ipod problems

i got 2 problems with 2 ipods. first, my 3G ipod which is updated once and awhile will not mount on os x. i get the disck not formatted thing and i have to initialize it. then ipod updater pops up then quits. i end up having to use my dads ibook to install the ipod software and then plug it into our g4 for the music. i have the newest version of itunes and os x. on 2 my second problem. i have a 1gb shuffle and it refuses to load on to my powermac G4 quicksilver. the updater wont see it and neither will itunes. once i intialized it and it still didnt work. also, when i plug it in with disk mode on, it sometimes comes up and sometimes doesnt. in order to use it, i have to use my dads ibook once again to sync it with music. i use the powered usb port and i have tried all of them to no avail. i called apple and they thought they fixed the problem but it came back and now they want me to pay to talk to them. this is driving me insane!!!