hackthis_archive | (no subject)

Current Music: Ryan Adams 'Nobody Girl'

(no subject)

I am considering procuring a 20GB iPod in the immediate future, however, as someone who doesn't have a particular fast connection at home, and doesn't have an Apple interface at all, I am rather skittish about the entire business, and so I turn to you lot. Tell me everything you think I should know.*

[Poll #589083]

*I have also been told that once you set up one computer as your base, you can't use other computers to upload your music without losing all the contents of your iPod. I have also been told there is a way around this. Educate me kids, because my base will not be a consistent thing, like, ever.

ETA: Thank you, all of you, for your assistance!

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

I have also been told that once you set up one computer as your base, you can't use other computers to upload your music without losing all the contents of your iPod. I have also been told there is a way around this. Educate me kids.

There is software that will download music from your iPod to your harddrive but I don't have the link here at work. It is kind of a pain in the ass if you have a lot of music because it takes forever, but it's nice to be able to back it up or change computers.

I wish I'd known that there is no easy way to move music back onto your hard drive from the iPod. At least, if there is, I don't know what it is.

you can't use other computers to upload your music without losing all the contents of your iPod

Leave it unsynced, so you manually update it. That's what I do, and I load music both on my laptop and from my dad's PC. As long as the version of iTunes you have is up to date, it should be fine. I think.

Of course, I've never even read the instructions, but I've had mine nearly two years now, and I love it.

I have a 15GB iPod, which I don't think they make anymore. Also, there's the new iPod Nano, which is replacing the mini.

I wish I'd known that there is no easy way to move music back onto your hard drive from the iPod. At least, if there is, I don't know what it is.

There is! I promise! Email me with what OS you're using and I'll tell you how to get your music off your iPod.

Um. Also, iPods are apparently psychic (see item #1).

zeplum and I will both attest that the randomizers on our iPods seem to have their own unique personalities. And ~~a nasty~~ an interesting sense of humor.

I adore my 2nd-generation iPod (way back when there were separate versions for Windows and Mac, and my Windows version came packaged with RealJukebox... ::shudder:: ) and it has served me well. The new iPods aren't formatted for a particular platform, so that's one worry down.

Like

musesfool said, you just have to set your iPod up to not sync automatically; then you should be able to easily move songs onto it from whatever computer you're using.

There is also software to take your music from your iPod and put it on your computer; contrary to what

amberlynne says, I don't think it takes that long, especially if you're doing it over USB 2.0 or FireWire.

I wish someone had mentioned that sometimes downloading programs will screw up the ipod somehow. I downloaded one of the LJ updating programs and my ipod crashed and I had to reboot the whole thing. THis hasn't happened since when I've downloaded programs like realplayer and flash, but it did happen once and it took a while on the phone with the apple support tech to sort things out.

I have also been told that once you set up one computer as your base, you can't use other computers to upload your music without losing all the contents of your iPod. I have also been told there is a way around this. Educate me kids.

Um. Well. My computer in Missouri is my "base" and I just used my roomate's laptop to upload music two weeks ago. Everything's still on mine, so not enitrely sure of the validity of this.

To explain the 'erasing itself' bit: Apparently it's not an uncommon problem because the people at the Apple store seemed unfazed and described the symptoms exactly. To their credit, if that ever happens they just give you a new one.

They totally are! People mock, but my iPod knows things. It often coughs up oddly appropriate (or ironic) songs for various situations.

It's eerie, isn't it?

I did serious research before committing to my iPod a month ago. Hands down, it the best mp3 player on the market. No other brand offers all the same features or close to the same style, and nor are they appreciatively less expensive than the a similar size (in GB) iPod to make them the better buy.

Yes, it is true that you need to pick one computer to be your 'base'. There are ways around this, but I'm very leary of hacking my $300 I-can't-afford-to-replace-it 'pod. Also, I haven't found any need to use another computer with my iPod, other than my laptop, so this really isn't an issue for me. iTunes does it all, so it doesn't matter whether you have an Apple or PC, though a slower internet connection will mean slower update times.

My advice, for what it's worth - get the 20 GB version, and invest in a nice pair of $30 Sony earbuds or similar headphones. The ones that Apple includes suck.

I'll explain my answer for the "I don't know why I bought this thing." Truly, I love it because it's my best companion when I exercise. I LOVE it then and I have no complaints. But as far as everyday use, I just don't like something right in my ear, LOL. But for exercising, it's awesome and so I love it. But without that context I don't use it much. But according to my brother, it's the best thing in the universe and HE'D have it's kids if he could. :D

We talked about the Nano, but it doesn't have enough memory, what's with all this 1MB or 5MB shit? That's not even 100 CDs

Random thoughts:

1. I have the 40GB, which I will never ever fill, and they don't even make anymore. But I like having that space. *g*

2. Video iPods are coming shortly, and ABC has announced you'll be able to buy downloads of programs like Desperate Housewives.

3. If you put it on Shuffle, don't always use the >> button to fast-forward to the next song. My battery was running out all the damn time, so I brought it to the store, and had a huge V8 Moment. The techs were really nice, and didn't condescend to me at all, but I felt like such a dumb-ass. Make lots of playlists. *g*

4. Nothing can beat the iPod for looks, and I am shallow.

5. Your computer will want you to name the iPod. Choose wisely. *g*

I have a Perception Digital 1.5GB Jukebox. I didn't want an iPod for two reasons: 1) I *abhor* iTunes and didn't want to deal with it, no way no how and 2) I don't *have* the number of mp3s that can fit onto the smallest non-shuffle iPod.

1.5GB fits about 350 songs, uses plug'n'play interface via USB cable (no programs to deal with) and, after I'd applied for Amazon.com visa and got my rebate back, cost me $40 from Amazon.

One drawback (and I'm not sure if this is an issue with large-volume iPods, as well) is that hard-drive (non-flash) mp3 players are slower (than flash memory ones) in accessing songs: if you press 'skip/next' it won't jump *immediately* to the next one. But, at this point, I'm used to this 'quirk' of my minipod.

}:)

I have the 30-gig, which they no longer make, and I handed down my comparatively-ancient, comparatively-thick 5-gig one to my husband, who is still using it without any trouble. I haven't tried to use multiple computers as my base, so I can't help with that, but I love my iPod -- even just a bit more than my TiVo.

I would never get an Ipod myself... there are just so many players out there, and almost all can do a lot more for less money.

My first player was a very early IRiver model, I miss it

The second was a noname model that broke too fast

My third and current.. well, I only have it a few weeks, but all is good so far, which is a lot better then the second, who already started acting up after two days

I have had round about every make of MP3 player under the sun and so far the one I love most is my iPod Nano.

I have 2: a Zen Creative Muvo, which is the size of a cigarette lighter, and I want to have its babies. 512 MB so a bit weeny, but the most intuitive lovely interface. It's essentially a Flash drive, and it's battery operated.

However, because it's a bit small I know have a Creative ZEn biggie, which is Napster-compliant, because I subscribe to Napster not itunes. I love Napster with a deep love. Anyway, they have Napster to Go which works with certain MP£ players, and means you can fill and refill your mps player for a slightly higher subscription.

Although you can quite cheerfully download tracks, I think Napster and Zen are a bit more album-orientated, cos that's the way I play my stuff.

I don't like the big Zen interface nearly so much, as it's a bit oversensitive. However, I have Napster on 2 computers, though I synchronise my player on just one.

What I wish I knew: big players need to recharge so when the juice runs out you're totally stuck.

Research, baby.

iPod (I said 40gB on the poll, but it's actually 60). I love it, love it, love it- I seriously couldn't live without it. I use it as a secondary harddrive as well as music storage- currently have an entire season of BSG stored on there, waiting to be burned to disc.

There's programs to upload music back to your HD as well, and there's an option to turn off the automatic updating (that's what wipes your music off, so the horror stories can be avoided!). Really, the biggest thing is to make sure you have a USB 2.0 port, which most newish computers have. And if not, ask at the shop- I bought a USB card for $20 in order to use mine.

I've had a 15 GB Dell DJ for three years now, it's mega-huge and clunky (bigger than a cassette tape - ye gads!), and yet I love it all the same. The buttons are easier to grope at than the iPod, and, when driving from Illinois to Texas, got 19 hours of battery life out if it. Its only bad quality is that this version does not have a shuffle feature. I've never had any of the problems with it that I've heard others have had with iPods, like the erasing/battery going kerfutz, etc.

I know nothing about their current generation of mp3 players, but I've always liked Dell, both for the DJ and their computers.

That said, when the video iPod comes out? I am so there.

I think, perhaps a 40GB may be the way to go for me. I thought the 20MB would be it, but maybe not.

p.s. I think I will name him Neville.

er, I meant to say that the DJ does not have a full LIBRARY shuffle feature. You can shuffle any playlists that you create, but unless you make a separate full library playlist, it doesn't just randomly pick and choose.

When they first came out, many many moons ago, I'd planned on getting ther 30GB one, but there were all those Window/Mac issues, so I said no. And then there was the battery issue, but now that everything is resolved, I'm rethinking yet again.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 1 of 3