laugh if you want, but I'm buying my first iPod soon

[Cory Ander]

(I'm still fairly new to the digital world) and could really use some tips. I'm tired of listening to my favorite disco compilation CDs on a CD player because it keeps mistracking whenever I hit a small bump, and I tried getting some iPod advice in a local chat room but got nothing but sarcasm and smart alecky wise cracks. So, is it easy to transfer the songs from the CDs into the iPod? Is it done in real time of quicker? Do the titles of the songs show on the iPod's screen? Why did someone mention needing iTunes to do this (I didn't need iTunes to make the CDs). What kind of batteries do iPods use? I saw an iPod at KMART that cost almost $300, what on Earth can they do that's worth that much money? Where would I get the best price on a new iPod...I tried overstock.com and they were selling refurbished ones, which I'm not interested in. Anything else I should know? If you listen to iPods while walking or riding a bike and they get bumped around a lot, does that shorten their life (it DEFINETLY affects portable CD players)? thanks in advance for your help.

[BrunoRepublic]

So, is it easy to transfer the songs from the CDs into the iPod?

Yes. Insert the CD, iTunes will ask you if you want to import it, say yes, let it copy the disc, and then connect your iPod and it will transfer them over.

Is it done in real time of quicker?

Quicker. iTunes typically rips discs in 10x time, and transfers them to the iPod even faster.

Do the titles of the songs show on the iPod's screen?

Yes, if you're ripping from commercially made CDs or MP3s that are already on your computer. If you're ripping from homemade CD-Rs, no.

Why did someone mention needing iTunes to do this (I didn't need iTunes to make the CDs).

You will need iTunes. Your iPod won't do a thing without it. iTunes (you'll need Windows XP or Vista or a suitable Mac) is the program used to manage all your music (and video, if you choose) files and will upload everything to the iPod. While it's not perfect, it's definitely the easiest such program to use.

Older iPods can use a different program called Rockbox, but this is not for beginners.

What kind of batteries do iPods use?

Unfortunately, a non-removable, non-user-replaceable one. It automatically charges every time you connect it to your computer.

I saw an iPod at KMART that cost almost $300, what on Earth can they do that's worth that much money?

Considering I used to spend over $100 on crappy cassette walkmans and still had to carry around a bag of lousy-sounding tapes, I think iPods are a bargain. :)

The "touch" models are the most expensive. These are really small computers that can connect to the internet via wifi and run many different applications. They're basically an iPhone without the phone part. They have a lovely touch screen, but they're more about the applications than the music/video.

Next down is the "classic" model, which is what I use. These are the only kind that have a hard disk in them, so they're a bit more fragile, but they offer a huge amount of space. 120GB of storage and I can use it to play music, videos, games, store photos, and have a vast music collection with me wherever I go.

Below that are the "nano" models. Very small and colourful, they have no moving parts so they are ideal for use while exercising.

Then there's the "shuffle". The latest version is ridiculously small, has no screen, very little storage, and the controls are on the headphones. I've never understood the point of these, but they sell quite well, so...

To give you an idea of 120GB... I have over 12 *days* worth of music on my iPod, most of it at 256kbps... and that's only 33GB. I could store several feature-length movies on this thing if I wanted.

Where would I get the best price on a new iPod...

In my experience, they are pretty much the same everywhere. Big-box retailers (Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Future Shop... I guess Car Phone Warehouse is a UK equivalent) may sell them for a few bucks less, but you won't see huge price variants... if you do, it's probably a scam (like the spammers that keep trying to flood this board with cheap phones, video games, and iPods... they aren't actually selling anything, they're just trying to rip people off). So get it from a reputable retailer.

If you listen to iPods while walking or riding a bike and they get bumped around a lot, does that shorten their life (it DEFINETLY affects portable CD players)? thanks in advance for your help.

Only for the "classic" model, which has a mini hard disk in it. The Touch, Nano, and Shuffle models are completely solid-state and have no moving parts at all.