total technophobe - ipods....

alyth

I hope someone can help me!

I have an MP3 that I've downloaded music onto years ago, but I have no idea how to do it now - lost the cables, etc.

I want to get an ipod - not really for music, but to download books and information for my degree course. I've just looked at ipods from apple and scared myself!

How easy is it going to be for me to buy an ipod, set it up, be able to download free books from sites other than apple, etc.

I have no one around to help me, but a friend at uni has downloaded Macbeth onto her ipod to help her with her studies and I want to be able to do that!

Thanks in advance.

bat999

Hi
If you do buy an iPod then you will probably install iTunes on your computer.
When you download files from other websites you import them into iTunes then you 'sync' your iPod to iTunes to load them onto the iPod.

olly300

The best course of action is to get someone like your friend, to show you physically what to do.

I suggest you ask your friend to help you buy an ipod i.e. to go with you or sit with you if you buy one online.

Then when it arrives to show you how to put music on.

alyth

it's the "sync" bit I am worried about! I did have itunes on the PC but deleted it because I had no need for it. I'm assuming you download itunes from their site onto your PC - sorry, I am 40 years old, I thought I had the hang of all this stuff then looked on apple's site and panicked!!!

bat999

alyth wrote: »

I'm assuming you download itunes from their site onto your PC

Yes, that's right.

When you 'sync' the iPod it means you copy everything that you have in iTunes onto the iPod.

daedana

If you're planning to actually do some reading out of this device I would recommend something like Apples iPad instead of iPod. In this case you'd get a bigger display, which would be a huge plus.

The idea of "sync" isn't too hard and I'm sure you'd get a hang of it in no time.

I'd just recommend, that you ask yourself what do you actually need this device for and how much do you want to pay for it. Because iPad is worth a pile of normal books and reading experience isn't really too much better. And to think it uses electricity even in sunlight.

Could you please answer some of these questions?:)

alyth

so do you have any recommendations are to which one I should buy - there seems to be a few out there! I need one to hold mainly books, a bit of music (my MP3 only has about 500 songs on it, I am not really into music) and perhaps podcasts as my degree course seems to have podcasts.

Apologies for the stupid questions, I am 40 years old. Unfortunately my friend at college lives about 20 miles away from me, and I want to prove to myself that I can do this on my own!

bat999

alyth wrote: »

... I need one to hold mainly books...

Do you mean audio books to listen to or books that you read on the screen?

alyth

no audio books - what my friend has done is downloaded Macbeth and other Shapesperian plays for our studies - don't confuse me by saying that I want to view things like films!

Sorry I know I am coming across as totally stupid, I am not, I'd rather use this forum than walk into the apple shop tomorrow!

olly300

alyth wrote: »

so do you have any recommendations are to which one I should buy - there seems to be a few out there! I need one to hold mainly books, a bit of music (my MP3 only has about 500 songs on it, I am not really into music) and perhaps podcasts as my degree course seems to have podcasts.

OK what is your budget?

How much do you want to spend on an MP3 player or IPod?

Does it have to be an IPod?

I personally have never used IPods I use MP3 players mainly because I use both windows and linux operating systems.

alyth wrote: »

Apologies for the stupid questions, I am 40 years old.

Your questions aren't stupid.

alyth wrote: »

Unfortunately my friend at college lives about 20 miles away from me, and I want to prove to myself that I can do this on my own!

That is a really silly way of viewing technology. People are happy to help if you are willing to learn.

alyth

unlimited budget - I may be a student but I am not poor!!!

it's only because my friend was rambling on today about how she was listening to Macbeth on the ipod that it got me thinking tonight. Then I came across something about free downloaded books. Trust me, a couple of years ago I used to download from limewire and put stuff on my MP, a combination of losing the cables and lack of confidence meant me posting tonight.

Thank you for your help, I really do appreciate it.