Need Suggestion: Computer, Carputer, iPod

[bebert613]

Hi.

I'm thinking about adding a ultra-mobile PC to my automobile.
The "Carputer" will have a USB iPod dock.
My home computer has a USB iPod dock.
Both computers will be Windows (home computer XP, carputer Vista probably)
My iPod is a black 5.5G 80GB running an edited version of 1.2 firmware (the edit makes background black with green accents instead of blue)

I have about 63.5 GB of media on the iPod in around 5,200 songs and 125 videos.
My music is organized into several smart playlists (of which I posted in the smart playlist thread)
The carputer will have a 40GB hard drive.


Statistics aside, I am looking for the best possible way to do all of the following:
- iTunes library on carputer to be identical to iTunes library on primary computer.
- Skip counts, play counts, last skipped, last played all are updated as I switch from one interface to the other.
- Skip counts, play counts, last skipped, last played to be updated instantaneously when using carputer or computer.

Is there a way to do it? If not, how close can I get?

[bebert613]

For starters, if I use the iPod in "Enable disc use" and "Manually manage music and videos" modes, I can simply install iTunes to the carputer and have iTunes play the playlists directly from the iPod.

However, this is slightly inconvenient because I will have to manually eject the ipod every time I move between computers or want to use the iPod as a portable player.
Also, doing this would not allow my playlists to update instantaneously when using itunes on the carputer. This is kind of a big deal because I spend a LOT of time driving.

I've looked into the really long article about transferring your library over multiple computers, but for some reason it doesn't seem like it will fit the case that I am looking to solve, as in this case it would be using the iPod as the portable hard drive, which causes problems with iPod syncing and disconnecting.

[kornchild2002]

You won't be able to do everything that you want. The most you will be able to do is have your playlists and play your music using your Ultramobile. iTunes will sync play counts and all that other stuff only if you have auto-sync enabled. Well, your iPod will sync to one library only when auto-sync is enabled.

So it looks like you are SOL and there isn't a solution unless you decide to use a 3rd party app to transfer all that stuff. Then again, I don't know of any that will look at the music on your iPod, look at the music on your computer's HD, and then change the information without re-transferring the songs (or transfer the songs using an already pre-established fold structure and file name system).

[bobb-mini]

Dumb Q... WHY?

[bebert613]

I have a wireless network and the carputer is wireless ready - I wonder if that could play into this in any usable way...

[kornchild2002]

Originally Posted by bebert613

I have a wireless network and the carputer is wireless ready - I wonder if that could play into this in any usable way...

No, it won't come into play. You simply can't transfer all that stuff over by simply plugging in your iPod. You will have to reallocate your iTunes library every single time you plug in your iPod. iTunes can do this automatically but only with one computer. So your desktop is your primary computer, this means that play counts and whatnot are all automatically synced back and forth between the iPod and your computer. You will then have to reallocate your library (ie move it) to your Ultramobile in your car. You just can't plug your iPod in and have iTunes do it automatically. Not only that but the play counts that have changed on your Ultramobile will never be synced back over.

I suggest that you simply sync the music that you want over to your Ultramobile and call it a day. There is no need to keep trying something that isn't going to work whether you have wi-fi or not.

[bebert613]

How about this, then:

80GB portable hard drive.

Put entire music library, including music library database files, on the portable hard drive. Set iTunes up to use the library stored on the portable hard drive.

When I leave my home computer, disconnect the drive, connect in car, drive around.
When I reach somewhere where I want to use the iPod, sync and take iPod wherever.
When I get back to my car, sync and resume driving.
When I get home, disconnect portable hard drive and plug into computer. Then plug iPod in to sync.

success?