christmas/ipod help

Need some Christmas present help from you audio gurus. Now I have no ipod, so I don't know that technology much. My mom apparently got an ipod...I've yet to see it, but apparently she has one.

a) how the heck does the music work on this thing. Can I burn songs from CDs onto it? Or do I have to download everything onto it? If so, what kind of fees are we talking about for DLing music...and from where? Lastly, she isn't into popular music. Mostly classical, church hymns, christian praise music, etc. Besides the obvious classical, how much of this stuff is readily available for downloading?

Bottom line, I have a mp3 ripper, which will take songs from cd, turn them into mp3, I could then download that onto an mp3 player...but she doesn't have one, she has an ipod, and I hate macs. So the more info/help, the better.

b) What all is needed to plug the ipod into the car to make it play via car stereo? The Subaru has cd/cassette/radio stock system.

Just interested in making this a last minute christmas present, but wondering how much it will cost me and if it's worth it. Thanks in advance

You "mate" a computer to the iPod really. Whatever you install the software and the serial number on it'll download from the "library" on that computer. Any music you have on the computer you can transfer into it. So that means ripped from cd, downloaded (just kidding RIAA don't arrest me), or bought off apple itunes (I think its .99 cents a song on apples site).

You can download/buy anything christian music, classics, whatever you can think of you'll find it somewhere.

You don't need a mac to work with the iPod, a windows PC will do just fine.

As for the subaru, you can use a cassette tape that connects to the iPod, or if you want to spend a little more get a FM transmitter, you hook it to the iPod and tune the radio station to a open frequency. I find those two the easiest methods.

$30-50 for the fm transmitter, a decent one.
$10 for a cassette adapter.

I'm by no means a iPod expert but hope that helps a little.

You could always download music off of Limewire or Morpheus and send it on the iPod. As for playin it in a car, like the guy above said, there's a transmitter you can buy that fits on the iPod's usb port. It transmits its on radio signal, so its like tuning into aradio station. Also, alot of CD decks these days are becoming "iPod ready". Basically meaning you can plug your iPod up to the head unit via USB cable. You should look into that too.

No macintosh needed (but it should be... ;) hahaha)

Like everyone said, the iPod is just about as user-friendly as it gets. The iPod itself comes with directions, and a software CD so you can install iTunes (the easiest way to get music to the iPod) and then you literally drag and drop whatever you want from the iTunes library to the iPod. You can also make specific playlists, etc. But that will get you through the basics.

As for connection, I find that sometimes the FM tuner for my iPod does not work "as well" as in some other cars b/c my Subaru's antenna is integrated into the rear window. What it comes to is that if someone is behind me (especially in heavy traffic, so they are close) I might pick up their transmitter, but under "ordinary" circumstances, it's just fine. Or you can bypass those problems and go with the cassette connector. 6 of one, 1/2 a dozen of the other.

:)



<---- P.S. I'm a mac lover, so if you wanna keep your AF registration, bow down to all that is Apple!

They will automatically update too everytime you plug them into the computer which is nice and handy.

<---- P.S. I'm a mac lover, so if you wanna keep your AF registration, bow down to all that is Apple!


I hate Apple. The last one I used was a IIGS back in the 3rd grade to play Arkanoid. Ban away :iceslolan


Thanks for the help everybody. I have an old tape adapter for my old car and old discman, so I'm guessing that would work if I can find it. If not, I found a couple FM transmitters on amazon for $30-$50. I didn't know that you could set it all via PC though, so that is very nice to know. Thanks again.