Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler OT: Need an iTunes expert

OK, I've been assimilated w/ a 20GB iPod. One of my Xmas presents to myself. The other is a new singlespeed cyclocross frame that I'm getting built up...

I'm a newbie, just got a 20GB 4gen. I have an extensive library of mp3's on my home computer and a subset on my work laptop. I've loaded itunes on my laptop and connected my desktop HDD as a network drive so that the files stay on the desktop but I can still use the laptop to sync. Everything syncs fine on the laptop when I'm at home. At work, that mp3 network drive is gone, so the files are inaccessible. I have iTunes set to only sync specific playlists which is fine.

Today I added a new audible playlist that's on my laptop. I didn't want to sync all the other playlists so I unclicked them. I resynced and my audible files are there but my 2GB of mp3 were erased!

Need some suggestions on how best to handle this scenario.

1) How do move my laptop iTunes environment to my desktop? I have to install iTunes on the desktop but want to mimic my laptop config.

2) What do I need to do to protect the files on the iPod when I sync from work where the network drive is gone? Do I have to do a manual sync or only sync the playlists I'm updating?

Any clever suggestions are welcome. Now I have resync 2GB of files...sigh

Thanks.

I can't help you since I only sync to one machine, but I bet if you post on Apple's iPod support forum you will get an answer pretty quick. In fact....do a search and I bet you will find your answer.

If I remember correctly there is a setting which allows you to choose whether the whole ipod is updated when you sync, or only new/changed songs?

There is, but I'm pretty sure that Apple has explicity written this functionality out of iTunes in order to prevent/reduce/avoid potential lawsuits from the RIAA goons. They really don't WANT you to sync from two separate machines. That said, I'm sure there is good info out there on how to do it. ipodding.com is a good source.

As for your question #1, I believe there is an import function in iTunes (look in the file menu) for the library data in xml format (how it stores it natively). I have not had a lot of luck doing this on PCs, so move carefully! I've had some luck moving from Mac to PC, and Mac to Mac is easy. I think the last time I tried it on the PC I forgot to try the import thing. I'm sure there are instructions in the help for it, though.

wow, I'm useful...

There are also some after market programs that alow you to hook your iPod up to any machine without losing any files. I'm not sure what the name of it is but will work on finding out for you. Someone I worked with offered it to me, but I never had time on that job to get it done.
I think apple tried to sue this company for making it, but lost. I've heard its a great program.

I haven't delved into IPOD, but from what I understand, MP3 quality is not as good as CD. Since this is the case, what do people on this board see as the benefit of an IPod. Is it just that so much can fit on such a little device?

Ever been on a long car trip?

Zarak,

It's a compromise, for sure. However, have you ever tried to travel with a CD mega-changer, amp, headphones, and a battery to power the whole thing?

THAT's where the benefit of the sound-quality trade-off comes from. Convenience.

I am going to say this again....it maybe a compromise, but I bet most people can not tell the difference between a CD and a 256b/s rip done with good software and played back on good equipment.

Most people playback MP3's on inferior hardware.....which adds to the degradation.