My first iPod and I've got questions?

[DewGuy]

After mucho research and question asking (thanks again) I got an iPod. It's an Apple Factory Refurbished 20GB w/Color Display (4th Generation). Included with it were the USB Power Adapter, Dock Connector to USB 2.0 Cable and the Earphones.

I know I need to charge it before I do anything else with it and that it will take about 5 hours for a full charge. If I need to leave the house and it's in the middle of charging can I unplug it and then plug it back in when I get home to continue the charging or is it better to charge it all at once for the first time?

The Mac I'm connecting it to is a Flat Panel iMac (G4) with only USB 1.1 and Firewire 400. I plan on getting a Dock Connector to Firewire 400 Cable in the near future but for now will have to use USB which I imagine is going to be slow. My iTunes Library at present is a bit over 5GB, what's the best way to get some of my music on the iPod for starters using USB and then switch to Firewire (and the whole library) when I get the cable?

The included CD contains "iPod Updater 2005-03-23" which has "iPod Software 1.1" for the iPod w/color display. The version installed on the iPod is 1.2. Software Update is showing "iPod Updater 2006-01-10" which has "iPod Software 1.2.1". I seem to recall that some people had problems with this newest Updater, I think it was just people with the new Video iPods but I could be mistaken. Did anyone with an iPod w/Color Display have any problems with this Updater?

Thanks!

[ho'ard]

Your iPod has already been in use, so I wouldn't worry about the battery. No problem interrupting the charge. It doesn most of its charging in the first hour or two. 5 hours seems like a long time.

I don't quite understand your concern about starting w/ USB and switching to Firewire. It should be absolutely seamless.

Try it out with the current software and if you have trouble you can start messing with that. There's no harm in "losing" anything on it because it's all saved to the computer anyways.

[DewGuy]

h' Wrote:
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> Your iPod has already been in use, so I wouldn't
> worry about the battery. No problem interrupting
> the charge. It doesn most of its charging in the
> first hour or two. 5 hours seems like a long
> time.

According to the manual that came with it:

"The iPod battery is 80-percent charged in about three hours, and fully charged in about five hours."

> I don't quite understand your concern about
> starting w/ USB and switching to Firewire. It
> should be absolutely seamless.

What I'm trying to say is that since I have to start using USB 1.1, I don't want to try and sync my entire 5+GB library at that slow speed. I'd like to just put a small portion at a time on the iPod and then when I get the Firewire cable switch to that and sync the entire library. So, what's the best way to do what I want to do?

> Try it out with the current software and if you
> have trouble you can start messing with that.
> There's no harm in "losing" anything on it because
> it's all saved to the computer anyways.

Sounds, like a good plan.

[ho'ard]

Oh.
Well, it's not like you need to transfer 5 GB every time you sync. The initial loading can be an overnight operation, but from then on it only loads whatever tiny bit you've changed.

But anyways, to only transfer soe of your music:
You connect the iPod.
Once it's recognized you'll see it in the column in iTunes alog with your playlists. Whatever dialogue it throws up at first (it will probably ask if you want to sync or something, or maybe ask whether you want to download a veewer version of the iPod software) say no or cancel. Find the butotn at the bottom right of the window with the iPod pic (it's only there when there's an active connection to an iPod). Click it and it should be self explanatory how to set it to only sync to selected playlists.

This stuff is hard to screw up-- don't be afraid of a little trial and error.

[WHiiP]

Consider your playlists . . . they are very easy to set up in iTunes and will transfer either automatically if you sync or the ones you drag manually. Take some time to set them up and do it right from the beginning . . . yes, you can do this later as well, just mentioning them as an FYI.

An Overnight syncing will get all your music.

o cheers

[The Grim Ninja]

How about you let it charge during the 5 hours it's connected to your computer syncing files?

There's no reason not to just sync the whole thing now. You can leave the iPod unattended.

[DewGuy]

h' Wrote:
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> Oh.
> Well, it's not like you need to transfer 5 GB
> every time you sync. The initial loading can be
> an overnight operation, but from then on it only
> loads whatever tiny bit you've changed.

I figured as much.

> But anyways, to only transfer soe of your music:
> You connect the iPod.
> Once it's recognized you'll see it in the column
> in iTunes alog with your playlists. Whatever
> dialogue it throws up at first (it will probably
> ask if you want to sync or something, or maybe ask
> whether you want to download a veewer version of
> the iPod software) say no or cancel. Find the
> butotn at the bottom right of the window with the
> iPod pic (it's only there when there's an active
> connection to an iPod). Click it and it should be
> self explanatory how to set it to only sync to
> selected playlists.

I figured I could do something like that, I just wasn't sure of what order to do what in. Now that you've given me a path to follow I know what to do.

> This stuff is hard to screw up-- don't be afraid
> of a little trial and error.

Oh, I'll definately play around with things once I get it going. The worst that can happen is I have to restore it and start over. No biggie.

[DewGuy]

WHiiP Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Consider your playlists . . . they are very easy
> to set up in iTunes and will transfer either
> automatically if you sync or the ones you drag
> manually. Take some time to set them up and do it
> right from the beginning . . . yes, you can do
> this later as well, just mentioning them as an
> FYI.

That's the kind of information I was looking for. I would prefer to get it set up the best way from the start rather than having to redo it later when I've learned more.

> An Overnight syncing will get all your music.

That probably is the best route to take right now, but I know it will be so much quicker when I get the Firewire cable. I dunno, maybe I will try a complete sync with the USB cable to see how slow it is.

[DewGuy]

The Grim Ninja Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How about you let it charge during the 5 hours
> it's connected to your computer syncing files?

Well, the manual says to have a full charge before syncing, so I charged it. It's done now, so I'm gonna try syncing now.

> There's no reason not to just sync the whole thing
> now. You can leave the iPod unattended.

Okay, you guys convinced me, I'll do a complete sync.