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iPod for Windows and Mac?

Steven1621

Steven1621

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Apr 10, 2003
796
0
Connecticut
I am a PC user that will be switching to a Mac when I go off to college next fall.

Currently, I am looking to buy an iPod.

Since I have a PC now, I will buy a Windows version iPod. I do want this to work on my Mac later on though.

Will a Windows iPod work on a Mac? I have heard conflicting answers and would like to know for sure.

Thanks,

Steven
 
well currently it can, but you will have to buy a new firewire cable when you switch you mac, other than that your set.

iJon
 
Originally posted by iJon
well currently it can, but you will have to buy a new firewire cable when you switch you mac, other than that your set.

iJon
Click to expand...

I have a 20 gig ipod for windows that I use on my tibook. The supplied firewire cable works on both my pc and mac. No need to buy another firewire cable.
 
Originally posted by taeclee99
I have a 20 gig ipod for windows that I use on my tibook. The supplied firewire cable works on both my pc and mac. No need to buy another firewire cable.
Click to expand...
i thought the windows version came with a 4-6 pin cable.

iJon
 
Re: iPod for Windows and Mac?

Originally posted by Steven1621
I am a PC user that will be switching to a Mac when I go off to college next fall.

Currently, I am looking to buy an iPod.

Since I have a PC now, I will buy a Windows version iPod. I do want this to work on my Mac later on though.

Will a Windows iPod work on a Mac? I have heard conflicting answers and would like to know for sure.

Thanks,

Steven
Click to expand...

I'd suggest buying the mac one now since it can easily be made to work on a pc just by downloading some software pack from apple.com
 
Re: Re: iPod for Windows and Mac?

Originally posted by pcuserx
I'd suggest buying the mac one now since it can easily be made to work on a pc just by downloading some software pack from apple.com
Click to expand...

There's no reason to change it if you get the PC iPod. The PC iPod will work with Mac or PC and you don't have to do any updating or change the format or anything.

I have heard of PC iPods coming with a 4-6pin cord but all the ones I have seen and used have the 6-6pin cord.

I recommend anyone buying an iPod to get the PC one as it will work seamlessly with Mac or PC and it give you the ability to use it with a friends PC without having to reformat your Mac iPod.

For more information that I have posted in the past go to these threads. I have personal experience using a PC iPod with a Mac and it IS the way to go.


https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13087

https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13474

https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13455
 
Re: Re: iPod for Windows and Mac?

Originally posted by pcuserx
I'd suggest buying the mac one now since it can easily be made to work on a pc just by downloading some software pack from apple.com
Click to expand...
yeah but musicmatch isnt free, itunes is.

iJon
 
wait wait, i really want to know this, the apple store says the windows ipods come with a 4-6 pin, is this true. anyboyd here with windows ipods care to share.

iJon
 
okay, this happened to me... i got the windows 5 gig ipod, and when i hooked it up to my new powerbook, it worked just fine, however, it erased all my music... so beware when you purchase now.
 
Originally posted by mgargan1
okay, this happened to me... i got the windows 5 gig ipod, and when i hooked it up to my new powerbook, it worked just fine, however, it erased all my music... so beware when you purchase now.
Click to expand...

What do you mean it erased all your music? Off of the iPod? You mean the music you put on there from the PC? That will happen any time you try to change computers. It will or should give you a dialogue asking if you want to do this first though.

You can use the iPod as an MP3 player and transfer the music in this way to another computer as a hack. If you just want to transfer music and data you need to just drag and drop the data on to the iPod as if it is an external drive.
 
Re: 6-6 cable

Originally posted by MarksEvilTwin
My sister got a 10 GB PC iPod for X-Mas, and it had a 6-6 Pin cable, but what it also included was a small adapter with a 6 pin female end and a 4 pin male. not another cable, just a little plastic plug, like those ps2->usb keyboard adapter things (more common in PC land i suppose)

Mark
Click to expand...

Yeah I forgot about that. The Windows iPod I had also had the 6-4pin adaptor.
 
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