How to use an ipod on multiple computers?

[MR.CJ-7]

I need a little help from those in the know.

Here's the deal, my wife just got an ipod nano and since we have a blazing 56K for web access, downloading at home isn't an option. I checked with qwest and comcast, but no broadband available in my area.

Work has good a good web connection, but sometimes workstations get swapped out for bigger and better quite frequently and we don't want to drag all the cd's into work to put them on the ipod.

How can we put the cd's on at home, but also download from work and not lose the playlist. Also what do we do to make a "backup file" in case the work cpu's get swapped out.

Home is a pc, most of work is pc, but sometimes they go mac.

Thanks

 

[Seth]

You can do it a couple of ways. You either need to sync your music libraries or manually add the music. If you have a small library (one that fits entirely on the ipod) you can get a little app called share pod and that will allow you to take what is on your ipod and put it on the second computer. If not just switch to manage song manually in your prefs on the ipod and drag the stuff you want on from both.

 

[Seth]

Never used it buy maybe try this.

http://www.copypod.net/

 

[Badger]

uhmmm just use iTunes on both machines....its a free download from iTunes and you should have gotten it with the iPod for home.

why are you worried about playlists being changed?

iTunes will transfer the CD to the iPod just fine at home.when you get to work install iTunes and plug in the iPod and have it sync the music folders there as well anything you add will just be added to the iPod the same as if you were home

 

[jdub]

Use sharepod, Makes it easy. You can use your device on multiple computers and you can upload your music. Big plus is that it names your music in file format instead of the itunes default codes. Plus plus its free!

 

[DevinB]

I use PodUtil to move my music from my iPod to various computers. I've never heard of sharepod, but it sounds like it's good too.

You need to make sure your preference for you iPod in iTunes is set to manually manage music, not automatically sync. Then put all your music on your home pc, move whatever you want to your iPod, take it to work, and use PodUtil or sharepod to move your music to your work pc. As for backups, just make sure you keep your music at home up to date. If anything happens to your work pc, just repeat the process. And I believe you'll have to redo your playlists once you move your music over, but it's really simple to do.

 

[Caleb]

AFAIK, ther is not a way to share on both a PC and a Mac, each one will want to have it's own filesystem loaded on the iPod. You could load a thrid party OS on the iPod (such as a linux distro) and do it that way but then you'll definitely void your warranty.

Devin's instuctions are dead on, you can't automatically sync your music, it needs to be done manually in order to share between machines. You have to use one of the above programs in order to be able to pull the music off the ipod though, itunes can not do that.

 

[MR.CJ-7]

Cool! thanks guys

 

[Milner]

AFAIK, ther is not a way to share on both a PC and a Mac, each one will want to have it's own filesystem loaded on the iPod. You could load a thrid party OS on the iPod (such as a linux distro) and do it that way but then you'll definitely void your warranty.

Devin's instuctions are dead on, you can't automatically sync your music, it needs to be done manually in order to share between machines. You have to use one of the above programs in order to be able to pull the music off the ipod though, itunes can not do that.

Bet you wondered when I was going to pipe up

Third party OS/firmware http://www.rockbox.org/
I love it! But I don't have it on an Ipoo'd

 

[Caleb]

sorry, but the interface for Rockbox looks worse than being at a DOS prompt.

Not to mention it doesn't say anything about being able to use it on both PC and Mac

 

[Milner]

sorry, but the interface for Rockbox looks worse than being at a DOS prompt.

Not to mention it doesn't say anything about being able to use it on both PC and Mac

I'll let you play with mine sometime....bet you'll like after an hour
I love the customizable WPS's. You can use it with what ever os you want, just need a library manager to sync it (ie. Media Monkey or Foobar) or you can just drag and drop you files

You apple people are all wierdos anyway....

 

[Caleb]

I'll let you play with mine sometime....bet you'll like after an hour
I love the customizable WPS's. You can use it with what ever os you want, just need a library manager to sync it (ie. Media Monkey or Foobar) or you can just drag and drop you files

the problem with drag and drop between platforms is still the same issue, Mac will want to have it HFS+ format and windows willw ant it either NTFS or FAT32. If it's FAT32 then Macs can read and write but on some external disks they will still complain.

You apple people are all wierdos anyway....

I'll give you that but atleast we're happy weirdos