The *official* Ipod help thread

[aes74]

Ok, hold on. i answered the "cd question" thanks to the earlier link to the itunes help/tutorial link.

So now I just need to know about emusic! thanks!

 

[Strawberry Lemonade]

I have an ipod/itunes question if someone could PLEASE help me out...

How do I take songs OFF the ipod and put them in itunes? They were in itunes originally, but my hard drive unexpectedly melted so I had to reinstall itunes when it was replaced. Now I want to switch some songs out and can't figure out how to get them off the ipod without deleting them completely.

Hope that made sense. I don't have my ipod here or itunes on my work computer.

 

[toddp3]

How do you use your Ipod as a PDA? How do you enter the information?

Well the iPod supports a few standard formats.

It supports TXT (Text files) for Notes.

It supports VCF for Contacts.

And it supports iCal for Calendar.

And iTunes itself has built in syncing with Outlook (not Outlook Express, just Outlook). If you're on a Mac it's even better as it can sync with iLife components.

There are extensions for both Thunderbird and Sunbird that allow you to sync contacts and caledar to your iPod.

Google Calendar also supports iCal exports of both public and private calendars.

It's not the easiest set of things to do, and there is no on-the-fly entry of data (like you can't make notes with your iPod, you can only read them). But it works. For example, my wife is on a few different prescriptions, and I keep a note about those handy on my iPod. This is useful for Hospital/Doctor visits.

I also keep my contacts in there as well, but I've only got some custom software to take my Yahoo Addressbook and convert it to VCF. It's not for public consumption, at least not yet.

I do have something to download google calendars, that is soon to be released (I have one more change I want to make), but that's about how I do it right now.

 

[toddp3]

Ok, hold on. i answered the "cd question" thanks to the earlier link to the itunes help/tutorial link.

So now I just need to know about emusic! thanks!

I've not used eMusic. But as long as the songs are non-DRM'd (as Apple only supports their own DRM, and no one else does their DRM), and in a format that iPod supports, you'll be fine.

Just get them, add them to iTunes, and sync them to your iPod.

 

[toddp3]

I have an ipod/itunes question if someone could PLEASE help me out...

How do I take songs OFF the ipod and put them in itunes? They were in itunes originally, but my hard drive unexpectedly melted so I had to reinstall itunes when it was replaced. Now I want to switch some songs out and can't figure out how to get them off the ipod without deleting them completely.

Hope that made sense. I don't have my ipod here or itunes on my work computer.

Easy one, I think I linked it before on the thread, but check out Sharepod

 

[Cool-Beans]

I'd start a new thread for this, but for some reason can't start new threads (posted that on the tech board.)

I'm in the market for a new laptop. Mine keeps getting hot on the bottom and dying (frozen peas only keep it cool for so long). After a while, it goes POP!, I'll smell an elecrical smell and it'll konk out totally. The fix-it people say it is a Logic Board issue. I am SICK of this and want one that WORKS!

I don't play games or anything - but am a little impatient with slow computers, so I want some oomph. Just use Word, Excel (rarely) and do dumb things like DIS and iTunes.

Any recommendations on laptops? Not too concerned about price, but don't want to pay extra for stuff I'm not going to use, ya know?

Oh, I don't think I want an Apple. I don't know much about computers and get along fine using my...see, I don't even know what it is called...the regular kind. Non-apple. Apple would mean knowing things I don't, so I wanna stick with what I know.

If anyone made it this far, thanks!

 

[cherylp3]

Dell or check dell outlet, we like to get the extented warrantees cause I've found generally hard drives tend to die after 2 years.

You can also check HP, not sure if they have an outlet.

 

[toddp3]

My experience says to avoid any HP brand (this includes Compaq since HP owns them).

Work supplies me with a Dell, and it's fairly well functional, and you can get them for the $500-$800 range for a decent one. You may also want to check out the Dell Outlet, my main computer is an XPS600 that I got for about 1/3 the regular price because someone refused shipment.

 

[cherylp3]

note Todd's main computer the xps is not a laptop. Also don't go for XPS, those are gaming systems.

The dell outlet can be found at
http://www.dell.com/outlet/

Also check that you'll be able to upgrade to Windows Vista.
https://www.dellvistaupgrade.com/default.aspx

 

[mandy200587]

Don't go dell. Awful customer service, and a guy at my mom's work who is the main person in IT said to avoid them because they aren't as durable as people think.

 

[toddp3]

See now I've had nothing but good TS technical support from Dell. 24-48 hour turn around on parts if needed (wife needed a new hard drive on her old one), easy to work with.

But there are horror stories and success stories for all.

As for durability, no notebook/laptop is durable. You drop it more than a few feet it's toast. That's part of the way it is.

 

[mandy200587]

My hp has lasted pretty good, I just need a new battery for it. I've had nothing but bad luck with dell, we always get someone who can't speak english or they try and screw us over. They literally crashed my old desktop.

 

[cherylp3]

Well like Todd has said we've had some problems with HP ( Compaq)

The outlet is at http://www.shopping.hp.com/outlet_store/refurb_notebooks/1/storefronts

I definitely wouldn't recommend Emachines. Although I haven't had problems with tech support - the machine is not quiet and has restore problems

 

[Amity 3]

Oh, I don't think I want an Apple. I don't know much about computers and get along fine using my...see, I don't even know what it is called...the regular kind. Non-apple. Apple would mean knowing things I don't, so I wanna stick with what I know.

typical woman.

 

[JennyMominRI]

typical woman.

You know I'm a rifle expert 3 times over right? I can reassemble an m-16 in 60 seconds...I'm not a total *girl*

 

[Amity 3]

You know I'm a rifle expert 3 times over right? I can reassemble an m-16 in 60 seconds...I'm not a total *girl*

have you ever shot someone?

 

[JennyMominRI]

have you ever shot someone?

Nope,never shot someone..I could hit someone from the waist uo from 500 yeards though

 

[Amity 3]

Nope,never shot someone..I could hit someone from the waist uo from 500 yeards though

that's a skill I don't want my wife to have.

 

[JennyMominRI]

that's a skill I don't want my wife to have.

It keeps EdDad in line,lol

 

[Cool-Beans]

that's a skill I don't want my wife to have.

...and one I often wish she did. I can shoot well enough to kill someone in the house, which is all I'm worried about.

And, Jenny, you are very pretty! I meant to say that before!

I'm going to the store tomorrow to get a new laptop. Wish me luck.