2 iPods, 1 computer

[Derby4me]

This may seem like a strange place to post this question, but I figured this group will know the answer.

My wife and I have our own ipods and share one computer. I have a 30 GB version and like to keep my entire music collection on it. My wife has a Nano, which will not hold everything. Is it possible to sync two ipods with one computer and keep our libraries or what we want on each ipod seperate? When I sync, iTunes tries to put all the music on her Nano. I've done a little searching and couldn't find the perfect solution.

What I would like is for iTunes to know what we would like to sync on each ipod when they're hooked up...

Thanks in advance!

 

[ms*mountaineer]

My DH and I each have a nano and there's only one computer in the house. And we don't put the same things on our ipods (pu-leeeze!). This is how I do it (if there's a better way, I'd like to learn):

When you hook up your ipod and iTunes shows the screen about what to sync - you can choose "all" or you can choose specific playlists to sync. We have playlists set up in iTunes and we only sync certain playlists to each nano. I have one called "Gary's Music" and I put all the stuff in that playlist that he wants on his nano. Then for my nano - I don't choose that playlist.

You can set up "smart playlists" that look for certain criteria (like Rock or Country) so whenever you add music that meets that criteria, it automatically goes into that playlist.

I hope that helps!

 

[Disneybridein2k3]

Ms*mountaineer is right! DH and I both have iPhones and I have an iPod I am still using (the iPhone just isn't enough space for all of my music) so we did just as she suggested - since I have more music then my DH, I created a playlist (Ken's music) that has what he wants to listen to - the rest is mine. When I sync my ipod, I don't choose his playlist. When I sync my iPhone, I don't choose any music. His phone gets just his playlist. (You can always include more than one playlist for your wife if you want - I included all of DH's music into one playlist because I am just lazy that way.)

 

[wilde_oscar]

another way would be to create seperate logins for each person. microsoft and mac both have the ability to, under control panel.

 

[cslittle999]

We do as wildeoscar suggest and use separate accounts. Our computer has three iPods syncing with it.

We put the music in a shared folder and tell iTunes not to organize and not to copy files. This lets all of the users share the same files. Each iTunes setup is set to the same account. This lets any of the users buy music and still share it with the other users. Purchasing is the fiddly part. You need to manually add the songs to the other accounts iTunes. The best part is that everyone gets to customize the iTunes library. Individual playlists, which songs are checked, movies, podcasts, ...

 

[MM32830]

There is a third way. You can have different iTunes libraries without having different user accounts. You do this by pressing and holding the SHIFT key while starting iTunes. The procedure is outlined on Apple's website:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1495

See "Method Three"




_________________
Armand

 

[aspen37]

Thanks everyone for the info. I was wondering how to do this myself.