IBM ThinkPad T23, Windows XP

[Mel]

Okay, I've read through a lot of these posts and I've taken many notes, but I'm still very confused. I just bought a refurbished 10gb 3rd generation MAC/WIN Ipod from the applestore on-line and I can't wait for it to arrive. My boyfriend can't wait either, because I've been using his for weeks on end, and I think he's anxious to have it back.

I know that I need to buy a dock for it. I'm pretty sure that I need a firewire card for it, Adaptec and Belkin seem to be the ones that work best with Windows XP and laptops.

Am I on the right track? Is there anything else I should think about getting?

I downloaded Ephpod, so when I do hook up the ipod, I should be good to go with that.

[ashawley]

You should be in pretty good shape. I'd recommend the Adaptec over the Belkin. Belkin cards tend to be hit or miss. Since you're on a laptop you have a couple of things to look for in a card, because you want to try and get a card that can somehow power the iPod (since laptop cards generally don't provide power). Look for a card that has one of the following:

1. A card that has an external power supply (i.e an ac adaptor) that you can connect to it, thus providing power.

2. A card that has 2 6-pin ports. With this configuratin, you can connect the iPod to one port, and then, with a second firewire cable (you'll need to buy) you can connect to the AC adaptor that comes w/the iPod. This will then power the iPod.

You can check out the Software Compendium (http://ipodlounge.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2286) for a list of programs to use to upload to the iPod. Ephpod works fine, but doesn't offer some of the features you might want. Just don't use MMJB. ;)

You don't really have to buy a dock, the iPod comes w/a cable you can use.

I recommend against installing the software that comes on the Apple CD. Just download the 2.0.1 Updater (http://www.apple.com/ipod/download) install it, then run it. It will restore your iPod to factory conditions and format it for Windows use. It will probably come as a MiPod as all new iPods come shipped that way.

Good luck, happy podding. :D

Oh, and welcome to the 'lounge.

Adam

[Mel]

Thank you so much - that's very helpful. It's a little overwhelming, looking on the apple site and some others and trying to figure out what's necessary and what's not. My pod shipped today, so I should have it by the end of the week or early next week.

[ashawley]

Stick around here Mel. The 'lounge will help you out. ;)

We're much nicer (and more knowledgable) than the Apple boards! :D

Adam

[SpideyPod]

Mel, The Best Buy in Brooklyn, at the old Cesar?s Bay location (if you are from my area in Brooklyn you know what I am talking about) will have the Adaptec card you will need. It seems as though you will need a PCMCIA firewire card for the ThinkPad and Best Buy carries both the Adaptec and Belkin versions.

If you have a 3rd Gen IPod you also have the option of using USB 2.0 providing you purchase a USB cable from Apple first.

If you go that route definitely get the Adaptec USB 2.0 adapter. I have had experience with that one and it works great. Either way good luck.

[Mel]

Thank you - I don't live near that Best Buy, but I work near J&R Music, so I'm going to head there after work and see what they have.

[SpideyPod]

J&R will definitely have what you need. I used to wrk down there and spent many a lunch hour in that store! Go to Sabina's on Fulton for lunch while you are there. Man I love their Buffalo chicken sandwich special on Thursday's. And of course the fries!

[Mel]

Cool. I've been working down here for about 8 years and I never heard of Sabina's - I'll have to go check it out. I can't believe how small the 3rd gen. pods are - I knew they'd be smaller, but I had never seen one in person until I opened the box today. I'm definitely going to pick up a case for it so it doesn't get all banged up.

[SpideyPod]

Oh yea Sabina's is amazing. I miss just about everything that had to do with working downtown but besides the towers of course I miss the happy hours and the great lunches down there the most.
If you go on Fulton Sabina's across and a couple of store up from Pluck You (not a bad lunch there either). It?s upstairs so look up for the windows you will see the door to head up. Highly recommend!!

As for the 3rd gen it really is tiny for the capacity you get with it. I currently have the 3rd gen 15 gig model and the 2nd Gen 20 gig which I have contemplated selling but can't bear to part with.
If you are worried about banging up the Pod besides getting a case for it I would look into an extended warranty for it from a CompUSA or Best Buy. It?s well worth it and will guarantee if your IPod meets an unfortunate end you will be covered.

[Mel]

I'll have to check it out. I bought my pod from the apple store on-line, it's a refurbished 10gb - I wonder if they offer extended warranties on the refurbished things they sell. Good idea. I'm really just hoping that I'll be able to get it to work. I'm taking my laptop home and I plan to sit down and figure it out tonight. From what everyone has been saying, it should be pretty easy. Where do you work now, if you're not downtown anymore? I worked in midtown for a couple of months a few years ago and I loved it, I didn't want to come back down.

[SpideyPod]

I worked midtown from 9/12/01 until July 1st of this year. Actually I am working from home for the time being while waiting for a career with the city to start up.

I was the exact opposite, I thought of Midtown as a vacation - nice to visit but I wouldn't want to live there. I loved downtown so much and the commute alone to and from midtown everyday was killer. Working downtown gives you the benefit of working in the city without the chaos of midtown.

As far as setting up the Pod tonight good luck. I am assuming you are a windows user. Its not too terrible to get up and running. I would definitely go with Ephpod instead of Musicmatch for syncing. It does make things a bit easier. But of course you always have these forums at your disposable should you have a problem. The people here are knowledgeable and very helpful.

[Mel]

Thanks - I downloaded Ephpod the other day, so it should be all right. There's so much information in this forum, that, you're right -if I run into any difficulty, I'll come here first before trying anything else.

Have a good weekend - cheers!

[SpideyPod]

U too, let us know how it turns out for you.

[kyussmondo]

You need a dock if you want to connect to your hi-fi, because only the dock has a line out socket.