Hey guys,

I've been using iTunes now to purchase and manage my ever growing music collection, and I've been thinking about some sort of player to take my music with me.

I was checking out Costco today and there are so many different kinds of players available, which is confusing the heck out of me.

Trying to navigate all this new technology for an old fart like me isn't easy.

I don't need video, just a basic one for music that I can plug headphones into, or connect it to my audio-in on the stereo in my truck.

Do you guys have any suggestions?

Also, here's an itunes question...
I havnt backed up any of my purchases yet, but once I transfer them to an ipod, that will be a back-up right?

Thanks
Habibi

 

Once they're on your iPod, they aren't exactly backed up. iTunes can't just pull them off the iPod and transfer them back into anything usable on your computer. If your music list is empty in iTunes, it will just delete all the music on the iPod. It's a one way transfer from iTunes to iPod. They do a good job doing what they were made to do, play music, but unless you enable mass storage mode and back up the files manually, I wouldn't count on it for backing up music files.

I haven't used iTunes for music purchasing. Don't they only allow being transferred to iPods? There are some sort of play restrictions on their purchase, I thought.

 

ive tried several different mp3 players and my ipod is by far my favorite. depending on how much music you have/plan on having will determine which on is best for your. i have a 30gb video ipod and its almost full, but i have tons of music and its mostly for work.

when you get an ipod, and put the music from your library on it, it doesnt exactly back it up. if something happens to the music on your computer, the only music that itunes will let you take off your ipod will be songs your purchased with itunes. that being said, you can always download a program that lets you rip music from your ipod, which is what i have done. if you want to truly back up your music that is on your computer, the best way to do that is to copy it to an external hard drive.

 

It's still new to me.
I've got 15 albums on there so far, all of which I've paid for using my iTunes account.

I just took one album purchased from iTunes, put it in a playlist and burned it to CD, so I guess they let you do what you want with it after you buy it. (which is at least one good thing for being an honest injun and paying for the music)

 

Ok, thanks!
So far the only things I have on there is music I bought from them, but I plan to import my entire CD collection into iTunes.

What I find confusing is when I type in "IPOD" into Ebay, there's a million different kinds, it seems they all have video now, which I don't need.
Just being able to play music will be fine for what I want.

I'd like something small that I can take to the gym.
Don't these things hold like a gazzillion songs anyway?

Thanks
H

 

if you dont want an ipod. you can change the burn settings in itunes so that it burns in mp3 format. that will let you put the songs that you have purchased, which are AAT or MP4 format, play on other player

 

Yeah, there's iPod Shuffle, iPod Nano and iPod Generation (1 through 5). I think only the Shuffle doesn't have a screen. A 4 GB iPod will hold around 1000-2000 songs, depending on the quality and length of the song. There's a lot of choices to be made in the iPod arena.

 

stay away from the shuffle. they are good for just listening to in the gym. but a pain in the butt when trying to find s specific song, which im sure you'll want to be able to do. i do believe that every ipod now offers video. its not a big deal, its not like you have to use it. i think i have maybe one video on my ipod, and its just for a plane right i took a while back. i use mine for music 99% of the time. an ipod classic would probably be best for you.
like this one
http://www.apple.com/ipodclassic/

 

Agreed. It's more like it is capable of being used for video, but only because the screen has improved. It's not something you have to use, it just makes the screen crisper and easier to read, and it's capable if you ever change your mind and want to use it.

 

I replaced my old laptop w/ a new laptop, when I connected my ipod to it (after downloading iTunes), iTunes gave me 2 options. The first option would have removed everything from my ipod that wasn't on the new computer. The second option allowed me to transfer everything on my ipod to my iTunes account on the new computer. It took it a while, but it did it.

 

I tunes will not allow you to copy purchased songs somewhere else on your computer, but you can burn them onto a disc. Just do what I did, rip the disc into windows media player in mp3 format, then you can store them anywhere on your computer you want and now you have a backup. You can also rip your cd collection the same way. Go to import file or import folder in itunes to copy your entire collection into itunes, then it will be ready for upload into your ipod.

 

if your still on to an ipod (which i recommend wholeheartedly) it boils down to how much storage you need.

ipod nano comes in 8gb and 16gb.
ipod classic comes in 120gb.

i have had both a nano and now i have an ipod classic and they function exactly the same. nanos are cheaper, but the classic has much more storage, which is why i got it.

 

I have a older 30gb Zune player that stays in the truck with all the stuff that I want.

i don't like Itunes or the Ipod for the reason I cannot use them anyway I want them.

i don't buy music, but i do have 30gb of a external drive so that I can take them anywhere I want too.

I do have a Sandisk 2gb which comes in many sizes but easy to transfer music that we use at the gym, mowing grass and many other uses (kids in car to have there own music and be quiet!)

 

I've been able to take music from an iPod and but it on my computer before using Gen 1, 2 and the Nano iPods.

That said, if you're looking for a lot of accessories, iPod is obviously the way to go. But I suggest you check out expert reviews on these devices. Most reviewers like the iPod.

http://reviews.cnet.com/best-hard-drive-mp3-players/
http://www.consumersearch.com/mp3-players
http://www.pcmag.com/category2/0,2806,2359,00.asp

 

Fellas thanks for all the advice and helpful information.
It's much appreciated

I think I'll try to find a deal on the 120GB version.

Regards
Habibi