Question about IPODS...

[gildo]

I am obviously not good with tech. stuff (still had a cassette player in my car recently until I sold it) but my little sister wants an IPOD for X-Mas. I know briefly how these things work but I guess "IPOD for dummies" question, are they hard to figure out? How do I download songs for her? etc. What's a good one to get for a decent price? Tried asking questions at tech. stores today but everyone is so busy and I felt bad asking them dumb questions so I thought I would ask my friends at Calgary Puck. Plus I am not originally from Canada and my english isn't the best at times so it makes the questions even dumber when i'm asking them! Thanks in advance, any info will help. Don;t be scared to put obvious information in as I said anything helps.

[habernac]

loading music is easy. You can download Itunes and then load your CD's into your hard drive and sync them with the IPOD. Or just buy songs from ITunesm etc. Pretty simple stuff.

[Ford Prefect]

Talk to the staff at Westworld ... they're the main Apple dealer in Calgary. Their prices are usually as good as anywhere, and you get expert advice. They likely even offer one-hour "iPods For Dummies" classes a couple times a week. Ask for Mike DeJong ... he's a good sales rep.

[flylock shox]

^ pervert.

[MoneyGuy]

I just shopped for iPods and MP3 players yesterday. I ended up buying an MP3 instead of an iPod. I suggest the OP consider the option of the MP3 player, in addition to looking at the iPods. I believe that there are more options for downloading music if you have an MP3.

[Yeah_Baby]

I just shopped for iPods and MP3 players yesterday. I ended up buying an MP3 instead of an iPod. I suggest the OP consider the option of the MP3 player, in addition to looking at the iPods. I believe that there are more options for downloading music if you have an MP3.

if you have an iPod you don't only have to use iTunes

[Kipper is King]

To clarify: If you have an Ipod, you do need itunes to transfer music over to it. Itunes does not necessarily need to be source of your music, however.

You can transfer CDs to your computer through Itunes (Apple's music software), then they go on to your ipod. You're not just limited to downloading music.

In terms of getting an ipod with the best value, I'd say go for an 80GB Ipod classic.

With 80GB of storage, most people can store a large chunk of their music collection on it, if not their entire music collection. This ipod also is capable of playing video, and some basic games that are available for download on Itunes. There is a 160GB version, but that is bigger and bulkier. It also is more storage than many people need.

The ipod nano is a very nice option as well. The major advantage they have is being very small. The problem is that the capacity is relatively small too. If she has a ton of CDs, then a nano likely won't suffice. You can still hold many hundreds of songs on a nano, though- so without a big CD collection, it may be a good option. The newest ipod nanos are capable of everything the bigger Ipod classic is, like playing video.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

To clarify: If you have an Ipod, you do need itunes to transfer music over to it.

No you do not. There are plenty of other software programs that can transfer music to an iPod other then iTunes.

[brownie]

No you do not. There are plenty of other software programs that can transfer music to an iPod other then iTunes.Not to derail this thread but I just got a Macbook and was wondering what my options are for downloading music?Itunes is a buck a song which can add up pretty quick.

[monkeyman]

For a new ipod owner, i'd stick with Itunes at first. just just try installing it, you don't even have to buy an ipod to do that. go to apple.com
As for the ipod, i think it depends on the age of your sister and how she wants to use it. My teenage daughter for instance, much prefers the new ipod nano over the touch. she loves the small size and the screen is pretty nice, maybe not for watching movies but nice for pictures and album art.

[gildo]

Thanks for all the info....awesome! I have another question about "I TUNES" how much does it cost to download a song?

[metallicat]

99 cents. But you can get DRM free music for 1.50 I think. I think all that means is that you can put the songs on other MP3 players.

[iggypop]

I just shopped for iPods and MP3 players yesterday. I ended up buying an MP3 instead of an iPod. I suggest the OP consider the option of the MP3 player, in addition to looking at the iPods. I believe that there are more options for downloading music if you have an MP3.

An ipod is an mp3 player...

[Yeah_Baby]

An ipod is an mp3 player...

yeah I caught that too

[BananaPancakes]

Not to derail this thread but I just got a Macbook and was wondering what my options are for downloading music?Itunes is a buck a song which can add up pretty quick.

I use... http://www.acquisitionp2p.com/

[Locke]

If you really want to freak her out, get her an iTouch.

Dont even bother. They're just waiting until everyone buys one to release the iRape.:rolleyes:

I'm rapidly becoming iRate.:confused:

^ pervert.

This is not news around here.:D

[OilersBaby]

I also have a question about IPODS..

My ITunes is on my laptop. If I were to lose my computer or if it crashed, would I still have access to the library of music from another computer??? I have the songs on my Ipod.....but what if my laptop crashed? Would I be able to transfer those songs from my Ipod to another computer's ITunes and then update from that new computer?

Just wondering because it looks like my laptop is going to die very soon...

Thanks!

[iggypop]

Yes you can Oilersbaby. Its not a simple process, but you can buy software for about 15 bucks or find it online to allow you to do it. You do need the software though b/c ipods are designed to not let you do this.

[Flames09]

I also have a question about IPODS..

My ITunes is on my laptop. If I were to lose my computer or if it crashed, would I still have access to the library of music from another computer??? I have the songs on my Ipod.....but what if my laptop crashed? Would I be able to transfer those songs from my Ipod to another computer's ITunes and then update from that new computer?

Just wondering because it looks like my laptop is going to die very soon...

Thanks!


You can actually rip all your songs off your ipod onto your computer, my old computer crashed and both my sisters lost their music but I had it on mine and ended up getting it all back.

How To (Windows)

Similarly, you can copy songs from an iPod onto a Windows PC by enabling hidden folders to be viewed. Here's how.
1. Open your My Computer directory.
2. Double click on your iPod.
3. Go to Tools > Folder Options > View.
4. In the Advanced Settings list, under Hidden files and folders, check the radio button for Show hidden files and folders. Then click OK.
5. Go to iPod_Control > Music. You'll see the iPod's music organized randomly into a bunch of folders. Copy those into your music directory.
Although the filenames of the songs will be scrambled, their ID3 tags will be intact, so you'll be able to navigate the songs as usual on your computer or another iPod.
6. To unscramble the filenames:
a. In iTunes, go to Edit>Prefrences.

b. Under the Advanced tab, under the General "sub-tab", select the local folder where you have copied the music from your iPod (by clicking Change...)

c. Check the box "Kepp iTunes Music folder organized" and click OK.

d. If you haven't done so already, add all the recently copied music to you iTunes library.

e. The process might take a few minutes, and might require you to close and re-open iTunes to even get it started, but when it's done, you'll have a nicely sorted folder structure.

While these slightly inconvenient methods work, there are plenty of software apps that make the process of browsing and copying files much easier.


LINKY (http://howto.wired.com/wiredhowtos/index.cgi?page_name=get_your_music_off_of_your_ipo d;action=display;category=Play)

[habernac]

You can also use Sharepod to get your music from your ipod back to your PC. and it's free.

[JohnnyFlame]

Personally I use Limewire and find it works just great. Very simple process of just typing in the artist or the song and then downloading.

[kermitology]

You can also use Sharepod to get your music from your ipod back to your PC. and it's free.

Yeah sharepod is awesome. But I wonder if the author has come up with a way of dealing with apple screwing with third party music loading software on the new iPods

[llama64]

Personally I use Limewire and find it works just great. Very simple process of just typing in the artist or the song and then downloading.

How's the quality? I last used Limewire 3 years ago and it was 20% chance I'd get a decent recording. Is the RIAA still flooding the networks with garbage files?

[Flames09]

/\ I love MP3 ROCKET!!

[CaptainCrunch]

Honestly I dumped my IPOD due to the battery replacement crap.

I picked up a SANSA MP3 player, and I really like the way that you can just drap and drop MP3 files to it. It comes with a good media converter for video and it has a built in FM tuner.

No more Itunes for me.

[CaptainCrunch]

How's the quality? I last used Limewire 3 years ago and it was 20% chance I'd get a decent recording. Is the RIAA still flooding the networks with garbage files?

I use the limewire pro which costs me 10 bucks. It works great.

And I'm not getting overloaded with adware and malware anymore.

[Ironhorse]

Honestly I dumped my IPOD due to the battery replacement crap.Could you expand on your experience? I'm considering buying a Nano for my wife and a Classic for in the car (the Mini has an iPod input).

BTW, does anyone know if iPods will drop in price come Boxing Day?

[iggypop]

When I sold ipods on boxing day last year, i know they didnt drop the price at all but rather threw in a $20 itunes card, that was as good as it got. As far as the battery issues with the ipod, they used to be horrendous. I can't speak about the new ones (classic/nano) as I havent heard much about them recently, but understand apple does not cover the battery under there 1 year warranty.

Heres a little video about the ipod battery, I think it was recorded just before the video came out though:
http://www.ipodsdirtysecret.com/

[BlackArcher101]

I've been looking for a large capacity player to compliment my 2g shuffle for a few weeks now. After a lot of research and many store visits, I just couldn't get myself to buy another ipod. The only ones that interested me were the nano for the size and the touch for the wifi. I quickly ruled out the touch when I looked at the $/GB and ruled out the nano after I saw a few competitors. I ended up buying a Creative Zen 8GB. Very happy with it and the best thing is I don't have to install iTunes anymore. Drag and drop songs for the win!

[JohnnyFlame]

How's the quality? I last used Limewire 3 years ago and it was 20% chance I'd get a decent recording. Is the RIAA still flooding the networks with garbage files?

You do have to do a bit of work but hey that's all it's costing you is a little time.

[CaptainCrunch]

Could you expand on your experience? I'm considering buying a Nano for my wife and a Classic for in the car (the Mini has an iPod input).

BTW, does anyone know if iPods will drop in price come Boxing Day?

I had the nano 2B version, and the battery crapped out of it this year, and I was told that it was an 80 dollar replacement. You can buy the kit, and do it yourself but its not the easiest thing in the world and requires sodering.

to me when a battery replacement costs that much, it becomes a disposale technology.

I went with the SANSA because the battery replacement is a lot easier, the operation doesn't require you to mess around with software on your PC (Unless your doing video), and the ability to use it as a data key and the FM tuner, and the price made it a easy decision.

[Titan]

If she is a runner go with the nano and the nike sport kit. it costs $40 and tracks your runs. Very cool and easy to use. I got my first nano at Costco, got caught running in the rain and it crapped out. They took it back and I got the new version with video for $80 less. Colour me happy.

[Ironhorse]

With the Nano's, is it worthwhile getting an extended warranty, or are they pretty rugged (within reason) & reliable?

[alltherage]

Go to Best Buy man. All we get is "stupid" questions. Salespeople understand that not everyone knows what we know. We HAVE to know this stuff, you just want to buy it!

[Mango]

With the Nano's, is it worthwhile getting an extended warranty, or are they pretty rugged (within reason) & reliable?

It's flash memory, so it is more reliable than the Classics with the hard drive.

You don't have to buy the extended protection at the time of purchase. You can actually buy it any time throughout the year, so you can decide down the road how valuable it would be for you.

[Sled]

Another couple of Ipod for dummies questions.

My music libary consists of traditonal cd's as well as some :whistle: ill gotten downloads from the internet. I'm just curious can I transfer my full library to an ipod?

Why is itunes so disliked? Are there other sources to buy videos music, audio books and free podcasts?

[Rathji]

Any MP3 that is not specificly DRMed for use on a specific MP3 player ( 99.999 % of stuff that is illegal will not have any DRM) so will work fine, plus anything you added from CD's
is totally fair game for use on an Ipod (or any other MP3 player I am aware of).

As for Itunes, people dislike it because you cant just simply add a single song by dragging it to your players hard drive, you need to sync the entire drive. Personally i didnt find it that awkward, since I charge mine off USB anyway.

Some dislike paying for music, when you can get it for free. Personally for a buck a song, the ease and reliability of downloading (try finding a good download on any p2p service the first try) make it more than worth it to pay a buck. There are limits to what you can do with this music, like you can only have it on 5 computers, 8 CD's or on unlimited ipods at any one time. Any more than that and you would need to redownload the song for another buck. However, if you want DRM free music that you can use the song as many times as you want, on whatever player you want etc, you can pay 1.39 a song ( On most songs, some are not avaibale in DRM free version).

I also really like about Itunes is that it easily rips any CD into your itunes library, anyone, no matter how clueless can use it.

That said, my ipod is 4 years old and the battery only lasts about 3 hours now on a full charge, so I am considering buying a new player. I have seen the creative zen and for the price it seems very nice.

[Nuje]

My Creative Zen Vision M is 2 years old. Battery life is an advertised 14 hours, and it actually still goes slightly over. I timed it a few weeks ago. If you are hell bent on an iPod, that best buy service plan might be a good idea.

[Ironhorse]

As for Itunes, people dislike it because you cant just simply add a single song by dragging it to your players hard drive, you need to sync the entire drive. Personally i didnt find it that awkward, since I charge mine off USB anyway.I haven't installed iTunes yet myself, but the younger bucks in my office have assured me that you can turn off the "sync the entire drive" setting and selectively download files onto the iPod. This may be a recent development though.

[llama64]

I haven't installed iTunes yet myself, but the younger bucks in my office have assured me that you can turn off the "sync the entire drive" setting and selectively download files onto the iPod. This may be a recent development though.

This is a feature that has been there since I got my iPod (circa 2004). Shuffles come configured to do this automatically.

iTunes was great before version 7. Since then it's been nothing but a bloated pain in the butt. That said, there is nothing else worth using on the Windows side of things. I hate having to organize my music manually using folders and other such nonesense. A portable database system similar to the iPod setup is perfect.

wait... did Amarok2 get released on windows yet?