Tuesdays are "I Tried It Tuesdays" where I'll tell you about something I recently tried -- an item, a movie, an activity, etc.

What I tried: Refurbished Apple products (http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals)

What I bought: An iPod shuffle (two, atually)

What it is: An itty-bitty digital music player -- the size of a matchbook -- that holds 250 songs.

Why I tried it: Because my kids have outgrown the music on their pink "kid-tough" Fisher Price digital music players and they want me to put real music on them -- songs I listen to that they like -- Pink, Van Halen, Nickelback (non-explicit songs, of course), etc. Since I have all this music already in iTunes (I have a Nano), I hated to waste time (and server space) uploading all the music into the FP3 or some other MP3 format. Frankly, it's easier for me to just buy them something that will work with the digital music files I already have.

What refurbished means: Apple Certified Refurbished Products are pre-owned Apple products that undergo Apple's stringent refurbishment process prior to being offered for sale. These products have been returned under Apple's Return and Refund Policies. While only some units are returned due to technical issues, all units undergo Apple's stringent quality refurbishment process. Read more about it here (I'd make this an active link..but..alas, I can't right now ...argh): http://store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Images/apple_certified.html

What refurbished means explained in English: Refurbished products are those that are returned to the store for any reason. Sometimes it's a technical problem, but more often than not it's just a torn box or a products someone just didn't want (for whatever reason). Regardless, Apple promises that all of them undergo a "rigorous" refurbishment, which basically means, they make sure it's working and working correctly before they resell it.

What's the advantage to refurbished? Price. You can get a 2nd Generation iPod Shuffle (which is what I got for the girls) for as little as $29 and it comes with free shipping. They also have Nanos and regular big iPods, too.

What you need to know: Quantity is dependent on availability. So, if you check the site (http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals) and they don't list any refurbished Shuffles (or Nanos...or whatever you want), wait a day or two and check again. They are constantly putting new items up as they become available.

Are refurbs really as "good as new:" My Nano is a refurb...as are three of my friends' iPods and a few friends' Apple PCs and none of us have ever had a problems. If we did, I'm sure Apple would back up their products.

What you need to know II: If you order an iPod, you will need to send it to a place where someone can sign for it (signature is required on delivery), or you can go online (order status/tracking) and print a form that releases you from signing for the package. You just tack the form to your door and the UPS driver can leave it in a designated place or with a neighbor.

A nice to know: They offer engraving on iPods which I believe is free on some models (though I'm willing to bet it's not on the refurb stuff). In any event, I wish I would've looked into it before I finished ordering because it would've been nice to have the girls' names engraved on the back of those itty-bitty Shuffles.

Managing more than one iPod in iTunes: I took the advice of a friend and simply created a play list for the girls. Then, I just copy that playlist to their iPods. I can opt to leave that playlist off my iPod next time I sync it.