You search by browsing through your music library. You can browse by artist, song, genre, or composer. It's easy to use but sometimes I find myself taking my eyes off the road when I am specifically searching for a particular track. You may want to consider picking up a 2nd gen iPod. Their design is more intuitive when it comes to navigating by touch. With the new iPods, the controls are touch sensitive so groping around to change the track while keeping your eyes on the road can become a frustrating experience.