iPod is there a "drag n drop" ipod alternative mp3 player ?

[carley]

I'm fairly new to macs, but I've got one & itunes was so simple that I now have 20GB of stuff already ripped...and I've still got a considerable amount more to go!

I'm ideally looking for a 40GB+ capacity mp3 player (not bothered about video - I would prefer it didn't have video), however I have been told that if I get an ipod it will be linked to my machine & i won't be able to buy stuff easily in internet cafes & put them on the ipod. I am going traveling very soon & will not have my own imac...so it doesnt sound like an ipod is what i need.

I want an mp3 player that will be as universal as possible; so if I go into an internet cafe I can update it with new material...and ideally charge via usb & normal power supply.

Are there any large capacity "drag & drop" type players that work with PC & Mac?

Many Thanks
Carley

 

[Tumeg101]

an iPod does exactly what you need, it works with PC and Mac, charges with USB and normal power supply, it holds 30gb, 60gb, and 80gb of music,
you can plug your iPod in to other computers and download music onto them, (I do with my parents, and brothers computers)

 

[carley]

cheers for the reply - so it doesn't "link it" to my mac & I can get music onto it from other PC/macs without difficulty eg from internet cafes?

I'm looking at a 4th Generation one as they're a good price & don't have the

 

[swiftaw]

As long as you set it to "manually manage my music" as opposed to "automatically sync my music" you should have no problem connecting it to multiple machines.

 

[Royale w/cheese]

you can plug your iPod in to other computers and download music onto them, (I do with my parents, and brothers computers)

You do this through iTunes or in disk mode?

 

[EricNau]

As long as you set it to "manually manage my music" as opposed to "automatically sync my music" you should have no problem connecting it to multiple machines.

Although all of those machines still need iTunes (which is of course available as a free download).

 

[carley]

Great! I think I'll get a 4th generation pod then & manually manage my music.

 

[pjo]

Although all of those machines still need iTunes (which is of course available as a free download).

... and since you can use the iPod as a USB disk you can as well carry a copy of iTunes on the iPod to wherever you are going

 

[mikefly]

mac vs pc

heya,

seems to me that it is not as simple as you're suggesting -- you can charge your ipod at any computer with a usb -- however, to the best of my knowledge -- and experience, if your ipod is mac formatted, you can't update your library from a pc.

However, I seem to recall (haven't tested this) that a pc formatted ipod can use both.

Mike

 

[iBookG4user]

heya,

seems to me that it is not as simple as you're suggesting -- you can charge your ipod at any computer with a usb -- however, to the best of my knowledge -- and experience, if your ipod is mac formatted, you can't update your library from a pc.

However, I seem to recall (haven't tested this) that a pc formatted ipod can use both.

Mike

Macs can read and write Windows formatted iPods, yes. Windows formatted iPods use the FAT32 filesystem.

 

[0098386]

Windows can read OSX file systems through the use of 3rd party software.

I believe new iPods come formatted already for Windows. So long as you don't click "Restore" in iTunes or format the iPod you'll be fine!