RLGaming.com

If you use an iPod like Sabre and I, you've run into the nagging problem that you can't download off of the iPod to your HD because Apple is afraid you'll commit acts of piracy against music industry, yo-ho and bottle of rum.

So, what to do. Well for 20 bucks you can own this dandy little program that does a nice job of d/l your iPod tunes to your HD so that you can create back-ups, protect your acquired music, swap it in and out rather than sacrificing some ol' music for new stuff. Kinda also defeats, or at least, slows their little arms race, ie hard drive space on the iPod. Not enough room? Just buy a larger iPod unit....yeah for four hundred bucks! Hells no. Use this:

http://www.wideanglesoftware.com/touchcopy/index.html

Best of all, it is really, really easy to use. Here is a review of it:

http://www.askdavetaylor.com/how_do_i_g ... _ipod.html

Pretty cool Grifter. Are you using this software? Might be worth getting for only $20.

I've used it once so far. It worked perfectly, copying everything on my iPod to a folder of my choosing. You might d/l the demo and try it yourself, but the demo does limit you to copying 40 titles only to your HD. Full version is unlimited of course.

my solution: Don't buy apple ...

yah, I've reviewed and actually tried other mp3 players,like zune and sansa, in the past and I don't like the feel, functionality, or other aspect of them. No, the iPod functionality and ease are just too good, and with this program, the transfer issue is no longer a problem :-) .

I'm just being ornery. I have owned a Creative in the past and now I use an Archos for my media library and a small Creative Zen for podcasts. Never liked the iPods for myself, although my wife uses one.

How do you like the zen and archos, haven't had a chance to use them. I doubt I'll ever buy anything else but an iPod but you never know. They worth a second look?

I've been really happy with the zen. Creative make solid products with a simple interface and they just work. They'll play any format. The Zen I have is only 2GB but that holds a week's worth of commuting podcasts and is tiny.

I bought the archos because it has a 160GB hard drive, 4.3-in wide aspect touch screen and will play almost all audio and video formats as well as surf the web wirelessly - plus it even makes omelettes! It's not a great throw-it-in-your-pocket player, but it's nice on the cross-country flights.

The main reason I've stayed away from iPods is that I don't want to get locked into their proprietary player for proprietary formats. Once you're stuck in iTunes, you can't get away from it. But, that's the reason Jobs wants it that way. Once you buy an iPod, it's not worth switching to another format because all your music (that you bought on his service) is locked down.

As I always say - right tool for the right job.

I have the 60Gig iPod Video, and I use a Bluetooth adapter so I can listen to it with my BT headphones. It really comes in handy when I goto the gym, no wires to get in the way.

My iPod video has all of BSG Season 2 on it (my friend gave it to me), and I have a utility that will convert a DVD to iPod video format, so I can watch my DVDs on it as well. I rarely use the video aspect of it though, I have my laptop for that. With over 500 songs and many many videos/movies, I am only using about 8Gigs out of 60; I have lots of room left on it.

Yeah, my ipod mini can play mp3 and itunes. I like the iTunes layout vs. Microsoft media player or winamp, etc. So I guess, it's just a preference thing. Still, if the price is right, when I go to buy my larger media player, I may consider the zen. I'll have to take a closer look at it. Like I said, I just love the way the iPod works.

I have the (no longer available) Zen Vision M. It's 30GB but I'm only half full right now with around 5000 songs on it. I don't bother with video, I don't need that on it. For that I have a Philips 30GB device with a much larger screen.
The Zen will play anything, MP3, WMA, WAV, nothing proprietary. Had it 18 months now.

I'll be buying the Zune 80 GB player soon.

hmm should compare prices on the zune vs. ipod.