. If you’re in the market for an economical MP3 player that still offers a variety of functions, then I think Plugggg will be of interest to you.

I received a complimentary 1 GB Plugggg MP3 player for review, and the first thing I was struck by was how extremely lightweight it is. The unit didn’t come with any directions – I’m not sure if that’s standard, or just because it was a review unit – but it was pretty easy to figure out. To access Plugggg’s storage and transfer music, all you have to do is plug it into the USB adapter and hook it into your computer. My PC recognized Plugggg immediately, and I was able to instantly access the drive without installing any complicated software. This is a huge plus in my book! The only thing I would have liked to have know would have been the length of time it would take for the device to charge before being ready for use – it seemed to take about an hour or two? Because Plugggg is an all-purpose drive, you can load any data on to it, from music to movies and text documents. This means that Plugggg could come in handy as a flash drive, too. Plugggg can also be used with other USB-enabled devices – for example, if your television has a USB slot, you can hook up Plugggg and watch videos on it. According to their website, Plugggg also works with MP3 FM transmitters and cassette adapters.

Plugggg’s strength lies in its straightforward ease-of-use and versatility. I love that it can be used for a multitude of purposes without requiring any setup or headaches; this will make it appealing to both tech-savvy users who want efficient gadgets as well as those who are intimidated by elaborate MP3 players and want something that can be used easily. Of course, Plugggg’s pared-down approach means there are no bells and whistles – there’s no video screen on this device, so the controls are very simple: A button for on/play/pause, volume/fast-forward/rewind, and an off button (Which confused me at first because it was labeled “R”). You press these combined buttons once to play or pause a song or skip to the next track, and press & hold if you want to increase or decrease the volume. In terms of song selection, this means you’ll need to skip through tracks in chronological order if you want to listen to a specific song. If you want to have the latest touchscreen device, extended controls, apps, and so forth, then this device is not the solution for you. But if you want a simple and practical way of enjoying music as well as other media and don’t have a large budget, Plugggg offers a fantastic solution. This would be great for everyone from children all the way up to seniors, and with its $29.95 price tag, it’s a very feasible gift idea that won’t break the bank.

Plugggg is available for $29.95 on Plugggg.com. You can also order a customized Plugggg for $34.95 (Allow 4-8 weeks for delivery for customized units).